CB I hope the gabapentin works for you and you get some relief.
As for sticking your finger where the sun don't shine 🌞 , your GP will be checking for Claudia Equina, and tingling in the legs and feet will be just one of the symptoms that will be making her cautious. ( Good doctor) .....After my last back surgery I woke up with partial cauda equina in my saddle area, and still have it.......So please if you get any numbness around there, do something about it quickly.
As for using some inheritance money, don't feel one tiny bit guilty.....it's yours.
The gp also said that unless someone has bowel/bladder involvement then no back symptoms/level of pain are considered urgent for scan. I have had weird feeling around my anus for years when I first get out of bed in the morning, feels as if it should be numb but isn't and goes away within minutes. All previous scans have been fine re cauda equina. Last year another Dr insisted she do the finger up bum test herself and as long as you can squeeze they are happy!
The private company got the referral this afternoon and phoned me within an hour to make the appt
I had two price options, first one scan within 5 days or the cheaper one 14 days so chose the 14 day one as thats still 2-3 weeks quicker than the nhs would have been.
I have taken the paracetamol today as she advised and used ice pack alot and has been a bit easier so may wait a few days before starting the gabapentin, I really don't like this drug but know that it may really help the pain