I am a Scottish-based (Edinburgh) Canadian who has suffered from chronic pain for about a decade. It has taken away from me most of the trappings of a "normal" life, as I'm sure it has with many of those reading this. After years without results from treatment at the pain unit at the Western General Hospital, I sought 2nd opinions back in Canada. After 1 1/2 years, I found an eccentric, old Chinese doctor (I would be greeted with "I'm 76 years old, and I don't have to be here, you know!") who treated me with a combined lidocaine & ketamine infusion. After 45 minutes on an IV, I would soon be restored to about 95% of my pre-pain self, for a period of a month. Armed with this, I returned to Scotland, hoping to resume said treatment. It has been OVER TWO YEARS now, and I am STILL fighting with doctors in order to have it (mine are not familiar with it, and have no interest in touching it, and prefer I stay on VERY problematic opiate-based treatment (mostly tramadol)).

I am hoping SOMEONE out there is based in Scotland (preferably; or the rest of the UK) who has experience with receiving such treatments, and can point me in the direction of doctors willing to administer it! I look forward to any replies.

-Deryck