Fed up with medical things

gentleshores

janipans

Does your gp give a reason for not referring you?

Just surgery policy I think. They even have a notice in the surgery saying, don't see the GP about anything musculoskeletal - self refer to physio. It was only when things got a lot worse last year I really pushed and they sent me for an MRI scan of both knees. But then still wouldn't refer me! So nobody's even seen the MRI scans!

We can self-refer to physio here but the GP will also see you and send you for a scan or X-ray (even if the orthopaedic surgeons won't!).

I think we X posts there!

I self referred to podiatry last year about my left foot hoping they could make some kind of special shoe - never even got a response!
Again totally unacceptable! Podiatry services here are a bit odd in the way they are run in that, if you don't phone up for another appointment within six months, they will cross you off their list and you have to go back to the GP for a re-referral.

But even orthotic insoles and advice about what shoes are most supportive would help. Try phoning again.

janipans

Does your gp give a reason for not referring you?

Just surgery policy I think. They even have a notice in the surgery saying, don't see the GP about anything musculoskeletal - self refer to physio. It was only when things got a lot worse last year I really pushed and they sent me for an MRI scan of both knees. But then still wouldn't refer me! So nobody's even seen the MRI scans!

You could threaten to report your gp to the medical society if he/she has no justification for not helping you.

At a hydrotherapy pool or even the local swimming pool, they often have equipment to help people in and out of the water. Nowadays it is quite normal to wear a bathing suit under a towel coat from home to pool and then just keep the same things on to go home which saves all the dressing and undressing if you are disabled.

I would say it is absolutely unacceptable to leave a person in this condition. You have a right to decent health and years ahead of you.

I agree, especially if you are in your mid-sixties.

Are you hypermobile? I wondered that too, as I've wondered whether I am as well. Years ago an orthopaedic surgeon told me I had 'long ligaments' and there was nothing he could do with my feet. It is a struggle getting any joined up thinking from the NHS, I think, and waiting lists here are very long but your situation sounds completely unacceptable, gentleshores and you shouldn't have to be struggling like this to get answers.
Your GP sounds negligent. Can you see someone else?

Nannyof4mummyof2

Firstly could you request hospital transport for appointment
A random question are you able to get someone to rearrange things to downstairs for sleeping as a temporary measure get a commode or female urine bottle
Maybe request a good pain killers or injections
Do a social services referral for yourself to have a referral for an OT to visit they can speak to your to your GP to move things forward
Make a complaint to the medical body about becoming immobile because of lack of referrals
An OT maybe be able to get info for you or do a request for a stairlift dependant on your financial situation
You could speak to a chiropractor to come and see you at home and get an assessment for you at a cost
Finally I've had similar problems to yourself and have been taking a magnesium complex and have noticed a marked improvement in my pain and mobility levels
As a previous OT for social services it is sad that today it's he who shouts loudest gets heard but keep on fighting as you have and made progress wishing you luck xx

I suppose I'm a bit nervous about complaining to the surgery in case I get treated worse! I already have a stairlift. Normally I can use it to go downstairs and sit in a chair but at the moment can't walk as far as the stairlift due to the foot. I could use a moonboot if it was just one foot but already use one for the other foot (long standing old injury there) so it wouldn;t be safe to walk with two on - very unstable. Just need to keep off it really for a while. I have to be careful about taking supplements due to being on blood thinners. Some can interact. I self referred to podiatry last year about my left foot hoping they could make some kind of special shoe - never even got a response!

Does your gp give a reason for not referring you?

Mollyb

If you have any money, under £100 go to a private physio who can do laser treatment, ultra sound and even acupuncture, as well as hands on. My knee so improved. Locally NHS physio they don't even touch you just give you a leaflet! Good luck

YES

I've been in a state of shock over it really for the past year

Not at all acceptable. Please try to get support, there simply must be something , even if you have to pay for it. It's very hard to be assertive when you are worn down and in pain.

I have enquired in our area and there isn't anything like aquatherapy .........

icanhandthemback

Are you hypermobile? It sounds a bit like the problems with your joints that my children have. If you are, you may need a rheumatologist rather than the musculoskeletal specialist. Similarly you might need a physio who truly understands hypermobility because you need different exercises to build gently up muscle tone gently. As hyper mobility is caused by a collagen problem (taking collagen doesn't help) your muscles would have found it hard not to decondition so it is a problem which just grows and grows. Less muscle strength equals more damage to joints and tissues so you need to rest. Resting causes more deconditioning so when you start to move again you get more issues. It is horrendous until you find someone who truly understands the problems. Gentle swimming or movement in the water can be helpful and it might be worth paying for hydrotherapy.

Not that I am aware of but I do seem to have quite a few joint problems and no arthritis. And what you say makes sense and yes it is a vicious circle.

Someone else suggested aquatherapy to me. I was quite hopeful about the physio when it started in Jan. Asked physio about aquatherapy and she just looked at me as if I'd suggested something weird and said - well can you get in and out of a swimming pool? I said no. And that was that.

Hi why not try a chiropractor sounds like your body is totally out of synch. Worth a try x

If you have any money, under £100 go to a private physio who can do laser treatment, ultra sound and even acupuncture, as well as hands on. My knee so improved. Locally NHS physio they don't even touch you just give you a leaflet! Good luck

I had a blood clot in the lungs at the start of lockdown and was 5 days in hospital. Since then it has been walking, walking and more walking, if I try any other exercise and I used to love exercise classes, the last one being a Bellydance for Seniors, I can't do any now, but I can walk and that's the best exercise of the lot after a certain age. Now 80 and doing okay.

Can your other half intercede for you? Make some changes in your house and attend appointments with you to explain how you are all of the time, not just at the appointment?

write a letter of complaint summarising it all and what medical solutions you expect and say at the beginning " i do not wish to make a formal complaint but will have no choice if progress is not made in dealing with my various problems itemised below.

And send it to the practice manager

Firstly could you request hospital transport for appointment
A random question are you able to get someone to rearrange things to downstairs for sleeping as a temporary measure get a commode or female urine bottle
Maybe request a good pain killers or injections
Do a social services referral for yourself to have a referral for an OT to visit they can speak to your to your GP to move things forward
Make a complaint to the medical body about becoming immobile because of lack of referrals
An OT maybe be able to get info for you or do a request for a stairlift dependant on your financial situation
You could speak to a chiropractor to come and see you at home and get an assessment for you at a cost
Finally I've had similar problems to yourself and have been taking a magnesium complex and have noticed a marked improvement in my pain and mobility levels
As a previous OT for social services it is sad that today it's he who shouts loudest gets heard but keep on fighting as you have and made progress wishing you luck xx

Gosh - how frustrated you must feel.
I wondered if there was an Ombudsman for NHS problems and Googled -- here is an extract from quite a lengthy answer ( and I haven't read most of it!)
Here's an extract
"
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman makes final decisions on unresolved complaints about the NHS in England. This organisation is independent of the NHS. For more information, call their helpline on 0345 015 4033 or visit the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman website."

It may or may not be helpful, but it's worth a try. If you decide to phone I suggest you prepare a written list of points that clearly explain you main problems beforehand.
Good luck!

I really sympathise.
My local hospital is Southampton too.
I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation in 2019 and the only care l have had access to is the private care l have paid for myself, having given up waiting for an NHS appointment and feeling very worried as l know Afib can lead to strokes. And like you l am 'only' 65 it's all rather depressing and l live completely on my own which somehow makes it feel worse.
I suspect though it's not just Southampton health authority.

if you ask for an OT assessment, i hope there is not as long a wait as in our area(cheshire), my sister is still waiting, over 15 months, despite several phone calls.

Don't know how the system works where you are but could you contact Social Services as it sounds like you need support at home for basic needs. No one should be left to struggle like you seem to be. Has any GP given you a full and comprehensive explanation why you cannot be referred? Using your age as an excuse is ridiculous.

Your post at 13:26, Gentleshores really highlights that no one looking at your condition as a whole. Instead, they’re just patching up (or not) the gaps.

What about contacting PALS? They may have some good advice on how to get the care you need. www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service/

Could you afford to go to a private clinic for just one assessment? Tell them that you're self funding and they should refer you to the NHS for any needed treatment. I know someone who has done this successfully and it speeds up the time waiting to see an NHS specialist and then waiting for treatment. I think it costs around £100.

Are you hypermobile? It sounds a bit like the problems with your joints that my children have. If you are, you may need a rheumatologist rather than the musculoskeletal specialist. Similarly you might need a physio who truly understands hypermobility because you need different exercises to build gently up muscle tone gently. As hyper mobility is caused by a collagen problem (taking collagen doesn't help) your muscles would have found it hard not to decondition so it is a problem which just grows and grows. Less muscle strength equals more damage to joints and tissues so you need to rest. Resting causes more deconditioning so when you start to move again you get more issues. It is horrendous until you find someone who truly understands the problems. Gentle swimming or movement in the water can be helpful and it might be worth paying for hydrotherapy.