Physio referrals with no diagnosis

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At my surgery anything of a skeletal muscular nature is referred straightaway to a physio who visits just two days a week.
You can also self refer.
I saw him about two and a half years ago.
He sent me for X-rays and when he got the results her referred me to the Orthopaedic dept at my local hospital.
Their waiting list was so long I was seen at a private hospital on the NHS.
Needed a THR and was told I would get it 2 months later.
Sadly Covid happened and my op was cancelled just 4 days before.
I did get it done 7 months later.
After the op I never saw either a physio or the Consultant, only had telephone consultations with both.
In the whole saga, very successful I must say, I never saw or heard from a Dr at my practice.
I also never heard again from the physio attached to it.
I was 82 at the time and haven’t seen a Dr for years.

Katiek
Thank goodness you have spoken sense here! The physios will advise the doctors on the mechanics if necessary. There is a reason that they work together and refer to one another.

Lilyp01

Has anyone had Piriformin syndrome? The Dr is sending me for nerve testing but it’s been 5 wks of agony now. Cramping pain in calf and buttock. How long does it usually last?

Lilyp01 - a friend had this (a type of sciatica), and it's something that an osteopath could help with (not on the NHS unfortunately).

I had physio on and off for years for shoulder pain...

It turned out it was a trapped nerve in my neck.

Such a giant waste of time and so many days in pain when I didn't need to be.

Now I just fix it myself with the right stretches and the times when I'm not daft, prevent it by doing one quick neck stretch a day

I saw the doctors physio for a damaged meniscus, he told me to do squats which didn't help so I self referred to the hospital physio who said DON'T do squats ?? the hospital physio told me they only do xrays for surgery now. It is ridiculous because basically they are just guessing on the symptoms you give them.

I hadn't thought of that! We are being sort of persuaded not to visit A&E unless vital now, aren't we.
My back is a very sore point with me, - in more ways than one!
I might have a go at the doctor again, - if I can ever get an appointment or even a phone call.

I was thinking the same Henetha. But it's a shame that this is the case.
My sister was fobbed off by the doctor when she complained about knee pain. She managed with difficulty, to pay for an mri scan. and found out there was a problem (can't remember the name) which was then treated, but she did tell the doctor what she thought!
My advice is choose a particularly agonising time and go to A&E.

Yes, I wish, Luckygirl. It would be nice.

Might be worth paying for a scan if you can afford it - at least you will know what you are dealing with.

We have an excellent local Physiotherapy Centre.

I have been referred several times, reoccurring back pain, sacroiliac joint pain and rehab after breaking my foot and ankle. I have always been treated with respect and understanding, up and running quickly on each occasion.

It seems to be a route we have to go through now, seeing the physios before any diagnosis. It happened before both of my knee replacements, and again because of my back pain.
I still think my back has been wrongly diagnosed. I've asked for a scan and have been refused.

I was referred to a physio with pain in a toe. He pulled it so hard I screamed. Paid £50 for the experience. Years later diagnosed with arthritis.

I was told to self refer to a physio,after suffering repeated prolonged attacks of what I thought was sciatica.I never receieved a response from the physio used by all the GPs in the area.
Back to see the clinician,havent seen a GP at all,who decides that an X ray is required,it seems that I have two hips that have OA right one is bone on bone,there is currently a 30 week waiting time,if you are lucky due to cancellations at the last minute of clinics, I am probably a third of the way,to even get a hospital appointment to see a consultant.
I am glad I didnt see a physio walking is painful enough.

When I had what I thought was a knee problem I was sent to a great physio. He examined me, talked about my problem and how it started, asked me to walk, and then said he didn't think it was a knee problem at all, he thought I had torn the muscle at the top, just behind my knee. Gave me exercises, advice on walking and RICE (which I already knew about) and reassured me. And he was absolutely right. I'm so grateful to him.
The GP was talking about arthritis, wear and tear and replacement!

My latest consultant has said not to do the exercises the physio gave me as he understands the totality of my problems - he has prescribed walking,

I really do believe that repeated abnormal movements are not a good thing. Our bodies are not designed for them.

Well she pulled me about and sent me off with exercises to do that rendered me unable to walk without crutches! I do appreciate that they have lots of training, but their job is not to diagnose. It is to rehabilitate where a diagnosis has been made and exercises are appropriate as part of the treatment.

There seems to be a misconception about what constitutes a physiotherapist and what they can do. Physiotherapy is a science based healthcare profession and practitioners are educated to degree level. As part of their course they study subjects such as anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. In many ways they have deeper understanding of bodily mechanics than other medical professionals and are able to identify many musculoskeletal and neurological issues They are not a cheap option, nor are they likely to pull people about. I am so thankful for my physio-I’d be a lot worse off if it wasn’t for her.

Physio was convinced I had a frozen shoulder when I’d been diagnosed with a damaged brachial nerve. Yanked my arm so I nearly fell off the table and I was left in serious pain for several weeks in which time I cancelled further appointments. Then one night I felt it click and the relief was immense and it improved after that. He was very arrogant. The physio I had for a broken wrist was excellent however.

It was the physio who made the correct diagnosis for me, after I'd seen several doctors.

Has anyone had Piriformin syndrome? The Dr is sending me for nerve testing but it’s been 5 wks of agony now. Cramping pain in calf and buttock. How long does it usually last?

the pharmacist in our surgery said I could no longer have a special cream for my mother who is 102 and we would have to have a phone consultation. I replied that the reason my mother needed the cream was that no one came out to see her and if I couldn’t have the cream I wanted a home visit. Guess what? Yes, we get the cream every time we ask for it.

Gosh, what a story GranbyS. So lucky you were able to pay.

Some ten years ago I slipped on stairs and bashed my back. Struggled along painfully but eventually saw my GP who didn’t look at my back but referred me to the excellent local physio. She immediately spotted the problem and I saw an orthopaedic surgeon. I had been walking around with a fractured vertebra and could have done serious permanent damage. Repair effected by superglue injected under pressure and no further problems. Have never been more grateful for health insurance which we couldn’t really afford but which made the surgery possible - it was the very new and not then an NHS option.

Sorry for others who have been in a similar situation. It is dangerous to start pulling people around until a proper diagnosis has been made.

One time I rang because of my back problem and the receptionist said she would make me an appointment with their "musculo-skeletal specialist" - "Oh", says I, all innocence "Does one of the doctors specialise in this?" No - it was the physio they were referring to. Unbelievable.

Nothing wrong with physios in the right situation, but for my money it's No diagnosis, No physio.