Would a GP refer to a physio for shoulder pain?

[moreteaplease0]

And if so, how long would the waiting list be?

I’ve had this pain for over a month now but it isn’t going away. I’ve tried a sports massage and a Thai massage but neither have helped. Is this the kind of thing a physio would help with?

They will and it depends on your local area.

However, as a shoulder issue / injury veteran, you're better off getting private physio as NHS physio is very hands-off and a sheet of exercises.

My private physio is a witch doctor, I swear. He pressed on two nerve points and my pain level plummeted and I could mobilise way better afterwards. I still need surgery (most likely) but I'm in a way better place on a day-to-day basis.

Noword Any chance your physio is in NW England? I'd give anything for that result!

He is, actually! I'll PM you.

Brilliant! Thank you

As above, NHS physio is abysmal nowadays. It's mainly outsourced.

A good physio is worth their weight in gold.

Hope you feel better soon.

NoWord may I also have a PM please? Same area!

Thank you all.

Have you trìed ibuprofen and heat packs?

Yes, nothing has worked so far

I've just PM'd you @moreteaplease0

Sorry for the delay, I was putting a pox-y child to bed!

This is strangely fortuitous as I am also NW London and have had shoulder pain for about 5 months, on and off. I thought it would get better after having 2 weeks off work and 2 months off my sport after an operation but it's still there. Any chance I can get that PM too, @NoWordForFluffy?
Have been putting off going via GP for exactly the reasons upthread. Hope yours gets sorted OP.

Haha oh dear, I can't even read. Saw NW and assumed London, I am horridly London centric aren't I as you were!

Private physio all the way - literally changed my life!

I'll send David down (or you can come for a visit to the seaside?!), Hanar

You do need to do ice packs rather than heat.

20 mins at time too.

My GP handed out a leaflet for a private physio when i had a slipped disc in my neck.
The message was very much pay for it yourself!

Our local hospitals have a self referral walk in physiotherapy departments.

It might be worth seeing your GP as they may refer you somewhere. It would be best to actually know what the problem is, it might take more than physio (I've had three shoulder ops)..

My GP referred me to an NHS physio due to shoulder pain that wasn’t easing. It turned out to be shoulder impingement and the fix for it is very gentle, gradually-increasing exercising over the next three to six months. I see the physio every couple of weeks. A private physio wouldn't have been able to do anything any quicker and would’ve bankrupted me by now.