Holiday problem. GP problem. No idea what to do

[JustOneDamnedThingAfterAnother]

Just wrote a long long post and bastard MN server ate it.

DH has somwthing wrong with his hip/back/pelvis. No idea what as cannot get a GP to actually see him in person. Just phonecalls. Told to take pain killers. It’s been 4 months. Getting worse. Is in quite serious pain.
He can’t stand up straight. Can’t walk more than 10 steps. Has to crawl up the stairs. Can work as sitting (driving) but this is getting to be a problem too. Has had X-ray. Physio said there’s nothing on that and to do some stretching. He can’t as in agony. He looks like shit and is worrying (as am I now) that there’s something nasty going on.
Latest phonecall was with a paramedic who suggested codeine. So now if he takes that he can’t work at all (driving/sedating effects - not a great idea).

Holiday is in 2 weeks. as he is he couldn’t walk across an airport. If we got there I could park him at the pool but would be a bit shit.

I assume insurance would need a Dr letter to cancel? Can’t get a dr appointment.

would insurance cover my bit or would we lose that? I couldn’t really go and leave him at home as he can’t do anything.

or go on holiday. How does one arrange that? He’d need wheeling to the bloody plane. Couldn’t stand in a queue at all.

Pack him a bag, drop him off and get it sorted it sounds dreadful. Don't be out off by the 15 ambulances he will get seen

Can you go private? If not go to A and E

It is interesting that he can sit down without pain as I literally couldn't sit down with my inflamed discs. I'd lie down and if I could manage it I could get from that to standing up and be vaguely okay. But I couldn't sit down without being in absolute agony because I assume it compressed the discs.

So in a very anecdotal way that may rule out that he has inflamed discs if he can sit okay....

But I have absolutely no training just a bit of a buggered back!!

Although to give him some hope - mine has totally cleared up now and I'm sitting on a disasterously squishy sofa with no ill effect at the mo (although my back is actually telling me "for the love of God get off that sofa" in a little quiet voice, now I think about it!!)

Im not angry or enraged and not quite sure why you would think so. I understand back pain, Ive had it on and off for years after herniating a disc when I was in my teens, despite assurances that it would, it has never really recovered.

Ive given advice and hoped it was helpful but if not, good luck.

If he does go to A&E I would not go at this time of night.

My husband had to go a few months ago and we did have to go in the middle of the night because of what it was - query heart attack - and it was an absolute nightmare.

I would pack several sandwiches and tea and water and a good book and arrive there at about 8am if I was him.

I feel your pain @bellac11 - I agree, I don't think these things ever fully recover. It is like broken bones, I can still feel mine when it rains even though I did them when I was a teenager.

@CorsicaDreaming I could sit and I could lie But it put my back into spasm every time I moved and when I wanted to get from sitting or lying to standing it was absolute agony and walking was unbearable and I couldn’t straighten up for a good few minutes when it would be ok as I was walking but any turn was agony

I'd read the travel insurance policy.

phone the holiday insurers. Explain.
Ask what they need to pay up, when and how you'd need to claim. If you are also covered or not if you also don't go.
Get the person you speak to's name.

Likelihood is a gp letter. You'd need to pay but they write them and leave at reception in my practice.

Also if it's a package holiday you may also be covered via that via ABTA?? Or have I made that up? I'm sure I've read that somewhere.

And if you paid all or part on credit card you have some kinds of cover - but I think that one may be clutching at straws. But my credit card refunded a £50 fraud from China, so it could be worth looking at this. The consumer credit act is massive and largely on side of the consumer.

So you have a walk in center near by? In this kind of situation they would probably refer him onto a and e, so not particularly helpful in that regard.
But they might be able to provide the letter you need for the travel insurance.

Do you have even?!?

First...speak to the holiday company, can you pay to move it to other dates later in the year? Then speak to the insurance company pending what answers you get from the holiday company.

Second turn up at the doctors surgery and refuse to move until you have an appointment with them. If you can pay for private then it might be quicker to get you in with a back consultant (I get that you shouldn't need to but hey the world is upside down at the mo and needs must)

I understand his pain, was told I had sciatica for over a year, it got worse over that time, tried massage, chiro, couldn't walk 10 steps, could sit once I got comfy but then getting up again ws agony. The tablets I was given did take the pain away for a while, then stopped being as effective, so i was put on stronger but I was useless and couldn't function on them so had to stop. 1 herniated disc, crushing my spinal column therefore causing nerve pain, I had surgery and the relief was bliss when I woke up.

Please don't let it go, please keep pushing for answers. Good luck.

Low back pain that severe and unrelenting that eases with sitting posture suggests to me that something is pressing on a spinal nerve… most likely a disc but could be more serious.

Where exactly is the epicentre of the pain, what sort of pain is it and how did it come on?

Ultimately he needs an MRI, an xray isn’t what’s needed here.

If I were him I’d be going to a&e in the morning. You can’t go on without any treatment. That’s ridiculous!

Go to A&E first thing in the morning. If all else fails, go private.

If you can get him on the plane (ask airport in advance for assisted boarding and wheelchair) some swimming in the pool might help. It would be easier to do his exercises in the water.

Why are you phoning the GP? They’re not going to talk to you about his medical condition when he’s a full grown man. If he wants a GP appointment, he should arrange it. If he wants to complain, he should do it. Not sure you babying him is going to help.

If you do decide to go on your holiday, you can call your airline to book 'special assistance' so he'll be taken from check in to the aircraft and vice versa at the other end.

Yes. The poor fellow needs an MRI.