To take my mother to A&E ASAP?

[Marthacliffscumbag]

I'm currently sat on a train travelling 200 miles to see my mother, I'm panicked, stressed and quite simply not sure what the hell I'm going to do when I get there.
To cut a very long story short, my mother started with back pain 6 months ago, very sudden, she's healthy, works full time, only 60. My mother hasn't been to the gp for about 15 years but she went and he gave her painkillers, they didn't work.
The pain got worse, he changed the painkillers, they didn't work. She begged for an MRI he refused, sent her for an X-ray which showed nothing. Sent her for physio, which caused her such crucifying pain he agreed it wasn't working so stopped
after 6 sessions and wrote to her gp to say it wasn't working.
Meanwhile my mother can't sleep, can't lie down, cannot eat, she is a shell of her former self.
She finally had an MRI 3 weeks ago which to everyones shock showed that she has in fact fractured her spine. Dr says it will heal but she's getting worse, she called me today completely incoherent with pain, vomiting, insensible. This is a woman who is the strongest person I know, she is now on liquid morphine, still in agony and at breaking point. That she would allow me to see her this way is testimony to how much pain she is in. I've left my children with my husband, and I'm racing to see her now. But what do I do when i get there? Will A&E just turn us away and tell us to see the gp again? I think that would break her, I feel so bloody angry and helpless, that she's been in such agony and also that she had to wait so long for the MRI, forced to do physio with a broken spine. Please give me your advice where to go now mumsnetters.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

I would have thought that after 6 months the fracture would have healed enough that the pain wouldn't still be this severe (I'm not an expert).

This suggests that something is still wrong. The MRI was around 5 months after the pain started if I have read the first post correctly.

[Applejack29]

Oh your poor mum (and poor you too for the stress and worry) definitely call an ambulance, even if she seems a bit better when you arrive. It's been going on too long.

I was ill and in agony at my GPs last year and (everyone knew what was wrong with me - I was awaiting an op) the nurse called 999 and I was rushed off to have the op as an emergency. I was feeling a bit better by the time the ambulance arrived but I still got the op months earlier than I would have done if I'd just waited.

[Iamdobby63]

Poor Mum, poor you. Will you even manage to get her in the car?

[SoupDragon]

She's had an MRI which shows a fracture. A doctor has reviewed the MRI and said it will heal on its own. That tells us that in that Dr's opinion the fracture is stable enough to be left to heal.

That's all very well, but it has been 6 months of excruciating pain and it clearly hasn't healed.

[QuimReaper]

Oh God OP, how incredibly distressing for you and for her. This is awful, I can't believe that GP flatly refused her an x-ray. Have they worked out how she broke it?

So sorry for you. Since she's no longer in such distress I'd wait until you arrive and then take her to A&E.

I'm no doctor but surely a fractured spine calls for more treatment than an "it will heal"?!

[lissage]

Best wishes to both of you OP

[Dixiechickonhols]

I've had liquid morphine after 2 operations and it made me so so ill, projectile vomiting. My brother saw me the second time and phoned my mum to say she had better come as I was in such a bad way. It may be the morphine making her feel so ill but sounds like there is something else going on too. Hope she can get some relief asap.

[ImperialBlether]

What time will you get to her, OP? Is there anyone who can be with her in the meantime?

[Muskateersmummy]

gandalf not all broken spines need a brace. Mine didn't.

I agree with previous poster that it shouldn't take a hospital admission to get the pain meds right.

I'm 5 months post break, am still in daily pain but not as bad as op describes. I suspect the vomiting is due to the medication not the break. She needs to speak to someone to resolve the issue and I would be asking for a repeat MRI if she's still in this much pain after 6 months to check it's healing properly.

[sparechange]

When you say 'lose control', do you mean of her bowels or bladder?
Does she have numbness around her 'saddle' area?
If so, it could be Cauda Equina, and is a 999 case

[AndNowItsSeven]

When you say liquid morphine do you mean liquid morphine or just oramorph?

[hellsbells99]

I took my FIL to A&E several years ago with chronic back pain (previously had an op to fuse discs). I refused to take him home and told them he lived on his own. They eventually admitted him for 24 hours to monitor him. Once they had done blood tests and repeated them, it turned out he had a stomach ulcer that was causing the pain. This perforated whilst in hospital & he needed emergency surgery. Take her to A&E and refuse to take her home. Let them admit her and do a full assessment. No one should be left in that much pain for that long a time. Good luck

[3littlefrogs]

Osteoporosis sounds like a real possibility.
Can you ask if she has had a scan to check for this?
If she has it she will need treatment.
Osteoporotic fractures are so painful and don't heal.

[Just5minswithDacre]

Don't panic, just take her. A&E is the best place to access whatever she needs. You sound like a lovely daughter

[emummy]

It would be helpful to know why she fractured her back. Healthy people shouldn't have a spontaneous fracture. Did the MRI suggest osteoporosis? And did her GP give her a reason for it?
The first thing is to get the pain under control, then be sure that there is no underlying cause for the fracture. If the GP is not helpful then A&E would be next.
Good luck OP, hope that your mum gets the help she needs.

[Wotshudwehave4T]

Deffo A&E. Many potential causes.She may have had more fractures if it's undiagnosed osteoporosis- dexa scans reveal bone density, could be disc on a nerve(s) -pp re cauda equina needs fast attention. Fractures do heal on their own but if osteoporotic take time and treatment to slow bone loss down is essential for the future. If you pay privately balloon kyphotoplasty - injcting cement to stick the fracture together and fill in compacted bone to a degree may be a possibility/suitable. If osteoporotic it can be genetic depending on cause look up NOS website.

[VeganCow]

Sounds completely horrendous. Am just getting over a bad back and its the worst pain after labour. Completely debilitating. hope you get somewhere today.

[feelingmiffed]

Hope you are now with your mum

[Toocold]

I hope your mum is ok. Backpain is the worst pain I have ever had, including childbirth. I cannot believe they left her like that, your poor mum, I hope it is sorted soon.

[Elephantslovetofly]

I wouldn't go to A&E. I would ring the surgery and speak to the on call GP, tell them your mum is struggling and ask for a referral to hospital today. If it is an osteoporotic fracture rest and painkillers are likely to be all they can offer, but a brace might help if she's struggling to move

If you go to A&E you'll be sitting in a plastic chair for hours - your mum won't be seen quickly as it's not an 'emergency' as such (unless the department is quiet - unlikely!)

My grandma has a similar problem so I have a lot of sympathy for you and your mum

[Marthacliffscumbag]

Well I'm here. She's point blank refusing to go to A&E 'I don't want a fuss'.
She's bad, I know her well enough to know this.
To answer a few questions; she doesn't know how it happened, it's unexplained. She's had an appt through for a bone density scan in 2 weeks time. There has been mention of oestroparosis being a possibility but that's as far as its gone. So at the moment we are locked in a battle of wills......

[GloriaGaynor]

Has the vomitting stopped? Does she have any numbness or pins and needles anywhere? Has she been sweating? Can she pee and poo normally? Is she coherent?

[Sallystyle]

I would be very tempted to call 999 and see if they can convince her to go in if they think it is needed. Do you think you could do that?

[shovetheholly]

Oh, it's so frustrating and difficult for you OP! It's great that you're on hand, and can keep an eye on her yourself. You may have to overrule things if she gets any worse.

My concern would be that the pain isn't controlled, but also something a bit different which is that the symptoms might not be 'just' the pain - that there could be something else going on that needs checking out.

Hang in there!