To consider a different A&E for 2nd opinion?

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Short story. MIL dislocated her shoulder on Saturday. She's 72. They've sent her home untreated to see if it pops back in by itself. Follow up appointment this Friday, nearly a week after it happened.

Having googled, everything says it should have been reduced (relocated) before she left hospital. Even the NHS website says treatment is to put it back in in hospital. On TV 24 hours in A&E always put it back in!

It just seems a long time to leave anyone with a dislocated shoulder, in pain and unable to do the most basic tasks. It shows no signs of going back in so far and the bruising is getting worse. In fact several articles warn of the risks of leaving it untreated such as muscle damage and arthritis.

She is now staying with us as she obviously can not move her arm without pain. WIBU to take her to a different A&E where we live to check that the treatment (not) given was right?

Might be worth calling 111?

Oh my good god if it really is fully dislocated it needs put in?? What use is leaving it out?! She must be in agony! I have done this but it rolled back in within ten mins and it was more painful than delivering a ten pound baby, absolutely unbearable
I'm so surprised she's home??

I agree with you. If she's in pain take her back or elsewhere. Maybe call 101 for a referral.

when my Mum 73 dislocated her shoulder recently they had 2 attempts at manipulation and then put her under to put it back ON THE SAME EVENING!! She was then in a neoprene type sling for 2 weeks and a follow up check up.

Definitely go elsewhere!

Your poor mum, that sounds awful, but maybe there's a valid reason, I can't think of one but I'm not a medic, honestly you'd not send a dog home with a dislocation, it sounds barbaric to me.
Surely the longer it's out the harder it's going to be to get put back in?

Are you absolutely sure that you've understood correctly?

Are you sure it's dislocated rather than broken? Broken shoulders where the break is at the top of the arm are managed without an operation unless later x rays show it doesn't heal.

yanbu
that's apalling and negligent treatment.

I would be amazed if she'd had a straightforward dislocation with no associated fracture and had received no treatment. If you're concerned why don't you pop back to the same A&E and ask? I'm sure they will be able to reassure you and explain the rationale for the treatment plan.

The same A&E is where she lives, quite far from where we live, a long way for her to sit in the car.

TBH it was her friend who went with her, by the time they'd contacted DH and he'd driven there, they were out of hospital so he didn't hear anything they had to say.

It's obviously dislocated as one shoulder is 4 inches lower than the other. Though not to say something isn't broken too.

I'll get her to call 111 and tell them what she knows.

Thank you