To take DH to A&E

[DontGoIntoTheLongGrass]

I'll try to make this quick as I have a habit of rambling on.
Basically dh wants to be tested for a genetic condition which his dad has which fuses the spine. He has every symptom. Dh is at the point now where he cannot move for the pain and he is getting no sleep because of it. He is on strong meds but they do nothing. An x-ray is required for diagnosis but the doctors will not refer him for one. They give him more pain meds which dont touch the pain.
Aibu to take DH to a&e to try get the x-ray next time he wakes up in the night screaming in pain? Sorry if this is a stupid question but I know the consensus on mn over wasting the doctors time at a&e. I'm just struggling to see my DH in so much agony every day.

Absolutely no osteopath or chiro treatment with severe pain without a cause medically diagnosed

Laguna - because the condition is not life threatening. Check nhs guidance and it will define an “emergency”. I sympathise with his pain but he wont die of it any time soon.

But how do you know this? The pain could be life threatening for all you know, it might be totally unrelated to any condition he may have to, youre not a Doctor, you havent examined him.

It might take time to change GP. Try A&e but likely to just give you pain meds and refer you back to GP. If it’s the condition others have mentioned, for quickness if you can afford it get private GP appointment and ask for the blood test (again you’ll have to pay). But at least you can then present to your Nhs gp as having a diagnosis.

Minor Injury units are really worth a go OP, give them a call to explain if unsure but I am pretty sure they will offer your DP an X-ray straight away if you explain that your DP is in a lot of pain.

Has he considered emailing the doctor? When we had a similar issue we emailed them before the appointment, knowing that that would create an official record of the request, they responded faster than usual (of course that may be a coincidence).
We haven't had the same experience with MIL GP because they don't provide an email address.

I agree with printing out the relevant pages from the NICE guidance and taking it along to discuss with the doctor he sees, as suggested by @HPandBaconSandwiches. Hope he gets what he needs tomorrow!

Dd has AS and it is an awful condition. She was actually referred to a rheumatologist through the eye clinic after getting repeated attacks of uveitis. At the time she didn't have back pain although six months previously she had had a spell where she was thought to have strained herself. Within three months she was ravaged by the AS and on morphine and then put onto immunosuppressants. I feel for your dh if he has anything like the pain dd experiences as it has crushed dd's life (she is only 24). I think you need to find a GP who will listen to your dh's concerns and consider his family history whether that is at the current surgery or at a new one.

Please, please demand your go refer him. If you are still unsuccessful, ask on your local fb group for GP recommendations and change GPS.

My brother has AS, and was fobbed off from his teens. By the time he got a diagnoses, the damage was already done.

If caught earlier enough, there are treatments that can slow down the progress and help to keep it in remission.

The gp said he needs to take medications to get rid of any inflammation before they do an x-ray. Is this right? Any professional that may try manipulate his back will most likely get punched by him. Not being aggresive but even I can't touch him without it causing so much pain. It's started affecting his sciatic nerve now as a few times he's lost feeling in his legs and nearly collapsed.

Hopefully we can get an appointment tomorrow and I'm going with him with guns blazing and demanding help. I've mentioned that pushdoctor website to him, thanks. Dh said he'll see doctor tomorrow and may have to resort to that if still not further.

Also, if it is AS you may wish to ask for genetic counselling if you haven’t started or completed your family. AS is a very difficult condition, I’m very sorry for your DH.

Do NOT go to a chiropractor.

Please read the NICE guidelines.

"Aibu to take DH to a&e to try get the x-ray next time he wakes up in the night screaming in pain? Sorry if this is a stupid question but I know the consensus on mn over wasting the doctors time at a&e. I'm just struggling to see my DH in so much agony every day."

Personally, I think SCREENING IN PAIN IS AN EMERGENCY. GO.

You won't get the old don't go to A and E from me. Just go if you need to. Why not. The NHS is failing you, I'd go. But I'd also change GP because they sound shit, Or I would simply threaten to bring a complaint against the surgery because that sounds like gross negligence to me.

And even if they do refer your dh, how long is the wait?

Take him to A and E if you need to.

Or ring 101 and get 101 to tell you to go to A and E because then you can say they sent you.

A+E will treat his pain - uncontrolled pain IS an emergency.

They will not be able to diagnose the cause of his pain.

I agree with everybody who said 'see another doctor'. X-rays of the spine are rarely appropriate (unless you've just fallen off a roof or been involved in a car crash or similar) and he is much more likely to get more information from an MRI scan.
The blood test to find further evidence for or against the likelihood of ankylosing spondylitis can be done in Primary Care and, surely, with a known family history of it ought to be offered?

Having said that, AS tends to cause stiffness as a main symptoms with dull pain rather than agonising-screaming-in-pain pain. If that makes sense?

Has he been seen by a skilled physiotherapist?
I'd also counsel against chiropractic or osteopathy without a diagnosis.

Try a walk in clinic to see a different gp.

Nickephorus there are a number of conditions where people DO know that they will be screaming with pain, and it IS an emergency and recognised as such in A and E .I know someone who has a condition where her knees are label to disjoint themselves, causing intense pain - she is always fast tracked through A and E . I also taught a child with sickle cell, when he has an attack he is in such pain that only morphine will touch it. I imagine that the OPs husband falls into this category.

A GP should do investigations to get to the cause of the pain. I see OP writes he has been told to take tablets to reduce inflammation before investigation can be done. So the GP has listened and is doing something. But meanwhile there is significant pain.
I would suggest yout DH calls GP and asks for same day assessment/Triage early tomorrow for review of what pain meds can be given and also for the 2nd opinion.
I think A&E could cause a long uncomfortable night as they will have access to his records and see he has an on going chronic pain condition and more pressing emergencies will get prioritised. You'll prob get your xray but at what cost tonight?
I've been on a MAU trolley bed overnight with back pain- I self discharged as home was preferable!
Hope you get sorted, whatever you do. And remember you can always ask for an orthopaedic referral but remember the waiting time is literally months...

If you're considering going private you could get a referral from a private GP. I'm in London and a private GP appointment near me is £70....you can normally get a same day appointment and they will refer you to a private rheumatologist.

You could also try A&E....go and say he woke up screaming in pain and has no diagnosis for any conditions, which is true. At the very least he woukd get pain relief and they may very well do an x-ray. It isn't your fault your GP won't refer your DH, and it's not acceptable for your GP not to provide appropriate treatment. If it takes a trip to A&E to get the ball rolling then that's on your GP not you.

Op, my AS has affected my discs and caused sciatica and it sounds like your DH has similar problems. The pain from AS tends to be more of an ache that feels deep inside the spine. Sciatic pain is sharp like an electric shock and most pain killers can't work as it's so extreme. It's very important that your DH gets treatment so you must push for an urgent diagnosis.

Avoid osteopaths, chiropractors and physio until you know exactly what is causing the pain because you can do further damage with the wrong treatment.

My partner's brother has AS and it's my understanding that it is passed down the female line, so your DP shouldn't be able to inherit from his dad. It could be a coincidence and his back pain is an unrelated condition. This is not to downplay the severity of your partner's pain, which sounds dreadful for both of you to cope with. It sounds like the GP is not helping and maybe a second opinion would be helpful.

I’m afraid that’s not true winginit
It’s not just passed through the female line.

Well that's depressing, given that I have two kids and a partner that is also borderline with the condition. Sorry for piping in with out of date information. Hope your partner gets some proper help with his back soon.

If he wakes in agony tonight I would take him to A&E. It’s absolutely unfair that the GP won’t refer you.

Good luck!

OP "It's started affecting his sciatic nerve now as a few times he's lost feeling in his legs and nearly collapsed. "

I don't wish to be alarmist - and I am not a doctor - but when I had some spinal problems, after discharge I was told to report to the doctor immediately if this occurred.

thing is, we don't know what is wrong with your DH and we can't assume. Honestly, if your doc won't see him tomorrow and you're in a position to pay, I would get a referral any way you can.

I am also concerned that A&E would simply give painkillers - though of course if he needs morphine etc he should go - but then afterwards they will simply refer you back to your GP.

Maybe my GP is just cautious, but asked me to report any loss of sensation to her immediately. She is a very good thorough doctor though, sadly it sounds like your whole practice is shite. Honestly, if you can get a private referral either through a private GP or that pushdoctor thing, I would.

and then I'd give your current doctor the push!!!!

PS just to reassure, my issues were due to an accident - I'm not saying your DH is in the same position, but what concerns me most is the doctor hasn't actually bothered to check what the situation is!

good luck with all of this.