To go back to A&E?

[WhoTookTheChristmasCookie]

I recently presented to A&E in absolute agony after a fall down the stairs.
They wanted to scan me but due to the hospital being in special measures, couldn't. They were satisfied that I hadn't done any major damage after an X-Ray and sent me home with painkillers (a tiny amount of morphine, some co-codamol and a muscle relaxant) and referral to the pain clinic.

I went to my GP today because the pain is just not getting any better. I'm not expecting miracles, but the morphine has now run out and I'm trying to survive on the co-codamol alone. The GP (one I haven't seen before) was really miserable.
Said she couldn't prescribe anything more than the co-codamol and to try alternative methods.
I explained to her that (due to chronic pain) my usual GP is happy to prescribe some oxycodone normally in the short term - she said she wasn't going to do that and that it shouldn't have ever been given to me in the first place.
Told me that my pain clinic appointment is at the end of May(!!) and sent me on my way.

I'm in bits. It hurts to move. Luckily, I have my dad here to help with DD otherwise she'd be stuck on the sofa/bed with me all day.
I'm snappy, tired and utterly fed up.
My body just feels broken and I spend a lot of time crying due to pain.

I've taken the max dose of co-codamol I can so far and I am so tempted just to keep popping the pills till the pain goes away.
I know A&E can't really do anything, but what else am I supposed to do? Surely no-one can be left in this amount of pain for so long.
Honestly, they wouldn't allow an animal to suffer.

Anyone got any ideas?

Go to a different hospital?

I refuse to go to our a&e, I'd rather die. Like for real. I'd travel to another a&e department.

I would personally phone 111 and get an appointment with an OOH Dr

Can go not request the scan be done elsewhere? You can usually choose your hospital.

Oh I really really feel for you. You must be so fed up and feeling quite abandoned. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I'm sure others will be along with helpful advice. Is it possible to see your original helpful GP again on Monday to get a plan together to help you over Christmas? That doesn't solve the immediate problem though. I'm not one for rushing to A+E for anything but I think if you can't get the pain down to copeable levels you've not really got any other options. Whilst you're working out what to do can you try ice/heat/bath/massage etc just to try and distract your pain pathways for a little bit. It's not a solution but it might help get you through another 10 mins.

You have chronic pain as well as the pain from the fall? What’s the situation with that? Do you have a treatment plan in place or could you broach your acute pain with whoever manages that?

Cocodamol doesn’t work that well by itself for me (I have chronic pain). Do you have something like naproxen?
What is it that you have actually injured? The GP’s don’t like prescribing painkillers for pain that isn’t chronic as you are more likely to get addicted (eg short term use for a back injury is more likely to have the person hooked that someone with arthritis- not sure how but that’s the thinking)

Also, when was the fall down the stairs? If it was 2 weeks ago then the pain should be better, if it was 2 days ago then your still be healing

In my area there is one hospital that is part of a trust; none of the hospitals in the trust could scan me.
It's bollocks.

I've got an MSK appointment in January so hopefully she'll be able to push for something more but until then it looks like I'm stuck in terms of diagnostics.

My hospital is a total shambles. I know they're under increasing pressure and they really cannot cope with it - especially since they've shut the local MIU.

With regards to the chronic pain, I'm at a stalemate also. The GP has referred me to the MSK clinic and I waited months for that appointment, the medical services here are just poor.
Every time I see the GP he says I'm doing all the right things but there's physically no more he can do - then he prescribes a very small amount of oxycodone and sends me on my way.

I'll admit the pain was bearable until recently. For some reason over the last 6 months my suffering has become something else and I'm taking the oxycodone a lot more often than I would like too - but it's either that or being bedbound (which I am at the moment.)

The pain takes my breath away.

I do use heat/ice, hot baths, ibuprofen gel, deep heat, TENS, gentle stretching when I can, breathing, meditation. I don't know what else I can do

@Hidillyho I can't take naproxen - even with omeprazole because the heartburn was just adding to the misery.

The last time I was checked (!) the pain was stemming from my hip. I have bone degeneration, the tissues/ligaments surrounding my hip have eroded away and now it's basically bone rubbing on bone.
They were also concerned about AS.
I had to wait months for a referral which is the MSK appointment in January to see how to proceed.
Since the last check, the pain is now in my back. Lower and upper. I can cope with the lower back pain more but the upper is unbearable.
It feels like all the air is being squeezed out of me, my body in a vice.
The pressure is uncomfortable - like being constantly winded.

The fall was only recent - I know I'm still healing and it's important to get moving. I just don't know how to get moving when I can't physically move without crying.

So is it pain from your accident or the chronic pain which is the real issue? Can you ask to be considered for cancellation appointments?

@LIZS I'm not sure.

Since the fall the pain has gotten worse (which is to be expected) but I can usually cope.
Being in tears most of the time and not being able to move far from my bed is ridiculous.

The most concerning thing for me at the moment is the vice type sensation in my upper back. All the air being pushed out of my body, really struggling to get a lungful if air and extreme pain when breathing.
But the other pain is still there too, as it was before my fall.

I called the pain clinic today and they took my details for any cancellations- but I'm going to keep calling.

even with omeprazole because the heartburn
I have started to get this but I have been taking naproxen for 2years daily (slowly coming off it)

If the pain is bone on bone then I’m not sure that painkillers would really help?

If you can afford it i would reccomend seeing a private specialist. I did this year and it helped a lot and although I only saw them once it helped get the correct medication that I needed to start coming off painkillers.

Have you tried tiger balm? Although maybe the ibuprofen balm would work better. Also, I also found sleeping with a baby feeding pillow/pregnancy pillow helped with pain at night. Resting aids in recovery

@Hidillyho for some reason it really didn't agree with me.
I can take normal ibuprofen no problem so continue to do that also.

The painkillers don't cure the bone on bone, but they help me to have a standard of life that is somewhat liveable - especially with my young DD.

I'm looking into private medicine. It's on my to do list for the new year, can't afford it this side of Christmas though.

I've tried the white and red tiger balms, they provide a small amount of relief in conjunction with everything else.
If I could, I'd spend my hours in a bath but again it's not viable with a small child.
I've got a pregnancy type pillow; heated blanket, lumbar pillow.
I just want to be comfortable

I’m really sorry to say things, but since they already did x-rays, and you aren’t sure if the pain is from your chronic condition, I’m not really sure A &E could do much for you. They might prescribe heavier painkillers but they usually don’t. Around here, it is policy to only prescribe heavy duty pain killers for short doses, with no refills and they won’t renew it (sometime exceptions are made but it’s very very very rare). They may give you painkillers while there though. If you have no other options, you might have to go. Pain is terrible and I’m so sorry you are going through this.

The pain while breathing is a bit concerning though. They did a chest x-ray right? I’d be concerned about the possibility of a cracked/broken rib or depending on how recent your fall was, bruised lung. Not so much a collapsed lung because that youd have had shortly after the fall. If they didn’t do a chest X-ray, I’d go back and demand one.

Have you tried putting epsom salt in your bath? Sometimes it helps with muscule/skeletal pain.

Did you fall more than 6months ago?

You,could ring 111 and explain this to them, if you're having pain on breathing that should be looked into.

@Elphie54 see I know that deep down but I don't know what else I can do.
I hate A&E (as does everyone) but I'm barely existing at the minute

They x-rayed my back and my chest - said there was no cause for concern at all.
I was worried about a cracked rib/bruised lung due to where I landed but I don't think that would show up. It's just so frustrating.
I wish I was a dog, I think they'd put me down.

I've tried Epsom salts, it does relax me but as soon as I'm out the bath the pain starts creeping up again.

@YeOldeTrout I've fallen twice in the period of 6 weeks.
6 months ago I had a slip, but nothing major.

Have you tried CBD? I have Fibromyalgia & am on some very strong painkillers, I've managed to more than halve my painkillers by using CBD. I vape mine, mix it with my normal vape juice, but you can get drops you put under your tongue, capsules, jellies that are a bit like Hairbo sweets, there are loads of options, I use 1000mg strength. If you can get some magnesium tablets from the supermarket or health shop they also help with pain. Keep up with the Epsom Salt baths, you can also get Magnesium to put in the bath as well, I use both. For your hip pain, a Tens machine can really help, it kind of numbs the pain. If you have to take painkillers, don't wait until the pain is bad, take them regularly to keep a constant dose in your body.

2 falls in 6 weeks, is it because of your hip that you fall, do you lose your balance. I'd call 111, if they think you need more xrays and scans at least it will help you find out what's causing this pain and treat you. If you are having trouble breathing you can call for an ambulance.

You need a scan because some damage doesn’t show up on x rays. If I were you, I’d forget about buying Christmas stuff and pay to see a private back specialist as soon as possible.

@Nat6999 I haven't. I'm willing to try absolutely anything at this point, though I wouldn't know where to start with CBD.
I vape too, where can I get a juice from?
I'll get some magnesium too.
Thank you!

Just a word based on something in your opening post - don't keep taking cocodamol- it contains paracetamol and it is not safe to exceed maximum dose because of that.

Rubbing Voltarol gel on affected bits can help a bit, and you can use quite a lot of that. Diclofenac is prescription only, but might be worth trying.

@cheesywotnots exactly that. My hip 'clunks' out of place and I lose my balance due to pain and instability in the joint.
Both times I've fallen recently have been on the stairs also; it's getting dangerous.

It's not so much trouble breathing (I have no shortness of breath) it's that it's uncomfortable to breath. I feel that I can't properly fill my lungs due to the vice type sensation from my middle back up.
It's like being constantly winded, that's the best way I can describe it.

@Bluesmartiesarebest I'm looking at getting a credit card and putting it on that; I won't have access to the funds until January otherwise

@GlacindaTheTroll I think that's my worry, it's so tempting to keep going but I know the paracetamol can cause damage.

I've not tried the voltarol gel yet, I'll have a look for that one. Thank you.