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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to hospital for this?

38 replies

Micemice · 01/12/2022 21:25

I suffer from a back issues- herniated discs and had an MRI and am looking at possible surgery in the future.
I was doing so well pain wise until a flair up this week after a very minor car accident - now I am in absolute agony . I mean want to vomit it is so painful, can’t move, lie , sit stand etc I contacted my GP this morning who just issued more cocodamol.
Tonight I feel unable to tolerate the pain, I mentioned to a family member I might go to the hospital and they said this was absolutely not a reason to go to A and E, that I wouldn’t be seen and was wasting their time considering I know what the issue is and also how stretched staff are. Out of hours has several hours call back and the last time I contacted them months ago they told me to take the meds I have. So my question is would I be unreasonable to go to a and e for some additional pain relief? If that’s even an option . . Or is that unreasonable and I should just suck up the pain and it hopefully eventually eases? I don’t want to waste resources but equally feel the levels of pain is beyond “normal”.
thanks

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 01/12/2022 21:26

Christ if you’ve been in a car accident and am in agony then yes, go, you have no idea what you might have done to yourself…

…. as does no one else here, so no one can actually diagnose or tell you not to go, please leave it to the professionals and get an expert opinion!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/12/2022 21:34

Yes, go. You've been in a car accident and you already have back issues. Just because it's a minor accident doesn't mean you haven't done more damage. Good luck

AnxiousStepparent · 01/12/2022 21:37

This is exactly what A&E is for. Something has changed since you had a car accident to the point where you can barely move. You need to get this looked at asap.

girlmom21 · 01/12/2022 21:37

You're in enough pain that cocodamol isn't enabling you to sit or lie down? Absolutely go. Can you get there safely?

alexdgr8 · 01/12/2022 21:43

agree with the others.
get someone to drive you, or mini-cab.
let us know how you get on.
good luck.

Heavyraindropsarefallingonmyhead · 01/12/2022 21:46

My BiL was in a very minor car accident, checked over by the hospital, discharged. A few days later he was back in agony, he had fractured his spine and they had missed it, and then as he was moving around it had got worse.

I'm not saying this has happened to you. but it's absolutely possible for something to have either been missed or to have got worse. So A & E is absolutely the right call.

Olivia199 · 01/12/2022 21:46

Yes, I'd go. You've got worsening pain after an accident and you're unable to manage it at home..

Going to A&E with something that's been there and unchanging for a long time and you're just not satisfied with the GP response or you're wanting further investigation etc wouldn't be okay because it's not what the service is there for. It's also not what you'll get. It's frustrating having so many patients with "oh I've had this pain for about 3 months but the scan is taking ages to come through" or "I've been feeling poorly but because I'm at work in the day I couldn't see my GP". Those aren't accidents or emergencies. I imagine that may be where those people are coming from - it isn't a new condition etc...

However, you've had an accident and your condition has worsened significantly. You require pain management and assessment to see whether the accident has caused any damage. Those are things that are absolutely acceptable reasons to self present.

One thing often asked in triage when someone starts with "so I've had this for x amount of time" is "So what has changed to make this an emergency". For you, it's an accident and a significant increase in pain. Plus the inability to manage that pain.

It'll likely be a long wait. You may not get any long term solutions or answers. However they will be able to manage your pain and check that the accident didn't cause any injury that requires treatment.

Hope you're on the mend soon - it's awful feeling like that.

Original poster
Micemice · 01/12/2022 23:02

Thanks everyone, trying to get childcare sorted to allow me to go tonight but I think it might have to be in the morning first thing. I will have to taxi it which is fine as can’t possible drive . Ive taken the full 24 hr limit of cocodamol now so gona be a long night as I have no other options but a heat pads and ibuprofen gels, deep heat.
to clarify about the accident, I had to do an emergency stop going about 50mph and swerve to miss a car that hit the car in front of me . So technically my car didn’t hit/ get hit but was definitely enough to cause some issue in my back!thanks for your kindness x

OP posts:
Infracat · 01/12/2022 23:12

I think you're doing the right thing. Hope you can get it sorted. Let us know how yiu get on.

loopyb · 01/12/2022 23:23

You need minor injuries not A&E. Unless you have signs of spinal cord compression (e.g. unable to control your bowels, numbness in the saddle area) it is not an emergency, sorry.

Lougle · 01/12/2022 23:25

This is a reason to go to A&E because you can't assume that your existing back issue is causing your pain. You stopped abruptly and now have acute back pain (on top of your chronic pain), so you need to be seen.

Potato28 · 01/12/2022 23:29

You have no idea what injury this person has had and its Dangerous to suggest ‘Its not an Emergency’
How do you know that?

Potato28 · 01/12/2022 23:29

Message for @loopyb ⬆️

thelittlefox · 01/12/2022 23:52

I had a v similar injury to you, right down to the emergency stop triggering it... was painful but bearable with otc meds for a week, and then suddenly one evening a whoosh of the worst pain EVER, I ended up twisted on the floor, I could hardly breathe or speak...my partner got in from work, and didn't find me for half an hour, I was in too much agony to call out.

He called 111 and at about 1am, a locum came to the house and banged a shot of morphine into my bum, and left a prescription for tramadol and diclofenac. This was 10 years ago, I have no idea if that would happen now, but I absolutely couldn't have got myself to A&E, I couldn't even get off the bloody floor.

thelittlefox · 01/12/2022 23:54

Not suggesting you don't need A&E btw, just suggesting that you call 111 to see if there's any possibility someone can come to you instead, as moving and then waiting in a waiting room is probably going to be nigh on impossible!

loopyb · 01/12/2022 23:57

Because I'm a medical professional. OP has symptoms typical of their diagnosis and has been seen by a GP. No report of trauma/ collision (emergency stop only) and no symptoms of cord compression.

Back pain is horrendous. But this is not a medical emergency or life threatening situation. Minor injuries or another GP visit however will be able to deal with this appropriately in the morning, when OP says she can go anyway!

loopyb · 02/12/2022 00:02

Echo what @thelittlefox says too, A&E waiting room for hours is going to be extremely uncomfortable/ make the pain worse!

Original poster
Micemice · 02/12/2022 03:16

Thank you, I wouldn’t have thought about minor injuries @loopyb so il give them a ring tomorrow first thing, they are further away that the A and E but if I can be seen there then happy to go. Am in so much pain tonight I can’t get comfortable to sleep , when my back issue first started months ago I was in this about of pain however once I got prescribed pain and nerve meds the pain became manageable so I am worried about about the fact that
I’m now in such pain despite the medication!

OP posts:
lovelilies · 02/12/2022 03:27

loopyb · 01/12/2022 23:23

You need minor injuries not A&E. Unless you have signs of spinal cord compression (e.g. unable to control your bowels, numbness in the saddle area) it is not an emergency, sorry.

Minor injuries won't touch a back injury. GP possibly but she's had max cocodamol and still in significant pain so ED is her best bet

lovelilies · 02/12/2022 03:29

That's what round happen in our area anyway, I'm aware differently areas triage differently.

TeaAndTattoos · 02/12/2022 03:33

I know this isn’t the same thing but my mum has arthritis in her lower back and swears by her tense machine it’s one of the few things that helps with her pain maybe try something like that. I hope you can get something sorted for your back it could just be that the force from you performing an emergency stop has just jolted your back but I would suggest going and getting yourself checked out.

TeaAndTattoos · 02/12/2022 03:37

I meant tens machine sorry.

Original poster
Micemice · 02/12/2022 04:50

Thanks @TeaAndTattoos I do have a tens machine and haven’t found it useful unfortunately . I am bed bound as it’s is beyond excruciating trying to get up or move, I have a electric heat pad attached to me which is somewhat distracting and I also just took some diazepam I had here and another cocodomal. It’s a 8/10 pain wise lying down and a 10/10 trying to stand- my left leg and foot is mostly numb also. I have to wait until 7am until I can get childcare to see if I could get to hospital, I did contemplate ringing an ambulance as I could barely breath with the pain a while ago but tried to focus on my breathing etc and I have kids asleep so now I’m laying here waiting until morning. I think even a dose of morphine or even gas and air would be helpful .

OP posts:
TeaAndTattoos · 02/12/2022 05:54

Micemice · 02/12/2022 04:50

Thanks @TeaAndTattoos I do have a tens machine and haven’t found it useful unfortunately . I am bed bound as it’s is beyond excruciating trying to get up or move, I have a electric heat pad attached to me which is somewhat distracting and I also just took some diazepam I had here and another cocodomal. It’s a 8/10 pain wise lying down and a 10/10 trying to stand- my left leg and foot is mostly numb also. I have to wait until 7am until I can get childcare to see if I could get to hospital, I did contemplate ringing an ambulance as I could barely breath with the pain a while ago but tried to focus on my breathing etc and I have kids asleep so now I’m laying here waiting until morning. I think even a dose of morphine or even gas and air would be helpful .

I hope you manage to get some sleep I’m sure there has to be something that they could give you my mum uses moverlat gel. Good luck at the hospital hope you can find some relief from your pain.

PatchworkElmer · 02/12/2022 06:01

I hope you get seen OP, sounds utterly miserable.