A&e, doctors or wait it out?

[autienotnoughty]

Off and on back pain for past 15 years. More on in past two years. Symptoms include lower back pain, painful spasms , shooting pains in thighs. Being managed with physio, Pilates, walking and yoga.

Last six weeks pain has got significantly worse. I keep experiencing weakness in my legs, periods of not being able to stand/needing support to walk and get up.

Today my back has locked three times leaving me unable to walk, getting worse each time. I am now laid flat on my back, I can't sit up. Dh had to drag/walk me to the toilet. I can't walk. I can't turn over. I'm applying heat and cold.
I'm also feverish . I have shooting pains/tingling in my legs plus the back pain and spasms.

Do I go a&e?
Ring doctor Monday?
Ride it out?

Not forgetting it's also illegal. A genuine solicitor would you know you can't place bugs, or photograph confidential medical notes. What a bizarre way to behave.

You can photograph medical notes. Bugging what for heavens sake.

Patients do sue health boards you know. They need solicitors to act for them .

Glad you made it to the hospital OP, the journey sounds pretty traumatic! Appreciate you keeping us all updated and glad you're a bit more comfortable now

I think they meant bugging as in keeping on their case not literally putting bugs!

She said place bugs though.

Relatives do not just have access to medical notes, there is a process to go through, they are confidential and belong to the hospital and the patient. Maybe bugging here means asking questions, if it's phone being left on to record discussions without agreement then that is not allowed.

You said Bugging them in A&E I assumed you meant pestering them. If you actually meant placing bugs then the story is highly unlikely. You can record medical consults for private use but they could not be used for legal action.

Well the person that came in to remove the intravenous antibiotics because they said patient didn't need them any more was challenged the doctor was asked for to confirm. There was some huffing. The consultant came in and agreed with the original doctor that they needed to stay on the antibiotics after the MRI results of the brain. The huffer was a physicians assistant.

You can’t be that bad if you can keep posting on here.

🙄

Same can be said for the NHS, but oh how people love to bash it.

By the way, A&E wouldn't help you say. Were the paramedics just happening to be passing by with Gas & Air then?

I hope that is nothing series op. At least you are in the right place now. I am honestly not surprised that people procrastinate over going to a and e even if they get overwhelming advice to go. Last year i slipped in the shower. I could not put any weight on my right leg. The hospital asked why i did not go to the minor injuries unit even though it was shut. I was made to feel guilty for been there. I was made to feel like i should have just stayed on the bathroom floor all night and phoned an ambulance in the morning.

I meant to say it is nothing serious.

Oh bless you OP. Hope it’s clear and they can give you something to help.

Probably ambulances parked by the entrance, I don't know if staff could leave the department to help everyone who arrived in a car.

Unfortunately A&E will only do something if you lose control of your bowels. Just give you pain meds

Your comment makes me wonder if you've ever experienced the incompetence of some staff within the NHS or been chronically let down by then? Guessing not. Absolutely nothing wrong with being insistent on clear process and answers and recording those answers.

Not rtft but came on to say cauda equina. Happened to me 19 years ago. Lost control of bladder which made it an a and e job.
Massive op for displaced discs, had to learn to walk again and nearly died age 37.
It's a serious thing. I was off work for 2 years on disability benefits

Hope you get some answers soon op

I don’t think anyone is actively criticising NHS staff, just the overall service, which is not the same as other countries or even different parts of the country.
As a person of advanced years (old) it’s easy to compare what treatment was given only a few years ago, with today.
OP is being criticised for not calling an ambulance.
Well I wouldn’t have either. When I fell badly last year on the High St, I had hit my head on the pavement, was bleeding profusely from the nose & had clearly done something bad to my left arm & shoulder.
I was freezing cold as it was an icy day & in a bad state. A passer by called an ambulance but they refused to attend. The Police arrived & saw an oldish woman bleeding, in agony & shaking with cold. They too rang for an ambulance which was refused.
Luckily the Police took charge, wrapped me in tin foil & took me to hospital where I was treated for various cuts, bruises & fractures.
I certainly wish OP very well & posters being unkind should hope they don’t find themselves in a medical situation such as hers.

Oh FFS. You do realise people can be in critical care and still be able to use a phone? Glad you're clearly not a doctor 🙄

Exactly. I remember seeing a post from a dear friend on FB, saying he's had a heart attack and was in hospital. He was posting for a couple of days and then his brother posted to say he'd had a series of heart attacks in hospital, even while posting and he died.

You would be amazed at what people can manage.

hope you get good results OP

Bulging disc. Keeping me in overnight as pain not subsiding .