Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you be going to a+e again?

32 replies

Conkers2 · 18/12/2024 23:20

Dw has got bad pain in her arm and I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing about it

Since Saturday, she's had intermittent shooting pains. It started as mild and now she is having bouts of being okay but then pain every hour or so where she's panting, squirming and making the same noises I did in labour

On Monday, gp never called back, we went to pharmacy who gave mild cocodomol.
Tuesday gp called back recommended physio and gave a self referral link. Came home to her rolling in pain despite beng on the max of medication so trundled off to a+e. A+e gave a stronger dose of cocodomol
They put it down to a trapped nerve from a car crash a few months ago. Recommended physio

Now despite the higher dose of cocodomol she's still crying out, crying in pain etc.
Spoke to gp, who couldn't speak to her today. Spoke to 111 who said they will get an out of hour doc to call (it's been 12+ hours since original call)

Would you be going back to a+e?
It feels like everyone is saying it's par for the course and whiplash so just get routine physio but watching her wake up whimpering, and making such awful noises. When it's bad she can't talk etc.

I feel completely useless

OP posts:
Original poster
Conkers2 · 21/12/2024 10:41

ChristmasFluff · 21/12/2024 10:25

Book an urgent private physio session with a physio who specialises in musculoskeletal. They will at very least be able to tell you whether it is musculoskeletal or something else. They should also be able to give you a diagnosis, which will put your minds at rest about needing a scan etc to find out what is going on. They will also explain things fully - such as the seeming discrepancy in the diagnoses you've been given.

If it is musculoskeletal then they should be able to provide some form of treatment to help, even if they cannot do anything very hands-on due to pain - and much of this should be things you can do at home.

If the private physio is not able to do this, they should be able to refer you on to a physio who can, or if they decide further tests are needed, they can refer you to your GP and request for them to be done urgently.

In the meantime, if your DW had exercises from the physio last time, she can do those again. Being very careful not to 'push through pain' - only move to where the pain begins, or (as she is likely to be in pain already) to where she thinks the pain is about to increase. These may be very tiny movements at first, and that is fine, but they will gradually help.

Struggling to find one at the moment. The first one at the previous physio is mid jan.

Would a physio work with someone in this much pain?

The self referral nhs said an absolute no to tingly arms and left sided arm pain. It's the same barrier as doing anything via 111, because it's heart attack like and we've got nothing to say she's been cleared for that or actually been diagnosed with something else

Currently she has only some nodding type exercises because the consultant yest am that diagnosed her told her previous ones wasn't for the right thing

OP posts:
ClicketyClickPlusOne · 21/12/2024 10:55

Disclaimer: I am not a Dr or HCP.

When one of my Dc had major surgery and procedures that involved nerve pain, they prescribed the type of painkillers that modify the brain’s recognition of pain. Amitriptyline and then Gabapentin . Alongside one of the morphine / opioid type drugs.

Both were accumulative and needing steady constant dosage, but were effective.

I really hope you find a solution soon.

UnitedOps · 21/12/2024 11:07

Can you afford to go for a private scan and ECG? I know it’s not the best but they seem to be dragging their feet. The only other thing I can think of is being really stern and firm at A&E- basically kick a fuss. That’s what I had to do for my sister- they were utterly useless, lacking completely empathy leaving my sister in unnecessary pain.

Growsomeballswoman · 21/12/2024 11:16

Did you ask for an ECG?

Jellycats4life · 21/12/2024 11:16

Are you confident in their diagnosis that it’s definitely a trapped nerve and needs physio?

The only reason I ask is that last year my elderly FIL suddenly lost mobility, complaining of not being able to use his arm. He couldn’t get downstairs, let alone see a doctor. The verdict was he needed to see a physio. My gut was telling me this was an emergency - an elderly person stuck upstairs in terrible pain and unable to do anything other than shuffle to the bathroom needed an ambulance. I said this, but MIL refused.

Long story short, he ended up in A&E but only when the GP made a home visit and could see what a state he was in. And the diagnosis of “muscular issue” was totally wrong. He had multiple myeloma and had multiple bone fractures, including his spine.

It’s an extreme example but I’m wary of the NHS kicking the can down the road and saying that only painkillers and physio are required.

Original poster
Conkers2 · 22/12/2024 08:28

Jellycats4life · 21/12/2024 11:16

Are you confident in their diagnosis that it’s definitely a trapped nerve and needs physio?

The only reason I ask is that last year my elderly FIL suddenly lost mobility, complaining of not being able to use his arm. He couldn’t get downstairs, let alone see a doctor. The verdict was he needed to see a physio. My gut was telling me this was an emergency - an elderly person stuck upstairs in terrible pain and unable to do anything other than shuffle to the bathroom needed an ambulance. I said this, but MIL refused.

Long story short, he ended up in A&E but only when the GP made a home visit and could see what a state he was in. And the diagnosis of “muscular issue” was totally wrong. He had multiple myeloma and had multiple bone fractures, including his spine.

It’s an extreme example but I’m wary of the NHS kicking the can down the road and saying that only painkillers and physio are required.

I've got no idea really.
I'm happy that at least one of the a+e consultants put hands on her but it's tricky.

In good news
Our gp finally called yesterday (with a vague apology about being distracted the night before so forgetting!)

We have a physio appointment with the GP physio and the gp has started some of the recommended pain killers. Although again (presumably because she hasn't seen her level of pain) didn't want to start her on the "big guns" so it's a small dose of another one rather than what the consultants who've actually seen her have recommended. No scans booked

Just the start of amitriptyline and then a review in 6 weeks..... which isn't able to be booked so will be a fight

It's a personal annoyance for me as working in addiction services I see how dangerous unmonitored prescriptions can be, and it feels crazy the amount that's been thrown at her with zero follow up plans etc.

OP posts:
cansu · 22/12/2024 08:41

Yes gabapentin. It was the only thing that helped me with a trapped nerve.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page