I’m in so much pain I feel sick but my GP won’t see me

[SweetSilverLark]

I injured myself five months ago. I’m seeing physio but it’s a two month wait for a face to face appointment and every night doing the exercises the video physio set me is leaving me in agony.

It’s to the point I feel sick and can’t concentrate on my work, I’m taking the highest dose of ibuprofen and paracetamol I can but they’re not doing a thing. The GP keeps pushing me back and saying it’s a physio issue and because of that, they can’t prescribe me anything.

I have been in this pain for five months now and I just can’t keep doing it. WIBU to sit in my GP’s reception on Monday until they’ll sit me in front of a doctor and let me explain the impact it’s having on my life?

I need something for the pain. I’m maxed out on what I can take (I don’t get on well with cocodamol and you can only take it for three days), I cant concentrate on my work, I can’t walk now without pain. I can’t go on like this

Are you doing rice & strapping it op?

@Octavia64 @SweetSilverLark yeah I completely get that 👍🏻 I guess the GP thinks it’s a case that they can’t do anything more as they’ve referred on.
GPs have gone to shit it’s like they are nothing more than a triage/sign posting service now.

I have ice on it pretty much all the time I’m home now. It’s the only way I can get up the stairs at the end of the night. I wasn’t told anything about strapping it, and I don’t know what I should be looking for?

That's why how your GP is treating you is unacceptable - they're gatekeeping the needed referral and just sending you to physio which is either doing nothing or causing worse damage.

Complain, as suggested, to the GP practice, or just present at A&E - I know people will freak out at that but this is exactly why people are left with no option.

Go to a minor injuries unit. It doesn't have to be one in your town - drive to one if you have to, and wait until you're seen.

@SweetSilverLark without being intrusive, could you pay for private physio appt?
have you looked on your local NHS trusts website to see if they have a walk-in centre?

They won't give stronger pain killers. They are restricted for a reason.

You can get stronger painkillers than paracetamol and ibuproften OTC - co-codamol is easily available without prescription.

No

Just buy a standard knee support in boots etc.

What am I meant to do then? I genuinely don’t understand it. I’m in so much pain, I can’t carry on

Yes but op has said re co-codamol.

Drive to ANY minor injuries unit and insist on being seen

Is that no to both questions?

Ok, well sensible suggestions:

you can take cocodamol for more than three days I’m prescribed it more or less on repeat.

if you have been in pain for months then personally I’d put in a complaint that the gp won’t see you. Document the requested appointments and explain you need pain relief.

if you’ve been in pain for months it may be worth saying so and saying you are at risk of developing a chronic pain syndrome as a result. Might work (is true).

nausea is a different thing and you can get anti nausea stuff prescribed - I have prochloraperazine.

If you are in that much pain you need to go to a hospital or walk in centre.

Sorry, it’s a no to the physio.

we don’t have any walk in centres locally, my nearest one is about an hour away and I have no way of getting there

Focus on getting the cause of the pain treated, not on getting painkillers. Asking for prescription painkillers is the quickest way to get red flagged and not be given them

At my GP, they now have a new policy where if you have an injury that might need imaging (I had already had physio and it had been months at this point) they need to refer you to the private contracted out physio service where an MSK person assesses you, then you get an MRI. Rather than the GP sending you for one. This added an additional 3 months onto my 4 month wait for an MRI, I was fucking furious.

Public transport? How else do get around day to day? Do you have any friends or family that could take you perhaps?

Have you called 111?

Do you genuinely have nobody who will give you a lift?

You might need to get a taxi if you don't drive.

Uber is a thing. Book one.

*waits for OP to come up with a reason she can’t get an Uber.