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 get public transport day to day. I could theoretically get to the town with the walk in centre, but it’s then a twenty minute walk or a taxi which I can’t spare the money for.

my parents are the only people who could give me a ride but they’re very much of the camp that I’m seeing a physio and need to wait it out.

You've been put in an absolutely unacceptable situation, OP. You want a doctor to assess and refer on if necessary. And of course they can prescribe stronger pain relief if indicated.

Listen to those who have said to email or write to the Practice Manager. It shouldn't be necessary, but it's the next thing to do.

I injured my back at the start of the year and was in agony (could barely walk, couldn’t sit down, couldn’t lie down or get up without help). The GP surgery would only give me a referral to physio for which there was a long wait. I ended up complaining via the practise manager and was seen by a GP who prescribed muscle relaxants and strong painkillers. I then paid to see a private physio 4 times and within 2 weeks was off all medication and had pretty much full mobility back (it’s taken almost a year of doing the prescribed exercises to feel close to fully recovered but the initial physio sessions with a private physio were a game changer).

I really empathise as being in pain and feeling helpless is awful. I paid £55 per session for the private physio but it completely saved me.

Sorry not all of us have a huge amount of money going spare? I only have the money left for my bus fare now till payday.

Zapain is just prescription strength codamol, its not an answer, if the cause of the pain isn't treated it will recur. If it has been two months and hurting this month, something is not right in the knee.

Can you not manage a 20 minute walk with lots of rest?

It does seem like you're putting a lot of your own barriers up here.

I know it’s not right!!!! But I can’t speed up the physio process, I’m on a cancellation list but they don’t happen that regularly

I can’t work around my own house, a 20 minute walk would aggravate it no end

Have you tried occupational health? There’s often separate NHS physio scheme you can access via them so you may well get seen quicker than waiting as a patient.

It might do but at least you'd be getting somewhere. Borrow some crutches if you need to, or ask on social media for a lift to X in exchange for petrol money or something.

If you go to minor injuries they can get it scanned etc and you can see a doctor probably more experienced in this type of injury than a gp.

I had a broken foot treated in minor injuries.

Could you try Voltarol ointment? I’ve recently discovered it is incredibly effective when the pills just don’t work. I think there are two strengths, so go for the higher one - behind the counter (in my pharmacy, anyway).
I hope you find some way through this catch 22 situation.

When i tore the ligaments in my knee I ended up with full leg in plaster. There's no way I would be doing physio

Tell them the physio appointment has been cancelled! And you need to go to the walk-in centre now! I know you shouldn’t have to lie to your parents but if that’s what it takes for them to give you a lift 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s absolutely horrendous. She’s given me exercises for people who have had knee replacements so it’s meant to be really gentle but it’s torture each night

Not even for an emergency like this which is affecting your life so badly? You couldn’t spare even a little bit for a taxi? Borrow some cash? Go back and ask your parents?

Not being funny but it she’s injured her knee it is really quite likely she can’t walk 20 mins.

and if you’ve ever used crutches you’d know they are tough on both your core strength and your hands. I wound up buying weightlifting gloves.

The thought of being on crutches at this time of year is also quite worrying to me, my knee is unstable enough as it is, let alone with crutches and all the leaves and stuff on the pavements

I've been where you are. I took co-codamol for 9 years for osteoarthritis before I managed to get knee replacements. The reason they say no more than 3 days is because opioids are highly addictive, but they are still routinely prescribed to manage long term chronic pain. However, you should aim to minimise the pain without resorting to opioids in the first instance.

Stop doing the exercises. If you are working from a video it's likely that you may be doing the exercises wrong and making it worse.

Ask your physio to give you a pair of crutches if walking hurts.

Also, ask them about taping. KT tape is often used to treat injuries like torn ligaments. Loads of videos online if you want see what it does. Just get a physio to show you how to do it properly the first time.

If all else fails, make a GP appointment that needs a face to face. Just make something up so they'll see you. Then when you get there, tell them about your knee. That's what I'd do.

Of course they're tough to use, but ultimately if OP is struggling that much, she'd find a way to get there - parents, a friend, public transport then an uber, asking for someone on social media to help out (our area has hospital volunteers who do journeys like this all the time) etc.

If you work for the NHS can you access physio through occupational health? We can self-refer for staff physio. Some physios can also prescribe.

You work in a hospital, why haven't you been to a&e?

I just feel like an absolute shell of myself. I’ve gone from very active - going to the gym everyday, long hikes at the weekend, running, being able to play with my nieces and nephews, to nothing. I feel so tired and drained all the time. I miss how I used to be and I feel like I’m getting no help to get back there.

I know how pressured they are and I feel like it’s only for life and death at the moment. I’d hate to take up time from someone else

Oh! I didn’t know that was a thing. I’ll chat with my manager about how to access it.