AIBU to be appalled by delayed NHS care for possible shoulder fracture

[WiggyClawsThe2nd]

So I requested a doctors appointment for excruciating pain in shoulder 5 weeks ago now. Got an appointment 2 weeks later. Was referred to an urgent physio to assess, this was another week later. Physio booked an urgent xray for another week later (today) to check if it was broken. Told it'll be another 2 weeks to find out if it's broken. So by the time the results come, it'll be 6 weeks since it was broken. I know the NHS is struggling but this is ridiculous is it not? Surely a break will be impossible to fix right by then?
AIBU to be absolutely appalled?

Did they say whether they suspect a stress fracture or a standard one?

With a stress fracture there is a hairline crack, & the bones don't separate, so a delay would make less difference.

But also, if you're in excruciating pain/can't use arm etc maybe it would be appropriate to go to A&E. I say this hesitantly as it's not what the physio recommended, but still, maybe worth considering.

And this is why people show up at A+E…

What was the explanation for the two week delay in feedback on the xray? That in itself seems unusual.

I would assume the reason for the slow
service is because they can’t actually do anything major / time-sensitive to fix it. But - yes it would be better if they explained that to you…

If I was in excruciating pain and genuinely suspected a broken shoulder, I'd go to A&E and endure the very long wait to be seen. If I could wait 5 weeks for a GP appointment, I wouldn't consider it too bad.

Was there an associated trauma? If mot then why do you think it's broken? I fell years ago and broke my proximal humerus and clavicle (3 breaks in total in my joint) and I couldn't get up off the floor. If it was a traumatic injury why didn't you go to a and e for an X-ray yourself?

Excruciating pain which you put up with for 3 weeks before seeing anyone - there you go

why should they think it urgent when you waited 3 weeks ?

I've broken both shoulders in separate accidents....both times I was in a &e so got a diagnosis and referrals to fracture clinic straight away. On one occasion I needed surgery which happened a week later.

Is there a reason why you didn't attend a&e at the time?

Unless the fracture were displaced (and you would know that from the pain and range of movement) or complex treatment consists of a sling for comfort, painkillers and physio. You could go to minor injuries for an xray or ct scan. However if you have reasonable movement it is more likely soft tissue damage/bruising.

YANBU

Next time you are in pain you will know not to bother with the GO and just go straight to A&E.

Asking for a GP appointment is a fairly unusual pathway for a suspected break. Usually people would present at A&E, if there's been a trauma incident likely to lead to a fracture. If there hasn't, then the likelihood of it being a fracture is low really.

That said, even with serious displaced fractures they sometimes delay anyway. DH had a displaced collarbone fracture (it was in 6 pieces) last summer, and he waited a LONG time in A&E and then to see anybody, and they more or less said it has to be set straight away, or left a week or so for inflammation to go down and then set. After a week of waiting we were still only being offered a telephone appointment another week later, so we went privately in the end.

This is why people go to a and e or go private.

i went private

I was told by an osteopath friend that it was most probably a rotator cuff tear.
But they won't refer me without checking whether it's broken.
Hadn't even considered that as a possibility tbh.
Apparently the lady that did the xray isn't a doctor so can't tell me either way.
Just seems peculiar that the physio suspected a break yet there is no urgency at all.

I doubt it’ll take 2 weeks for the xray results. I went for a chest xray and they said it’ll be 10 working days, the result was through about 3 days later. I think they just have to manage expectations that there might be delays.

Rtt
I didn't wait for 3 weeks.
I went to the earliest appointment I could get. And it was the physio who said it could be broken.
Can't use arm at all.

That is reassuring, thank you

Also, it might not be being treated as urgent because urgent means life threatening etc. If you’re in pain but still able to live life, go to appointments etc, it’s not technically “urgent”. Just from a healthcare & semantics point of view.

sorry you’re in pain

Because I was told it was likely a rotator cuff tear originally. It was the physio who told me it could be broken., hence urgent xray. Scan to check rotator cuff may be months and can only be booked after an xray apparently

At our hospital (which GP/physio requests go to) if a fracture is seen you’re diverted to ED. I will say it’s a rather unusual diagnosis to come to without trauma. Did you have a fall or anything?

Slipped over ruddy Henry down the stairs 🤦🏽

deleted as I cross posted with your update about the fall.

So it's probably not broken, just a precaution

Apologies / misread

You fell down the stairs, were in excruciating pain, and you didn't go to A&E?! It's not the NHS fault that you're waiting six weeks, it could all have been diagnosed and treated in a few hours if you went to the hospital after the fall.

You had an accident. You had excruciating pain. You couldnt move your arm. You should have gone to ACCIDENT and emergency. Not appropriate to approach a gp surgery with this. I doubt they would have referred to 'check it was broken' but rather rule out what they probably assumed was an unlikely diagnosis. If a physio really suspected a fracture, you have have been referred to AE.

chances are it’ll be a 2 week wait for a non urgent report.

generally all x-rays will be reviewed by a senior radiologist at the end of the day and anything that flags - fractures or urgent issues, will be pulled out for call back to the appropriate clinic.

so if you end up waiting there’s probably no fracture.

Yep
Maybe OP is very stoical but it doesn't always work in your favour.

Maybe it is fractured 😥