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?

That doesn't sound like a break.

You go to a&e for a suspected fracture so they can x ray it!

The NHS is nit responsible for your failure to seek the correct treatment.

You chose not to go to an urgent care facility and use your GP therefore they are treating it as non-urgent.

Have some accountability for your own decision making.

Maybe this will teach you not to drip feed.

It could be ligament/tendon damage from the fall or a torn rotator cuff. Also an acute fall/impact can bring on a frozen shoulder which would also explain symptoms. I might be wrong but I thought you needed an ultrasound to check for a torn rotator cuff. So if they rule out a fracture I’d then be wanting an ultrasound to make sure they are treating the right problem.

If it helps, when I fractured my shoulder (came off a horse), the pain was immediate and excruciating. I couldn't move my arm at all barely, there was not a hope in hell it was lifting itself anywhere. I spent weeks with it in a sling for support and my physio started with tiny circles and even that was difficult.
I think I was at around week 6 before it could support itself without a sling.

You are not being unreasonable. I had a similar experience after a major knee injury. I went via A&E after my accident but there were weeks and weeks of waiting between everything, moving from x ray to MRI to fracture clinic for MRI results (which the doctor said he was struggling to interpret because he wasn’t that good at knees…) to a referral to the acute knee clinic. I gave up and went privately and had already seen a knee surgeon privately twice and had multiple sessions of private physio before my acute knee clinic and physio referrals even came through on the NHS (appointments scheduled for over 2 months after my accident). It’s not good and I’m sorry for anyone who experiences this when they’re in pain and anxious. I couldn’t walk and had to use a wheelchair, for context on the injury.

@Ihatelittlefriendsusan
Thank you so so much for your bile filled input. I suspect Susan feels the same way about you. Try seeing yourself as a part of humanity and you may gain more perspective and compassion.

Thank you to all who have shared their experiences, it has helped me make the decision to pay for a scan privately. My career is dependent on me being able to use the arm so I don't think I can take any chances. Thank you all!

I think you’re being unreasonable to be so appalled. You have drip fed that you fell down the stairs - this wasn’t in your original post. Once your shoulder started to hurt, you should have presented at A and E and would have received a scan and treatment plan a lot quicker. Unfortunately I think this is on you. Hope you do feel better soon.

I just don’t understand why you didn’t go to A&E or at least minor injuries. You had a fall and got injured and then it got worse. A GP isn’t trained in this, they will just refer you and as you’ve found out it’s a slow system. Minor injuries/A&E would have been quick, you’d have had a scan on the same day as you went to get seen and usually don’t go home until a doctor has reviewed the Xray.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

It will be up to 2 weeks IF nothing is seen. At the hospital I work at the images are looked at pretty much immediately and flagged up if there is anything unusual.

This!
I’d have been in A&E the day you fell on the stairs I wouldn’t have left this and been in this much pain.