How long would you wait to see your GP? What is reasonable?

[letsgetloud]

I had been jogging for a few weeks when my knee started getting painful. I have now been in quite alot of pain with it constantly since last Tuesday.

Phoned gp today and can get appointment for next Thursday. I don't want to ask for an emergency appointment as I know I am not about to die. Don't want to go to a&e as again this is not an emergency.

I asked receptionist how I would go about getting a cancellation gp appointment and she has advised I need to continuously phone the surgery to see if there are any cancellations.

I am in Scotland so don't think we have walk in clinics or anything like that.

I think (although I am no doctor) that I need pain killers and anti inflammotories (sp) and a referral to physio (possibly).

Would anyone endure the embarrasement of taking a doctors emergency appointment for a knee that is in agony??

I see your quandry lets - I am sure that people have taken them for less. Can you see your local pharmacist? They might be able to help. Can you ask for an appointment with the nurse? They may also be able to help you.

I hope you get some relief somehow soon.

If I called right now I'd get an appt for this afternoon, absolutely latest tomorrow morning.
But thats what happens when you have to pay ?55 euro a time.

I phoned my gp this morning and have an appt later this pm. Normally I can get an appt within 48 hours if I don't mind who I see, otherwise I may have to wait a week or two. Today's appt is urgent though so if they didn't have one I would have gone up to the surgery and collapsed on them.

A pharmacist could advise you on pain killers to tide you over to your appt.

if i called now it would be first thing tomorrow, i can also book appointments well in advance, double check online or ring gp to see if there may be a walk in clinic nearby, failing that speak to chemist, they could give you ibuprofen that is a pain killer and anti inflamatories anf then if you need more relief you can also take paracetamol or co-codamol these should tide you over til you can speak to a doc

Do you have any direct access to NHS physiotherapy? We have a self referral clinic here. It's worth asking the surgery if there is one and then you can just cut out the middle man and the waiting time!

thanks everyone.

I will phone and see if I can see a nurse or refer myself to physio. If not I will go to a chemist.

I have moaned so much about this knee that even Dd3 nursery teacher knew all about it. . Though quite pleased dd told her as she has had terrible knee problems and has advised I take neurofen and then get the anti inflammatory cream until I get to see a doctor. Oh and keep my knee elevated as much as possible. Well that will get done one hour of the day then.

I have asked to see the first available doctor and still have to wait until a week on Thursday!!

Well thanks again.

I hurt my arm two and a half weeks ago lets and finally gave in and went to the doc today.

He has advised ibuprofen, ibuprofen gel, massaging the area with ice, and a strong, long elbow and arm support.

He also advised resting it and no heavy lifting.

Would similar treatment see you through until you can have your knee examined properly?

I was quite relieved as a nurse friend of mine had me convinced I had fractured it and I was mentally planning how I would do everything with my arm in plaster

Do you have any private physios in your area - they might be better for a sore knee than a GP, and you can self refer then.

Are you with my old surgery op? I suffered them for twelve years, always waiting a fortnight for an appointment. Finally went to a new place and I get seen the same day. The difference in these two surgeries is just incredible. So slick and organised, receptionists smile and acknowledge you by name the minute you walk in. Best thing I ever did.

Hope you get some relief with your knee soon, and when you do, vote with your feet! There are better surgeries out there.

I'm in Glasgow by the way.

Do not take steroid injection A nurse told me to try with anti-inflammatories etc first and then if no good go for steroids so you have plenty of options

With all the Bank Holidays the appt situation is very tight everywhere, and a large number of appts are kept for emergencies and "book on the day only", but people do cancel every day (esp when the sun shines) so I would continue to phone am & pm, and if it gets worse say you do want to be seen same day.

Good luck

Walk in Minor Injuries clinic in Edinburgh, if that helps.
Phoned GP this morning, got app for this Thursday, although she would have fitted me in today if I wanted. Didn't as I'm not dying, just want Doc to see a rash before it goes.
Have you phoned NHS 24 to see what they say?

I can self refer to physio, just have to get form from GP surgery. Surgery have also said to phone morning and afternoon to see if any cancellations.

I haven't heard of any minor injuries clinics in Glasgow (which is where I am) but maybe nhs 24 might know of some. Thanks labrador. There are two other surgeries in my area and know that one is just as bad. Will ask about to find out what the other one is like.

It is always impossible to get a appointment at my surgery within a few days of the request. I had to take the emergency appointments probably about 3 times over the winter for my son. He ended up hospitalised four times as well over winter. Yet one of the gp's was not happy that I had used the emergency appointment. Son was only a few months old at the time and I thought he had a chest infection.

I have rested my knee all evening and taken neurofen so knee feeling alot better. Thanks for all the well wishes and advice.

You can ring nhs24 Scotland and they will refer you to the minor injuries clinic nearest you. I know there is one at the new Victoria hospital, they are very good.