What the hell do you do when you just can’t get a GP appointment?

[Anniessongs]

It’s a horrendous system.

I am 43. I’ve had back troubles for years but my last pregnancy exacerbated issues to the point I could barely walk. I am now also having issues with one knee being incredibly painful and I’m struggling to live a ‘normal’ life.

You can only make appointments at 130 on a Friday. Normally I’m at work then and you can be on the phone for hours. I’m actually on maternity leave at the moment but you just cannot get through. I’ve tried going in but with two small children waiting for hours isn’t feasible.

The only thing I can think of is to go private but I don’t want an online appointment! Does anywhere offer a system where you can actually SEE someone?

Can you self refer for physio in your area? Contact the surgery and ask, or can you access one privately or through a work care scheme?

You can see a private GP in person. If you want to share where you are someone might be able to recommend one

South Derbyshire

Go online and find the nearest private clinic to you, mine is at the local BMI hospital.

I agree with pp. I have been to private physio when I put my back out because the GP couldn’t fit me in, physio gave me a next-day appointment. The physio wrote a letter for my gp recommending certain pain relief stronger than OTC - physio sent the letter direct to GP by email and I took a hard copy in to Receptionist who refused any sensible timeframe to set up a
phone appointment to get the prescription validated. And also refused a F2F appointment… you just go in circles and wait multiple weeks in severe pain, which then makes the recovery longer.

Private physio is the only way forward honestly. My dd had a leg injury in 2022 and was told the wait for NHS physio, even for an injured child who had been in a brace for 6 weeks and couldn’t walk without crutches, was likely to be so long we would risk the injury recurring. We were “strongly Advised” to go private if we could possibly afford it.

so I’d say - private physio and then get an Online GP to do a prescription for some stronger pain relief. Swimming may also help, honestly, if you can find time for it. My knee problems improved with weight loss, swimming three times a week, and more walking - not always practical with two tiny kids I fully appreciate!

Sadly the NHS is becoming the last refuge of the desperate.

See an osteopath. I'd much prefer and osteo to a chiropractor and they have helped a great deal with my back pain.

You certainly can see private GP's face to face too!

I’m not totally sure but I think I need to see a GP to get a referral. I know my back is weak but it’s getting so problematic it’s hard to do anything - even walking jars it! My knee is horrendous and I don’t know what’s caused that (I slipped a disc in my back a few years ago.)

£85 for twenty minutes 😭

Speak to the practice manager and say that it’s unacceptable. Some surgeries are so much better than others, the difference can be unbelievable.

Apologies if you’ve already tried that.

I do need to lose weight but equally I’m not horrendously obese and my problems are making any exercise really hard.

GPs are unlikely to help with back issues. Have you done anything to resolve this yourself? Done pilates? Seen an osteopath? Alexander technique for posture? Done back alignment exercises?

We really need to take responsibility for our own issues and not just leave everything to the NHS. If we can afford the hairdressers we can afford to see an osteopath.

My DH saw a private GP at the Spire hospital, Tollerton. He had half an hour and had a thorough examination and all his questions answered. That was for back pain.

A walk in centre? I am close to you and there’s a couple around.

Self refer here

https://dchs.nhs.uk/our-services-and-locations/a-z-list-of-services/msk-triage-derbyshire/outpatient-musculoskeletal-therapy-self-referral

@Spywoman - I slipped a disc eight years ago. During that time, I was climbing the walls with pain (or would have been if I’d been able to move.)

I tried natural remedies, chiropractors, osteopaths, barking at a full moon naked, nothing worked. Eventually it sort of healed in its own time but was always weak and prone to problems but things ticked along. Then my second pregnancy seemed to trigger something and I had horrendous sciatica. I suspected it would go when the baby came and it did but my actual back seems so weak and painful. I’m actually not convinced much if anything can be done for my back. It is just - wrecked! But the combination of that and my knee is making me feel like an old woman and I really do need to know what is causing these problems so that I can address them. Given that (pregnancy aside) the last time I saw a GP for me was in 2016, I think that is reasonable.

You can self refer to NHS physio services in Derbyshire, no need to go via a GP. Take a look here:

https://dchs.nhs.uk/our-services-and-locations/a-z-list-of-services/msk-triage-derbyshire/contact-our-msk-service

I really would recommend finding a good osteopath. I had 6 months of physio on my knees. This seemed to involve ultrasound and light therapy and an exercise plan which I followed to the letter and it only seemed to make them worse.
Went to an osteopath and he seemed to be able to work out the muscles that were tight in my back and legs and treatment to loosen them. He recommended different exercises which make so much of a difference. I pay £60 for a half an hour appt. ( Home Counties)

Unfortunately, I can’t refer to them. My GP is not listed there. In any case I really do think I need to know what is causing the knee pain, it really is very strong and I haven’t had an injury or anything.

Where about? I'm at Willington Surgery and we can self refer to physio. Seems to be a thing in Derbyshire. Maybe your surgery is the same?

Also Op, don't come to MN and mention you may be overweight. Anything over a size 10 is considered morbidly obese on MN. There's a lot of nasty fat phobia/shaming on here. I hope you can get it sorted soon.

Im not totally sure it’s physiotherapy that I need, though. I mean, awful pain doesn’t just come out of nowhere and I do think it needs looking into.

Plus, looking into the list of hospitals they are all miles away.

If your baby is under 1 year you should be able to get into perinatal physio. Not sure how for your trust, though

I had severe knee pain which was actually caused by my back pain. I was altering my gait to compensate for the back pain, which caused knee damage. Being overweight didn’t help (for me!) either.

Call 111

My GP is Wellbrook at Hilton but we live in Foston.