Discussion
I'll try and give a brief outlay. Nearly two months ago I was involved in a no fault car accident whilst stationary, guy basically wasn't paying attention and slammed right into the back of my car at between 30 - 40mph. I have suffered with incredible backpain ever since, pain I don't think I've ever experienced before in my life.So I urgently went to my GP who examined me and told me it was minor soft tissue damage and nothing serious. I took the medication and advice but the weeks after the pain kept getting worse. Christmas and New Year ruined to put it mildly.
Nearly six weeks later and after several medication changes I can barely walk unaided, climbing stairs would be amusing to watch if it wasn't so pathetic looking and I can't drive my car. Everyday tasks take forever and even shopping is a struggle. My mood is basically rock bottom and I've become sharp tempered and frustrated. I got fed up and went to a specialist a few days ago who did several scans and diagnosed me with significantly more damage than my GP and urgently referred me for physio and to another specialist at a spinal injury unit.
To say I'm angry is an understatement. I made all my symptoms clear and my condition has deteriorated to the point where my quality of life has nosedived. I know mistakes can be made but I have been to the GP 3 or 4 times and made him aware the pain is not going away and my mobility has descreased to the point that it's affecting my day to day life. I feel like I have been misdiagnosed and that my condition would have stabilised and not have been as severe if my spinal injury had been picked up sooner. I haven't been in work in over a month and lifting anything heavier than 2kg is impossible.
I suppose as much as this is a question it is a warning not to trust your GP if you believe something isn't what they say to pipe up and make your voice heard.
Nearly six weeks later and after several medication changes I can barely walk unaided, climbing stairs would be amusing to watch if it wasn't so pathetic looking and I can't drive my car. Everyday tasks take forever and even shopping is a struggle. My mood is basically rock bottom and I've become sharp tempered and frustrated. I got fed up and went to a specialist a few days ago who did several scans and diagnosed me with significantly more damage than my GP and urgently referred me for physio and to another specialist at a spinal injury unit.
To say I'm angry is an understatement. I made all my symptoms clear and my condition has deteriorated to the point where my quality of life has nosedived. I know mistakes can be made but I have been to the GP 3 or 4 times and made him aware the pain is not going away and my mobility has descreased to the point that it's affecting my day to day life. I feel like I have been misdiagnosed and that my condition would have stabilised and not have been as severe if my spinal injury had been picked up sooner. I haven't been in work in over a month and lifting anything heavier than 2kg is impossible.
I suppose as much as this is a question it is a warning not to trust your GP if you believe something isn't what they say to pipe up and make your voice heard.
Edited by BlueHave on Friday 1st February 16:07
It's easy for people to post from the comfort of their armchairs "go to A&E", but if it's anything like my experience from last week there is a high chance it will be a monumental waste of your time. My GP misdiagnosed me as having DVT, apparently requiring urgent treatment but needed a scan first to 100% confirm it. She bundled me off to the city hospital to which I arrived at 1.15pm on Tuesday. After being passed from pillar to post 3 times between A&E and CDU (Clinical Decision Unit) who both said it was nothing to do with them, they finally concluded that it was A&E I had to start with even though my GP had said go straight to CDU and had booked me in with them on the phone prior.
By this point it's 2pm and I'm just arriving in the A&E 'assessment' waiting area. 3.45pm I get called in by a nurse and have my blood pressure taken then told to wait in the corridor for blood tests. I'm done with all this at 5pm and finally sent to CDU for the next assessment by a doctor. There is only one doctor on duty for the entire ward. At 8.45pm I finally get called by the doctor. She looks at my leg, goes to the computer and uses google.com(!) to look up DVT diagnosis and pulls up some DVT flow chart and asks me the half a dozen or so questions listed on the website. My answers mean that my total 'score' is not high enough to qualify for a scan! After much "you are joking right, I've been here since 1pm" etc she tells me it's unlikely you have DVT and more likely a resistance to the drugs, take it up with your GP and basically sent me on my way at 9.30pm.
A complete waste of 8+ hours of my time.
In summary, if you're going into hospital expect to be there for the full day with 95% of it sat in waiting rooms and don't expect the doctor(s) to fix you up as they rely on google.com to find out what's wrong with you and they're all 18 year old kids just out of medical school with no f
king clue.
By this point it's 2pm and I'm just arriving in the A&E 'assessment' waiting area. 3.45pm I get called in by a nurse and have my blood pressure taken then told to wait in the corridor for blood tests. I'm done with all this at 5pm and finally sent to CDU for the next assessment by a doctor. There is only one doctor on duty for the entire ward. At 8.45pm I finally get called by the doctor. She looks at my leg, goes to the computer and uses google.com(!) to look up DVT diagnosis and pulls up some DVT flow chart and asks me the half a dozen or so questions listed on the website. My answers mean that my total 'score' is not high enough to qualify for a scan! After much "you are joking right, I've been here since 1pm" etc she tells me it's unlikely you have DVT and more likely a resistance to the drugs, take it up with your GP and basically sent me on my way at 9.30pm.
A complete waste of 8+ hours of my time.
In summary, if you're going into hospital expect to be there for the full day with 95% of it sat in waiting rooms and don't expect the doctor(s) to fix you up as they rely on google.com to find out what's wrong with you and they're all 18 year old kids just out of medical school with no f
king clue.Lemming Train said:
It's easy for people to post from the comfort of their armchairs "go to A&E", but if it's anything like my experience from last week there is a high chance it will be a monumental waste of your time. My GP misdiagnosed me as having DVT, apparently requiring urgent treatment but needed a scan first to 100% confirm it. She bundled me off to the city hospital to which I arrived at 1.15pm on Tuesday. After being passed from pillar to post 3 times between A&E and CDU (Clinical Decision Unit) who both said it was nothing to do with them, they finally concluded that it was A&E I had to start with even though my GP had said go straight to CDU and had booked me in with them on the phone prior.
By this point it's 2pm and I'm just arriving in the A&E 'assessment' waiting area. 3.45pm I get called in by a nurse and have my blood pressure taken then told to wait in the corridor for blood tests. I'm done with all this at 5pm and finally sent to CDU for the next assessment by a doctor. There is only one doctor on duty for the entire ward. At 8.45pm I finally get called by the doctor. She looks at my leg, goes to the computer and uses google.com(!) to look up DVT diagnosis and pulls up some DVT flow chart and asks me the half a dozen or so questions listed on the website. My answers mean that my total 'score' is not high enough to qualify for a scan! After much "you are joking right, I've been here since 1pm" etc she tells me it's unlikely you have DVT and more likely a resistance to the drugs, take it up with your GP and basically sent me on my way at 9.30pm.
A complete waste of 8+ hours of my time.
In summary, if you're going into hospital expect to be there for the full day with 95% of it sat in waiting rooms and don't expect the doctor(s) to fix you up as they rely on google.com to find out what's wrong with you and they're all 18 year old kids just out of medical school with no fking clue.
One bad experience, coupled with many lies, and you write off the entire NHS? By this point it's 2pm and I'm just arriving in the A&E 'assessment' waiting area. 3.45pm I get called in by a nurse and have my blood pressure taken then told to wait in the corridor for blood tests. I'm done with all this at 5pm and finally sent to CDU for the next assessment by a doctor. There is only one doctor on duty for the entire ward. At 8.45pm I finally get called by the doctor. She looks at my leg, goes to the computer and uses google.com(!) to look up DVT diagnosis and pulls up some DVT flow chart and asks me the half a dozen or so questions listed on the website. My answers mean that my total 'score' is not high enough to qualify for a scan! After much "you are joking right, I've been here since 1pm" etc she tells me it's unlikely you have DVT and more likely a resistance to the drugs, take it up with your GP and basically sent me on my way at 9.30pm.
A complete waste of 8+ hours of my time.
In summary, if you're going into hospital expect to be there for the full day with 95% of it sat in waiting rooms and don't expect the doctor(s) to fix you up as they rely on google.com to find out what's wrong with you and they're all 18 year old kids just out of medical school with no f
king clue.Badda said:
One bad experience, coupled with many lies, and you write off the entire NHS?
One bad experience? 
If only. I could write several books on the sheer incompetence witnessed with the treatment of my late mother just a couple of years ago. The A&E process, wait times and treatment were pretty much the same at Ysbyty Gwynedd as well.Lemming Train said:
It's easy for people to post from the comfort of their armchairs "go to A&E", but if it's anything like my experience from last week there is a high chance it will be a monumental waste of your time. My GP misdiagnosed me as having DVT, apparently requiring urgent treatment but needed a scan first to 100% confirm it. She bundled me off to the city hospital to which I arrived at 1.15pm on Tuesday. After being passed from pillar to post 3 times between A&E and CDU (Clinical Decision Unit) who both said it was nothing to do with them, they finally concluded that it was A&E I had to start with even though my GP had said go straight to CDU and had booked me in with them on the phone prior.
By this point it's 2pm and I'm just arriving in the A&E 'assessment' waiting area. 3.45pm I get called in by a nurse and have my blood pressure taken then told to wait in the corridor for blood tests. I'm done with all this at 5pm and finally sent to CDU for the next assessment by a doctor. There is only one doctor on duty for the entire ward. At 8.45pm I finally get called by the doctor. She looks at my leg, goes to the computer and uses google.com(!) to look up DVT diagnosis and pulls up some DVT flow chart and asks me the half a dozen or so questions listed on the website. My answers mean that my total 'score' is not high enough to qualify for a scan! After much "you are joking right, I've been here since 1pm" etc she tells me it's unlikely you have DVT and more likely a resistance to the drugs, take it up with your GP and basically sent me on my way at 9.30pm.
A complete waste of 8+ hours of my time.
In summary, if you're going into hospital expect to be there for the full day with 95% of it sat in waiting rooms and don't expect the doctor(s) to fix you up as they rely on google.com to find out what's wrong with you and they're all 18 year old kids just out of medical school with no fking clue.
This person may have central or peripheral nerve issues as a result of the RTC. Further defined, it could be sensory or autonomic issues. By this point it's 2pm and I'm just arriving in the A&E 'assessment' waiting area. 3.45pm I get called in by a nurse and have my blood pressure taken then told to wait in the corridor for blood tests. I'm done with all this at 5pm and finally sent to CDU for the next assessment by a doctor. There is only one doctor on duty for the entire ward. At 8.45pm I finally get called by the doctor. She looks at my leg, goes to the computer and uses google.com(!) to look up DVT diagnosis and pulls up some DVT flow chart and asks me the half a dozen or so questions listed on the website. My answers mean that my total 'score' is not high enough to qualify for a scan! After much "you are joking right, I've been here since 1pm" etc she tells me it's unlikely you have DVT and more likely a resistance to the drugs, take it up with your GP and basically sent me on my way at 9.30pm.
A complete waste of 8+ hours of my time.
In summary, if you're going into hospital expect to be there for the full day with 95% of it sat in waiting rooms and don't expect the doctor(s) to fix you up as they rely on google.com to find out what's wrong with you and they're all 18 year old kids just out of medical school with no f
king clue.their 12 cranial/ 31 spinal nerves could really do with a little look at to understand what has happened. To encourage a person not to attend A&E for pain potentially affecting their motor/sensory/circulation isn't really called for at the moment.
i'm sorry to hear about the experiences your mum had but the poster isn't your mum? Regarding your experiences, perhaps you might consider seeking out the patient referral group? im pretty sure very trust will have one who wish to hear of patient experiences.
OP says in his post that he's seen a specialist and has had scans done.
How does it work after an accident like that? I would have thought with the speeds involved, some sort of imaging would have been automatic, especially for neck damage.
Can you insist they admit you to do some investigating?
How does it work after an accident like that? I would have thought with the speeds involved, some sort of imaging would have been automatic, especially for neck damage.
Can you insist they admit you to do some investigating?
kurt535 said:
This person may have central or peripheral nerve issues as a result of the RTC. Further defined, it could be sensory or autonomic issues.
their 12 cranial/ 31 spinal nerves could really do with a little look at to understand what has happened. To encourage a person not to attend A&E for pain potentially affecting their motor/sensory/circulation isn't really called for at the moment.
Where I have encouraged anyone not to visit A&E? I think you are reading things that aren't there. What I have said is that "go to A&E" is not the straightforward process that you and the other guy have intimated in your posts. I realise that having been misdiagnosed by his own GP and a general lack of interest shown means he doesn't really have much other option right now, but given that he can barely walk/move I felt it worthwhile pointing out that he is very likely going to have to endure many many hours sat about and being messed around by the staff which may be too much for him given his current condition.their 12 cranial/ 31 spinal nerves could really do with a little look at to understand what has happened. To encourage a person not to attend A&E for pain potentially affecting their motor/sensory/circulation isn't really called for at the moment.
Lemming Train said:
kurt535 said:
This person may have central or peripheral nerve issues as a result of the RTC. Further defined, it could be sensory or autonomic issues.
their 12 cranial/ 31 spinal nerves could really do with a little look at to understand what has happened. To encourage a person not to attend A&E for pain potentially affecting their motor/sensory/circulation isn't really called for at the moment.
Where I have encouraged anyone not to visit A&E? I think you are reading things that aren't there. What I have said is that "go to A&E" is not the straightforward process that you and the other guy have intimated in your posts. I realise that having been misdiagnosed by his own GP and a general lack of interest shown means he doesn't really have much other option right now, but given that he can barely walk/move I felt it worthwhile pointing out that he is very likely going to have to endure many many hours sat about and being messed around by the staff which may be too much for him given his current condition.their 12 cranial/ 31 spinal nerves could really do with a little look at to understand what has happened. To encourage a person not to attend A&E for pain potentially affecting their motor/sensory/circulation isn't really called for at the moment.
kurt535 said:
soooo, staying at home will cure his signs and symptoms? i think im leaving further conversation with you on this matter right here!
You still seem to be making st up based on stuff that was never written. Are you replying to posts you're reading on a different site or something? NOWHERE HAVE I SAID DO NOT GO TO A&E! I have said to be aware that it is not a simple process of going, getting looked at, getting fixed and being back home within a couple of hours, so if you decide to go be prepared for a very long wait and a lot of sitting about in waiting rooms.Lemming Train said:
kurt535 said:
soooo, staying at home will cure his signs and symptoms? i think im leaving further conversation with you on this matter right here!
You still seem to be making st up based on stuff that was never written. Are you replying to posts you're reading on a different site or something? NOWHERE HAVE I SAID DO NOT GO TO A&E! I have said to be aware that it is not a simple process of going, getting looked at, getting fixed and being back home within a couple of hours, so if you decide to go be prepared for a very long wait and a lot of sitting about in waiting rooms.I missed the bit that the op has seen someone else and had scans done although he does not say what the results were
So yes no need to go to A and E and I know that ours is particularly bad for time that you would be there, I still think highly of nurses and doctors.
I am just trying to sort out an appointment for either a spinal fusion or layering of the nerves on a annular tear on one of my discs which gives me extreme pain.
So yes no need to go to A and E and I know that ours is particularly bad for time that you would be there, I still think highly of nurses and doctors.
I am just trying to sort out an appointment for either a spinal fusion or layering of the nerves on a annular tear on one of my discs which gives me extreme pain.
Bill said:
Well I'll say it: don't go to A&E. He's had scans and a specialist opinion, if he'd needed A&E they'd have sent him.
What's the scan report say??
X-Ray shows nothing broken, scan showed a bulge suspected muscle damage, suspected nerve damage and a back spasm, something dodgy at the base around the tailbone also which is apparently common in an RTC. It needs further treatment.Advised to keep mobile but don't put strain on the back or it'll make it worse.What's the scan report say??
Pain is brought down a level by new medication, most of which either make me lightheaded or incredibly sleepy so driving is a not really possible.
GP only seems interested in pumping me full of medication.
Edited by BlueHave on Thursday 7th February 00:55
Have you spoken to a reputable personal injury solicitor? If they take you on then you would be referred to an expert witness orthopaedic or neurosurgeon for an opinion and further investigations as necessary. Make sure that you ask specifically to be seen by a spinal surgeon for the report. Reputable solicitors will use a local panel of experts not some dodgy travelling rent a gob who,sees everything from whiplash to ankle sprains. Best of luck.
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