Medical nightmare - advice on what to do next

[Chickle84]

In May 2010 my mum suffered a fracture in her ankle which was misdiagnosed as cellulitis then arthritis by her GP. The fracture wasn't picked up on an xray and her doctor insisted the bone wasn't damaged an encouraged her to keep walking on it and absolutely refused to send her for a second xray, even though her sysmptoms were classic fracture symptoms. After 6 weeks, mum had an MRI scan privately, and it was discovered that not only had she fractured her ankle but by walking on it (as encouraged by her GP) she had broken her tibia. The doctor said her bone was so damaged it looked like she'd been in a car accident and that the leg would need to be pinned. The private hosptital contacted mum's GP and she was rushed straight to the local NHS hospital for an op. The doctors at the NHS hospital operated but, much to everyone's surprise, didn't pin the leg, saying that mum's leg had two nice clean fractures, This contradicted what she was told at the private hospital. The fractures didn't heal. Mum suffered from bone over-growth, then the leg became crooked. The fractures were rebroken and the leg plastered agin. The leg became severely twisted. Eventually, she had to go into an external frame for several months. At this stage, she started to suffer with serious issue infections. The cage was removed in spring last year but had not fixed the problem. In july, they decided they would pin the leg after all.However, as mum's skin was so severely damaged from the infections, further operations just aggrevated the situation. Most recently, mum has had to have the screws holding in the pin removed, due to excessive pain, infections and fluid build up. They are now trying compression bandages but this also seems to be failing, as my mum is in constant unbearable agony. She is being sent for another xray next week. At best case, they will get the pain and swelling reduced and, after skin grafts, my mum will have some sort of movement back in her leg. The more likely scenario, which the doctors are hinting at more and more often, is that my mum will lose her leg from the knee downwards. Me and my family at at our wits end. My mum is in her late 60's, my dad's in his 70's. For nearly 2 years their whole lives have been put on hold and have revolved around trips to the doctor or to the hospital, My mum has had 7 operations in less than two years and is now suffering with severely high blood pressure. She is in constant unbearable agony (and she has an expretermly high pain threshold normally, having suffered all her life with chronic back pain) and the whole situation is beginning to take a serious toll on the wellbeing of both mum and dad. It's unbelievable to think that what started as a simple stress fracture is now looking more and more like a case for amputation and nothing the doctors do seems to be helping her, in fact, it seems to be one botch job after another. If you could see the state of mum's leg - it's severly disfigured and ulcerated. The situation has got so bad now that she can barely move from her bed to get to the bathroom. My mum is normally such an active person it's just heartbreaking to see. My family and I just don't know what to do next to help her. The doctors seemed to have drawn a blank and she's almost turned into a bit of an experiment as far as they're concerned. The doctors and nurses she's seeing have all been lovely but no-one is offering her any real solutions. She's just suffering in agony and seeing her consultant once a fortnight and I really don't think he knows how much she's suffering. Does anyone have any advice on what we can do or who we can contact to discuss mum's case? She's lost the best part of the last 2 years of her life and I can't see how things are going to improve for her as things seem to be getting worse. We really don't know what to do. Private treatment probably isn't an option I'm afraid as we don't have the funds. I'd be grateful of any advice however. Thanks for reading! Beavis x

[Ann]

How sad that your Mum died in those circumstances Lottie - I really feel for you, especially you remembering it all. I am really scared of going into hospital. We visited my husband's cousin this afternoon and things have not changed at all, she is losing stones of weight due (in my opinion) to not being fed properly and she has been in there for two months awaiting an operation when she is stronger. She told us such tales about the rude and uncaring nurses, things seem to be the same and not improved over the years!

[LoftyLottie]

You mean the gossip station ummmm.

And the time spent at changeover time doing paperwork that never got read or taken any notice of by the next shift.

Like you, it upsets me now, just thinking of it.

[Ann]

Ummmm - nurses station? - where they see you hovering and waiting to ask something, so pick up the phone or flick through files, or turn their back on you, they enjoy ignoring you. Some of them need the sack or a lesson in customer service.

[LoftyLottie]

We have strayed from poor Chickle's thread.

I think what we are all saying Chickle is you have to go in all guns blazing and demand to know what is going on, and if you don't think you or your Dad can do it, then perhaps enlist some help.

[ummmm]

It's crazy how it differs from ward to ward.

[LoftyLottie]

The Cardiac Unit was like a hotel with two nurses per patient and visitors could pop in at any time. It was lovely and quiet and didn't even feel like a hospital.

[LoftyLottie]

Ann, your last comments are so true!! They seem to actually enjoy ignoring you. I thought nursing was meant to be a caring profession - I never saw much caring on that ward.

[Ann]

Yes Chickle - don't be put off by our horror stories, but PLEASE don't let them get away with it, I would DEMAND to see another doctor or consultant. Its been proved you have to be assertive to get anything done, they are scared you will report them if you show them you mean business. Its not fair on your poor Mum and Dad.

[LoftyLottie]

I'm off to bed. Goodnight.

[Ann]

Our lives seem so similar Lottie, my husband had a heart attack 6 years ago and the Heart Unit was much as you described, the nurses were great, stopping to have a joke or two with the patients, and so pleasant to me when he was admitted and I was a hysterical wreck.

[LoftyLottie]

I had a panic attack Anne whilst I was in the Cardiac Unit and they were lovely.

[Sqad]

A nice cosy chat between ummmm/Ann/Lofty.........not very productive.

DON'T go into the hospital with all guns blazing, shouting your head off....it will just p1ss them all off.

///The fracture wasn't picked up on an xray and her doctor insisted the bone wasn't damaged an encouraged her to keep walking on it and absolutely //

Well, at this stage, despite signs that you suggest were typical of a fracture...the X-Ray was normal.....so difficult to blame the GP and certainly couldnt have been a severe and complicated fracture as suggested subsequently.

//After 6 weeks, mum had an MRI scan privately, and it was discovered that not only had she fractured her ankle but by walking on it (as encouraged by her GP) she had broken her tibia. The doctor said her bone was so damaged it looked like she'd been in a car accident and that the leg would need to be pinned.///

This is now giving us some idea that a fracture was present from the start, but why was it missed? An MRI gives more informative facts tan a routine X-Ray......but all patients with ?fractures cant have an MRI.

Here the picture seems to change.....at operation NHS surgeons said that it didn't need pinning whereas Private doctor seemed to indicate that it did.

Things got from bad to worse and she is left in pain with recurrent infections.

\\ The more likely scenario, which the doctors are hinting at more and more often, is that my mum will lose her leg from the knee downwards.\\\

I am afraid that they may well be right, but the question remains...."why is the bone no reuniting?

My advice:

1) See the Consultant orthopaedic surgeon and in a rational, non confrontational way and ask
a) What is stopping the union of the bones? Was the infection MRSA? Is the blood supply to the leg normal and could she be referred to a Vascular Surgeon for angiograms on her leg.

2) Get the help of a Solicitor specialising in medical negligence.

Remember that the surgeon is just as frustrated as you are and would welcome a satisfactory outcome to this very difficult and unfortunate problem.

[Sqad]

Just another thought.....ask the consultant if we are now dealing with:

1)Malunuion
2) Infection
3) Osteo Arthritis.
4) Poor blood supply to the leg.

Keep us informed.

[Sqad]

Ann/ummmm/lofty.....;-)

[LoftyLottie]

Yes, we got carried away!!!

Rational way, but firm and not conceding or being humble and definiely not in awe of. Consultants are only human beings and are not to be revered!! Not actually shouting, I never shout!!! (much)

Good morning Sqad. Hope you are feeling better ;o)

[LoftyLottie]

And, by experience, if you Fosters people off enough and don't go away then it does work. And I say that from seeing it from both sides.

It is too easy to get trodden on and go away, or be worried about not bothering people further, and generally that is what is preferred by most professionals. They rely on it!!

[LoftyLottie]

'Fosters'!!!!! p1ss

[Sqad]

Lofty.........right....;-)

[lcg]

also....if her pain is not adequately managed, maybe a pain clinic/consultant for support? and don't be scared of screaming. i am a nurse and it was only when i had a tantrum at my gp i was reffered to the pain and rheumatology clinics. and after that, again, at the pain specialist. she seemed to think i was looking to get high and my depression was causing my pain. not so - and it was only when i told her in no uncertain terms that she listened. for 2 years, you have been too patient. start screaming and see a solicitor. if it were one of their relatives, i'm sure they would have a different opinion of their approach. sometimes the nhs disgusts me....and makes me ashamed to be working for it. good luck x

[Ann]

Hi Sqad ;)
Sorry we did just get carried away with our ranting ......... but you speak as you find! I'm sure for every one bad nurse or doc there are 4 brilliant ones, trouble is I only seem to attract the bad ones in a hospital :(
I never get a nice doc like you Sqad ;)) you can be my GP anytime! What did you specialise in or were you general practice?