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Getting Seen By A Medical Professional.
35 Answers
Shortly after lockdown I had an accident at work and hurt my elbow. Elbow became sore and muscles down my forearm began to ache when trying to lift anything. Didnt think too much of it at the time but as time went on the soreness and aching continued.
Rang my GP a couple of weeks ago and had a telephone consultation. He diagnosed tennis elbow and I then had another telephone consultation last week with physio. I was given advice and emailed some excercises.
1) Im not convinced its tennis elbow as it started with a knock to the elbow joint, whereas tennis elbow (I believe) is caused by repetitive movements of the arm.
2) How the hell can you diagnose over the phone?
I'm worried that I may be doing more harm as my work day consists of lifting crates sometimes weighing in excess of 20kg. Surely an X-ray or scan should have at least been offered before making such a diagnosis.
Thanks.
Rang my GP a couple of weeks ago and had a telephone consultation. He diagnosed tennis elbow and I then had another telephone consultation last week with physio. I was given advice and emailed some excercises.
1) Im not convinced its tennis elbow as it started with a knock to the elbow joint, whereas tennis elbow (I believe) is caused by repetitive movements of the arm.
2) How the hell can you diagnose over the phone?
I'm worried that I may be doing more harm as my work day consists of lifting crates sometimes weighing in excess of 20kg. Surely an X-ray or scan should have at least been offered before making such a diagnosis.
Thanks.
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Why didn't you present yourself at A&E from the off and tell them you suspect you have chipped your humerus or a fracture in your forearm.
The experts on AB have been telling us that A&E is under used and the staff have nothing to do so you could get it sorted. A GP or physio can't X ray your elbow but would send you to X-Ray dept.
The experts on AB have been telling us that A&E is under used and the staff have nothing to do so you could get it sorted. A GP or physio can't X ray your elbow but would send you to X-Ray dept.
did the exercises work? Is you arm getting better? If its not improving or its getting worse, and/or you have additional symptoms then phone the doc again. Tell him what your job is and ask if you should be lifting weights. its not usual to scan or x ray an elbow to diagnose tennis elbow....at least it wasn't.
1) Im not convinced its tennis elbow as it started with a knock to the elbow joint, whereas tennis elbow (I believe) is caused by repetitive movements of the arm.
2) How the hell can you diagnose over the phone?
As you say,'How can you diagnose a chipped bone or a fracture over the phone.?
As long as you wear a mask I cannot see how you can be refused an examination at A&E especially as you may be worsening the condition by heavy lifting.
We are often told on here that A&E staff are twiddling their fingers because no one presents themselves unless it's a blue lighter ambulance incident. Personally I would go if you were that concerned.
2) How the hell can you diagnose over the phone?
As you say,'How can you diagnose a chipped bone or a fracture over the phone.?
As long as you wear a mask I cannot see how you can be refused an examination at A&E especially as you may be worsening the condition by heavy lifting.
We are often told on here that A&E staff are twiddling their fingers because no one presents themselves unless it's a blue lighter ambulance incident. Personally I would go if you were that concerned.
//...and are STILL advised from using it unless absolutely neccessary.//
Well it is absolutely necessary because you have a problem which shows no sign of improving and you don't seem able to get a proper diagnosis and treatment by any other means.
I think it is irresponsible to prescribe physiotherapy when a proper diagnosis which rules out fractures has not been undertaken. There seems to be a mood in the country at the moment that unless you are dying from Covid-19 anything else you've got wrong with you will have to wait (until when is not really clear).
I would simply pitch up at A&E.
Well it is absolutely necessary because you have a problem which shows no sign of improving and you don't seem able to get a proper diagnosis and treatment by any other means.
I think it is irresponsible to prescribe physiotherapy when a proper diagnosis which rules out fractures has not been undertaken. There seems to be a mood in the country at the moment that unless you are dying from Covid-19 anything else you've got wrong with you will have to wait (until when is not really clear).
I would simply pitch up at A&E.
New Judge
//There seems to be a mood in the country at the moment that unless you are dying from Covid-19 anything else you've got wrong with you will have to wait (until when is not really clear)//
Youre not wrong there...
A friend of mine was due to have a neck operation when lockdown happened, still got no date for operation and he could potentially become paralysed. My sister also was due a knee replacement and no date for her either.
Tills, local A&E in N-u-L. But feel a fool for walking in with a 'sore arm'. Would be different if GP sent me. But think im going have to go anyway.
//There seems to be a mood in the country at the moment that unless you are dying from Covid-19 anything else you've got wrong with you will have to wait (until when is not really clear)//
Youre not wrong there...
A friend of mine was due to have a neck operation when lockdown happened, still got no date for operation and he could potentially become paralysed. My sister also was due a knee replacement and no date for her either.
Tills, local A&E in N-u-L. But feel a fool for walking in with a 'sore arm'. Would be different if GP sent me. But think im going have to go anyway.
Well,you haven't said what the" accident " entailed as that might give us some idea of the diagnose.
90% of medieval conditions can be diagnosed without medical examinations and interrogation, history taken,talking to the patient is all that is required and this can be done by email or a telephone conversation.
In only 10% is a physical examinations required.
I am heartened to believe that the face to face consultations will be vastly reduced........on the whole they are an waste of everyone time.
As for you Nailit, my advice would be that of your doctors, monitor the situation for the next 2 weeks.
90% of medieval conditions can be diagnosed without medical examinations and interrogation, history taken,talking to the patient is all that is required and this can be done by email or a telephone conversation.
In only 10% is a physical examinations required.
I am heartened to believe that the face to face consultations will be vastly reduced........on the whole they are an waste of everyone time.
As for you Nailit, my advice would be that of your doctors, monitor the situation for the next 2 weeks.
New Judge, To my knowledge this sort of thing has been going on for something like two decades so probably even longer than that, way, way before Covid was even a twinkle in....... I was given a course of antacid tablets by the GP then, when I returned unchanged, referred and told by the ENT guy that my uvula was getting in the way when I described my symptoms. Two years later I put my self-diagnosis to (another) GP and was sent back to the (same) ENT: Diagnosis confirmed and operation offered. My belief is that my case was deliberately "deferred" to reduce the load.
My mother in law was prescribed indigestion medication by her GP for her symptoms which continued unabated for more than a day after that. A house visit by another GP from the same practice resulted in an immediate emergency transfer to hospital where she died of a heart attack which was recognised by the second GP. Just before dying she said that, when she got the GP in the first time, she thought she was having a heart attack (!). This is a case of plain carelessness and/or shoddy workmanship.
I could go on.
My mother in law was prescribed indigestion medication by her GP for her symptoms which continued unabated for more than a day after that. A house visit by another GP from the same practice resulted in an immediate emergency transfer to hospital where she died of a heart attack which was recognised by the second GP. Just before dying she said that, when she got the GP in the first time, she thought she was having a heart attack (!). This is a case of plain carelessness and/or shoddy workmanship.
I could go on.
//90% of medieval conditions //
Sqad, I dont have the plague, lol.
Good to see you still around anyway, hope ur well.
//Well,you haven't said what the" accident " entailed as that might give us some idea of the diagnose//
I was pushing a stack of crates on a dolly when said dolly snagged in a carpet, stack went over and I went over with it. Grazed shins and a bruised ego, as well as hurt elbow.
No problem with elbow until then so dont see how it can be diagnosed (over the phone) as tennis elbow. Tennis elbow, to the best of my knowledge, is a repetitive injury, not one brought on by trauma.
(I stand to be corrected, Im no medic)
Sqad, I dont have the plague, lol.
Good to see you still around anyway, hope ur well.
//Well,you haven't said what the" accident " entailed as that might give us some idea of the diagnose//
I was pushing a stack of crates on a dolly when said dolly snagged in a carpet, stack went over and I went over with it. Grazed shins and a bruised ego, as well as hurt elbow.
No problem with elbow until then so dont see how it can be diagnosed (over the phone) as tennis elbow. Tennis elbow, to the best of my knowledge, is a repetitive injury, not one brought on by trauma.
(I stand to be corrected, Im no medic)
"This is a case of plain carelessness and/or shoddy workmanship."
Karl,I respect you feelings but I do not accept your conclusion.
Doctors are human beings first with human failings and like all humans make mistakes, but unfortunately these mistakes can be fatal. Most doctors,sqad included have failed to distinguish between a heart attack and indigestion.
It happens and the offending medic fels almost as devastated as the family, but he just has to get on with it,as there are many still waiting to seek his/her advise.
However negligence does occur in the medical profession as with other walks of life and there's a procedure to deal with such matters.
Misdiagnosis is not necessarily the same thing as negligence.
Karl,I respect you feelings but I do not accept your conclusion.
Doctors are human beings first with human failings and like all humans make mistakes, but unfortunately these mistakes can be fatal. Most doctors,sqad included have failed to distinguish between a heart attack and indigestion.
It happens and the offending medic fels almost as devastated as the family, but he just has to get on with it,as there are many still waiting to seek his/her advise.
However negligence does occur in the medical profession as with other walks of life and there's a procedure to deal with such matters.
Misdiagnosis is not necessarily the same thing as negligence.
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