To A&E or not to A&E…..

MsBB
MsBB Member Posts: 1
edited 9. Apr 2025, 15:42 in Living with arthritis

Hello All 👋 this is my first postI! A quick introduction, I’m 53yrs old, I live on my own with my lovely 12yr old Labradoodle. I am pretty much housebound now and the subsequent isolation means depression is never far away. I have OA of the Right hip, Right knee & Right big toe, I was diagnosed in December 2023. I am unable to weight bear on my right leg now and can only mobilise a short distance using crutches. So, I have a question, I don’t know whether it’s a silly question or not, but I will ask anyway. I’m struggling to manage my pain, I have prescribed pain relief from the GP & pain clinic, but nothing, so far, has been effective enough for me to get through the day without crying from the pain, the GP said we are running out of options to try. So here is my question, is it appropriate to go to A&E because you cannot cope with your pain level? Or is it a waste of A&E time? Has anyone else been in this situation and, if you have, what was your outcome? I really don’t know what to do, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance. X

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Comments

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,299

    Morning @MsBB

    I know I wouldn't go to A&E myself, but I don't live alone which makes a huge difference I have someone with me to make that decision for me and probably to keep me calm. I look at the wording. Accident and emergency (something unexpected and serious) Yours is long term and pure AGONY I think from what you say and it sounds as though you have tried everything.

    I do know of one person who did go to A&E but her osteoarthritis came on pretty suddenly so was pretty scary for her. She was sent home after a night in and tests to rule out septic arthritis and something else I can't remember what sorry. Referred back to her GP.

    I think however that if I were you I would be asking for an up to date X-ray (a lot can happen in 2 years to joints) and see whether surgery is now an option for your hip. It's possible that your hip pain has caused you to walk differently causing pressure on your right knee and even that toe. Maybe there is a solution and a referral to an orthopaedic consultant ought to be next?

    I really do wish you the best of luck sorry for the garbled reply

    Toni xx

  • PJoanne
    PJoanne Moderator Posts: 274

    Hello @MsBB

    Welcome to the forum, its great to have you with us.

    I agree with @frogmorton . I do live alone with long term pain, there has only been one occasion where I thought I might have to call an ambulance - this was due to a flare up so bad I thought I might be in danger of losing consciousness due to pain. I understand why you might want to go - maybe you feel you have no other options? I do think that A&E will assess you for immediate danger then direct you back to your GP.

    How about you give our lovely helpline a ring - it's free and you will be able to talk this through? The details are just below my signiture.

    Best Joanne

    Need more help - call our Helpline on 0800 5200 520 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm

  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 843

    Hi @MsBB

    I agree with @frogmorton and @PJoanne you need to go back to your GP, insist on a face to face appointment rather than a phone appointment and firstly get new xrays and secondly get an onward referral to Physio/MSK clilnic/orthopaedics for onward treatment for assessment and hopefully surgery. Do not get fobbed off with a phone appointment or an appointment with a nurse practitioner or paramedic, put your foot down and insist.

    If you are in England you currently have the right to choose where your treatment will be using NHS choices so when you get to the point of being referred to hospital, make sure you insist on that route rather than just your local hospital. I was lucky enough to have a lovely physio who referred me to the hospital with the shortest waiting list which was my local private hospital (paid for by the NHS) and only 5 miles away. No waiting for years for surgery.

    Good luck

    Trish

  • iwannerbeme
    iwannerbeme Member Posts: 40

    I would probably call 111 and seek advice. I have used this service a few times now, not for me but I am unpaid carer for someone who has a chronic illness. I find them helpful and they can judge if you need to go to hospital. If you are in that much pain, I would say its urgent.

  • su_g
    su_g Member Posts: 2

    Hi, sorry to hear your in pain and not getting appropriate care. I wouldn’t bother going to A+E. I went when I was newly diagnosed with RA and wasn’t coping, they referred me to out of hours dr’s , bearing in mind I was almost passing out with pain at the time and they said they couldn’t prescribe anything stronger than paracetamol. My husband called out our GP the next morning after a very painful night and he wanted to send me to hospital. After discussing what would they actually do and would I see my consultant? Answer being just control the pain and no won’t see consultant he decided to prescribe oromorph at home.(I wasn’t living alone though )Long story is you need to get appropriate pain relief and if your GP can’t prescribe it they should refer you to someone that can.

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