Wound needs to be checked - no appointments!

[Doodlebug63]

After many, many steriods for asthma attacks 18 months ago and aging my skin has become increasingly delicate, first bruising easily and of late skin tears very easily. Up until this week, small and manageable at home.

Sunday, whilst going around to the garage to get the Christmas decorations I slipped and caught my arm and shoulder on a brick wall. The result was a skin tear the size of a 50p piece on my forearm and bruising to my shoulder.

A call to 111 informed me I needed medical treatment within 4 hours and a 40 mile round trip to Urgent Care saw me with the wound cleaned, steristrips to bring the skin flap back and hold in place and then dressed and a bandage applied. The medic was very kind and caring and told me to get my GP surgery to check it out in 5 days and have a new dressing applied.

Having called the surgery to book in for the nurse to check the wound and redress I’ve been told there are no appointments available until next week, which will be 10 days after I injured my arm!

My dilemma is, as the wound is painful, my shoulder hurts and my hand feels slightly odd (a bit numb, like when you bang your elbow and you get that numb feeling) do I drop into my local minor injuries centre and ask them to check it over. I know it states they will not redress wounds but should I go and explain I’m concerned? I don’t want to take up valuable time but equally I’ve read that these sort of injuries can easily become infected and cause lots of issues The original medic did mention there maybe a need for antibiotics (my other half reminded me of this as I’d forgotten)

Am I just being a worry bod and should I wait 10 days (which I must admit I’m disgusted at as this is going against medical advice who told me 5 days).

Thank you in advance.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

I suggest you try 111 again. They organised your care at the outset. You could also try one of the NHS drop in centres.

[Doodlebug63 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

thank you. I think I’ll try a drop in minor injuries, that’s all we have nearby.

[Doodlebug63 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Went to the local Minor Injuries Unit who were very helpful. Soft tissue injury jury to shoulder and around the arm injury but if it doesn’t improve then they told me to go back in a few days and they will XRay.

The wound is looking good but will need to go for the GP surgery nurse next week as booked for further inspection and a new dressing again.

Need to elevate, rest and ice shoulder and take pain killers. Worth getting it checked out.