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.

[Murderfan58]

I would ring 111 today explain how much worse it's got list all your symptoms. Might be worth writing a list before phoning .so you don't forget anything . It may have become infected so need antibiotics. But they direct to who you need to see. There are walk in clinics which can redress wounds and prescribe antibiotics also prescribing pharmacies who can prescribe antibiotics ,some redress wounds but not all. Have you got a thermometer if so check your temperature. Might be worth taking a picture of the wound . Even covered up the skin not covered by the wound may be red.

[Murderfan58]

Sorry ignore my post . Just read your reply 🤦🤦🤦🤦

[scentedgardener]

A call to 111 might be useful. A while ago I couldn't get a GP appointment so rang 111 for advice. They confirmed that I needed to see a GP so contacted the practice and miraculously an appointment became available.I honestly don't know if they can still do this as more recently they advised me to contact an "urgent care centre" which turned out to be the local MIIU which couldn't help as they are nurse led and I knew I needed to see a doctor.

[fishonabike]

As you have other symptoms (hand numbness) I feel you would be justified in dropping in to minor injuries - you could also say that the wound feels sore so should they check it please, or just ask if they can check an redress it since you are there anyway🙂

Keep the appointment with the GP surgery to have it checked again and after that you should be able to take care of it yourself

But if it does feel sore, hot or get red please seek help

[Doodlebug63 in reply to fishonabike]

Thank you for your reply. I did go and have it checked. Thankfully the wound is infection free and has been dressed with a new dressing. The shoulder was checked over for movement etc and I was told it would appear to be soft tissue injury but if it felt worse or no improvement in the next couple of days to go back and they XRay it. Thankfully it is slightly better today so hoping for continued improvement and I will keep the appointment for next Tuesday and have the wound checked again and another new dressing applied.