Pain in the back.: I have moderate copd... - Lung Conditions C...

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Pain in the back.

carolcolley profile image
14 Replies

I have moderate copd. For the last couple of weeks I have been coughing a lot more and have had a pain on the top right hand side of my back, round about my shoulder blade. Is this normal or is it because I have coughed a lot? I could do with some advice as to wether or not to go to the doctors.

Thank you

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carolcolley profile image
carolcolley
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14 Replies
SquirrelsHolt profile image
SquirrelsHolt

I tend to always be on the lookout for any signs of an infection. Have you got your rescue meds. Even so, Id start the ab's and get a Doctor's appointment or even a telephone consultation. Take care.

I think if you have any concerns at all, get it checked out. Don't wait.

Ennyl profile image
Ennyl

Please get yourself checked amy change must be looked at c

carolcolley profile image
carolcolley

My doctors are useless. I rang to speak to a doctor or the copd nurse to be told by the receptionist that I couldn't and I should go to a and e. We are told not to use the a and e and use our GP's.

I have never been offered a rescue pack in the 2 years since diagnosis. I am in a lot of pain at the moment when I breath in but I think a prescription of antibiotics or steroids may be needed, I shouldn't have to go to a and e. Plus the fact that the receptionist is just what she is...a receptionist!

Mandy6513 profile image
Mandy6513 in reply to carolcolley

My daughter kept getting a pain each time she breathed in and our doc sent her to the hospital because she said it could be a blood clot...we were scared to death and lucky it wasnt that but the fact is just because you have COPD dosnt mean its responsible for everything you may get.

You need to see your doctor your their responsibility and i would be putting in a complaint to the patient manage about it as well x

in reply to Mandy6513

That is so true Mandy that happend to me once when I was at work and they took me to A@E luckily it wasn't a blood clot better to be safe x

Hi from the symtoms it is possible this is pluerosy, but only a doctor can tell. Tell them you need an emergency appointment and refuse to be put off. If all else fails just go in and insist on waiting for the emergency doctor.

If they refuse just say that you are ill and must see a doctor. There is probably a policy there of calling an ambulance for a patient if no one is available to see them. It is one thing you going to A and E off your own bat and another if they call one. The hospital would not be pleased and they know the right channels to go through to complain about them.

I had this once but not as bad. I didn't have an appointment to see a doctor coz I didn't know at 8.30 am coz I didn't feel ill then and can't predict the future! It wasn't until the early afternoon that I felt very ill, could hardly walk or breathe, so went to my doctors. The receptionists kicked off a bit but when I insisted they said I could wait for the emergency doctor but got very funny about it.

When I complained about this the practice manager said that if no one was available to see me the receptionists would have called an ambulance. I presume this is the law?

Anyway I had a very severe chest infection and exacerbation, but thankfully nothing else. x

diesel12 profile image
diesel12

I have in the past, when told there are no appointments, requested a home visit. Oddly an appointment has magically become available. Needs must and all that :)

HampshireLass profile image
HampshireLass

I know doctors are busy but in any other job or business if something important cropped up you would stay and finish it. Doctors don't seem to work like this any more but then I know for a fact 2 doctors at my surgery moonlight for the Out of Hours Doctors, so cannot be that busy. Could be that they get paid extra for seeing the patients they didn't have time to see in the day time.

soulsaver profile image
soulsaver

Our A&E would turn you away as a non emergency. ASk at the GP for an emergency appointment. If the 'clerk' blocks you ask for the practice manager... Change your GP if you're not happy, you don't want to stick with someone you don't have confidence in.

Best wishes

jackie50 profile image
jackie50

Have you a walk in centre, try them, I have in the past waited till after hours and phoned 111 and they made an appointment with out of hours doc, when phoning gp, just say thank you for your help, I will visit A and E surprising how fast they change,

Good luck and hope you feel better soon

But back to the question, I have pain in the left side of the back up near where the lungs are I saw a triage nurse and then put to the physio, I have pulled my muscles with all the coughing

We do have a time of it with this illness don't we.......

Beth1949 profile image
Beth1949

I get a discomfort in my back some times as well. Some times it's due to a mucus plug in one of my lung's lobes, some times it's due to inflammation of the lining around my lungs when I have a lung infection, and some times it's a pulled muscle from coughing so much.

The last time, I did some exercises for my back and it helped. Also in the past, I've used a heating pad and I have a massage pad that I use and it helps.

Azure_Sky profile image
Azure_Sky

I often get upper right shoulder pain, or top right corner of chest. These pains usually come when my chest is playing up.

carolcolley profile image
carolcolley

Thanks for all your replies. I would have gone to the doctors but my daughter decided to have her baby 2 weeks early so spent the last few days looking after her, my 2 year old granddaughter and the new little girl. It's still there so will go when everything settles down.

Thanks again

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