Broken Shoulder

[Imagine1]

Hi, everyone.

My 73 year old husband had a nasty fall playing walking football on Monday morning. It turned out that he broke his shoulder badly and most of his arm came out in a massive bruise. I took him straight to casualty hoping to get seen straight away because his shoulder didn't look right and he was in excessive pain. It took nearly 5 hours to be seen, firstly he had a triage nurse who obviously didn't like her job, they way she treated my husband was disgusting, she sent him to a different department. We waited another hour to be seen by a nurse, probably the doctors were on strike yet again. He was told that he needed an Xray, after 6 hours of waiting. Then he waited another hour to be seen, this was on the other side of the hospital bearing in mind he is in extreme pain. Then we had to wait another hour to be told that he had a severely broken shoulder. We guessed that already because of the way it looked. He was put in a useless sling which didn't protect anything and that was it. I had to ask the nurse for painkillers but she didn't want to give him any. I had to beg her because of the pain he was in and she saw it and knew his age, but didn't care. He was told to book in for a phone call for Friday from the doctor, it was for 9.15am, no phone call came, still waiting. The tablets that he was eventually given were a waste of time. He hasn't slept since the accident. So now we have to go back to casualty on Monday to try and get stronger painkillers and ask why nobody phoned him with an appointment? What disgusting treatment is this? he is a vulnerable 73 year old man, who could have died because of the fall and the glorious NHS don't want to know? What possible excuse can they have for treating my husband this way?

[Madlegs1]

So sorry for your story. Utterly exhausting for you both. So much frustration.

I hope he is a bit more comfortable if you have been able to beg, borrow or steal some effective painkillers.

Just think of them all in the med cabinets along the road!?

Good luck.

[flamenca1 in reply to Madlegs1]

That's is shocking! What is the NHS coming too. Although we can't complain here in Northumberland. My son broke is collar bone last September on a Saturday night. He went to A&E had an x-ray and told he would receive a phone call on Monday which he did, told to come in on Tuesday for an operation to put pins in his shoulder. Came home same day with medication had another op 6 weeks later to take pins out. He had exercises to do which he did 3 times a day. He had good treatment. He us fine now. Good Luck. I hope you can get better treatment.

[katieoxo60]

This is the state of the current NHS not the one we grew up with. I hope your husband is beginning to feel better but this type of break takes a long time I speak from experience of three broken shoulders and a broken foot. It is usual for the arm to be very badly bruised and takes some time for that to go back to normal . But your husband should have upper arm physio to prevent poor healing. In my case of the broken foot I did get a phone call back but had to go to see specialist by my own means in a wheelchair as I was also recovering from total knee replacement., it was very disappointing that when you need them you have to fen for yourself I wasn't even allowed to take a carer in with me, but they did look after me in a sort of way.

[MSTKing]

I broke my upper arm and shoulder a while ago so know just how severe the pain can be. So sorry he got such shoddy treatment and hope that he will soon be in a lot less pain.

[Judo1010]

I can fully understand your frustration, 20 or so years ago I had a serious RTA, which has over the years left me in massive pain. I’ve tried for the past 10 years at least to get My GP to refer me to physio without any success. I’ve had three cervical spine MRI scans on my neck. The most recent was on the 29th June. But the scanner broke down, so my appointment was rearranged for 22nd of July, which I attended. Today is the 1st of October, and as yet I haven’t received a letter of confirmation of the results, even though I have rang the department twice, the last time I rang was over three weeks ago, to be informed that it would be flagged as urgent, and I’m still waiting. At 76 in lots of pain. Your husband has my sympathy, the NHS is collapsing around our ears, but GPs are no better. Regards to your husband.

[Imagine1 in reply to Judo1010]

It is absolutely disgusting how they have treated you. I am sick of complaining all the time. I shouldn't have to do this. The treatment should be right in the first place. As I said my husband has broke his shoulder badly and they are treating it in the soft tissue clinic not the fracture clinic, so when he goes for his appointment they will tell him that he had come to the wrong place? They should refer him to the right place but somehow they will blame my husband? Then he will have to wait even further for another appointment. You are so right when you said the NHS is collapsing, the problem is there is no coming back from the shoddy treatment. Take care x

[Evonne02]

Hello Imagine1, I know exactly what you mean. This happened to me 10 years ago though & was due to a faulty fire exit door that slammed into the top of my back on the kept side. Useless gp took over 3 months to refer me to hospital. That appointment took another 2 months. When the consultant looked at the xrays he sent me for, he stated it was too late and wouldn't touch it as he couldn't guarantee he'd safely be able to even attempt to repair it. The muscles, ligaments, etc had all wrapped in and around the break on my collar bone. He knew I was in considerable pain and could only offer me a sling. I couldn't stop crying and was shocked, distressed, and thought I was dreaming this reality of a nightmare. As a consequence I cant lay or sleep on my left side, the 2 bones keep moving and sliding on top of each other which inflames it & is agonising, sometimes I cannot lift my arm, the pain travels into my neck and I cannot turn my head that side, it hurts to look down and i cannot wear a bra comfortably. I've since been told that I will end up with an arm that just hangs down and is unable to respond to messages from my brain. If I don't put my left arm in my clothes 1st I just cannot get dressed and is the same for undressing. Sometimes I feel absolutely zero from my arm, like its not there. Its all so frightening to me, and I dread the future as I live alone.

If I were you I'd contact my gp, my MP, call nhs111 & complain to them about the derisory treatment and its effects, threaten to go to the media, contact your local CAB. Just wish I'd of thought of all this when it happened to me. Please don't leave your precious husband with a life limiting sentence, as its not fair on you either. I'm depressed and this just stresses me out daily.

Please let us know how you both get on. All the best 🙂

[Imagine1 in reply to Evonne02]

Aww thank you for reading my post. I am so sorry for the hurt and pain that you have had from the NHS. They are absolutely useless. Did you get legal advice for what happened to you? This is what I am going to do, they are not getting away with this. All what has happened to you and the pain that you are still in could you not claim a disability benefit? if not, you should be. I do for my injuries that have happened to me. It doesn't take your pain away but a bit of extra money might just help you in some way. x

[Evonne02 in reply to Imagine1]

Thanks very much Imagine1. Back then I wasn't on the ball & assumed companies were all honest 😂. The company removed the door as soon as I complained so I had zero reference & didn't think to video or photograph the door. Not anymore though as it taught me a hard lesson to film, screenshot, photo, document all events, record what others experience & get witnesses if possible to sign what they've seen. The last bit I've never accomplished as when push comes to shove you're alone. Now I get disability benefits for other issues as well as fir my left shoulder and arm, so I'm OK on that score. Please ensure your liberated evidence is done in a diary format as tribunals, ombudsman etc prefer it that way, and it goes against the company even more so as it's proof of an ongoing issue that warranted a diary format. I wish you all the best abd will be rooting for you. 😍

[Imagine1 in reply to Evonne02]

Aww thank you Evonne02, it is terrible how people have to photograph and have proof of what has happened to them. I am so glad that you get disability benefits, a lot of people don't know what they can claim and miss out on a lot of money. My husband at present has finally slept after a week of not sleeping but he has a new problem now, the nurse gave him Tramadol to take and he has had only 4 of them and he has been violently sick this morning, he can't keep anything down. He looks really ill. This is all because of a stupid footballer who decided to tackle him from behind, no apology from him, nothing. They are all old men who want a bit of exercise so play walking football but not this man he thinks he is 18 again. I just wish i was there when it happened? I would have sorted him out. Nobody get's away with hurting my husband.

[Evonne02 in reply to Imagine1]

Thank you so much. Please call an ambulance for your husband. He's had a reaction to Tramadol I've never heard of, yet is now without pain relief. Watch for swelling and other symptoms. I'm so sorry you're both going through all this. Call your MP assp too. Take care, all the best 😍

[Lala14]

Yes it is disgusting! And yes they are understaffed over worked and many in the wrong job as they really don't give a fu@£. Seeing a elderly gentleman like that should have been a priority. Please report this.