Yesterday I saw an orthopædic hand specialist. I've had wrist pain for years. I went to A&E a long time ago and they checked it wasn't broken. "You've got a sprain of your triangular ligament" they said, gave me a splint to wear for two weeks and sent me home.
A sprain should get better, so although this didn't, I decided to give it a while, then I just got used to the discomfort, changed the way I do things a bit so I wouldn't have to turn my palm face up, or put pressure on that side of my wrist.
A month or so ago I sprained my thumb. It healed within two weeks and I realised that maybe the other side of my wrist shouldn't still be sore. So I did something about it.
I get health insurance through work, and this is my first time using it. For somebody used to the NHS, this is frighteningly fast.
I rang my GP two weeks ago. He recomended physio first. My first physio appointment was last Thursday - she tried some manipulation, laser treatment and ultrasound. I had another physio session on Monday (the one where I had to ride up the big hill) where she did the same, but then said "we're really only guessing what's wrong. You would be better seeing a surgeon who specialises in hands to get a proper diagnosis." Actually, unbeknown to me my GP had also written that on my notes as the next course of action. So I arranged an appointment with Mr. Swain at the Ulster Independent clinic. That was yesterday.
If I'd been going through the NHS I probably wouldn't have got referred to a physio in the first place, but if I had it'd be a 6 month wait before I saw one, then probably a month before my second appointment. Two years to see the specialist, and another year before anything was done.
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