"Delayed and cancelled operations"

I am under the care of an orthopaedic consultant. I was due an operation Jan 2020, on my right shoulder. The right shoulder being my less damaged. It was postponed in Jan 2020 for reasons unknown. Supposed to be rescheduled for Feb. Wasn't Rescheduled.Then in March Covid hit , so all stop.

   Due to the type of operation, I and others, checked, several times, with the consultant via his secretary, if it was ok to continue using the arm as normal, and that the shoulder didn't have to be 'taken care of'. To ensure there was no deterioration that would cause the operation to be cancelled. Each time the response was that it was ok to do physical exercise and heavier loads with the right arm/shoulder.

We'll park this for now and come back.

  As mentioned the right shoulder is my 'good' shoulder. The left shoulder/side having been damaged years before. There is nerve , ligament, muscle and tendon damage over left side. For over a decade , no-one has been interested in the Left side. It has been a case of just being told to keep taking the pills, and some alternative therapies I have fought tooth and nail for.

  Approx 3 months ago the left shoulder/arm/neck decided to suddenly flare up. I was given an urgent appt with consultant.  When I got there I was sent for an x-ray, of both shoulder joints. Then spoke to the consultant. 

A consultant who had not read my notes re left side/shoulder. They were surprised to find I had, had previous operations on it, surprised to find arthritis in it, and no clue as to the muscle/tissue/ligament/tendon/nerve damage! The x-ray was useless for the cause of the pain! They also seemed confused when I said I was over because of the pain in the left. 

  Which brings us nicely back to the right side. 

The shoulder joint apparently has now deterioted too much to operate on. This information was not offered, I had to ask. The consultant then tried to put my continuing to use the arm/shoulder as the fault. Perhaps, if, in any of the conversations I had with the secretary, asking if I should take it easy, the response had been 'yes', we would not be in this situation.

Just for the sake of clarity, I already take it easy. I don't do a heavy manual job. Last year I volunteered with lambing. Before doing so I phoned to ask if it was an issue. The response was that it was ok it wouldn't damage the joint.

So , as I sat in the consulting room , with  a physio, a consultant , and one other, no-one seemed bothered to help. The right side they have offered nothing for despite continual pain, and rotator cuff tears. I was told to put up with the new pain in left side, and if still sore in 3 to 4 months he would send me for an MRI. 

After explaining I was really suffering with the new pain, and asking if there was anything, at all,  could be done, I finally got an injection into the bursa. An injection that did not work. I know why and any orthopaedic consultant will know why! 

   I called the secretary to check I had been booked for an MRI, and to ensure the had my Veteran's priority. As well as to ask how long I would be waiting, as 3 to 4 months was too long. They did not have me marked as a Veteran. Despite being told several times over the years!

Thankfully I was put through to radiology , and they got me a quick appointment.

However. I have now had to travel twice, by ferry, for procedures that could have and should have been done on the same day. I have taken a full day, and had to stay in an hotel for one appt,due to a late afternoon appointment. Which meant there was no guarantee to make the last ferry.  The second appt, despite being earlier also took a full day, as yet again the letters state that you have to allow several hours. Also it is a rare thing for appts to run on time.

This is a waste of my time, hospital time, and my money. 

Oh and I still have no operation, no release from pain, no idea of what the consultant is planning, and no idea of my next appointment.

Nothing in this is acceptable to me.