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"Distressed dancer"

About: The Great Western Hospital

Hello, I came in to see the consultant today 6 weeks after breaking my 5th metatarsal. I was told on the day of the break that it would take approximately 6 weeks to heal and after this I would be able to begin lightly exercising my foot and regaining strength. I was also told I could, with the aid of a black boot, walk on my foot as long as pain allowed. On arrival today for my 6 week check up, I was told by the doctor that it was "unrealistic" that the bone could have ever healed in 6 weeks and that it would take at minimum 3 months to heal. He also asked me how could I have ever expected anything to change after only one week? To which I replied this is my 6 week check up. He insisted he had seen me the previous week and that it was only a week after my injury before then realizing he was in the wrong - which begs the question, had he even seen my records at all?. I was not shown the x ray, only told that nothing had changed. They did not tell me what to do to try and make it heal other than I did not need to use the boot any longer, I could put weight on it again and that I did not have to use crutches - completely contradictory considering I had just been told it is still completely broken and there has been no progress. I was very upset hearing this, and when I did get upset the doctor walked out without saying anything and the nurse told me he was unable to deal with me whilst being upset and that I had to calm down and sort myself out before he could continue. This makes no sense to me, I am a professional dancer who has now been distraught for 6 weeks and all I know is that it's going to take another 6 weeks at minimum without a clue in the world as to what to do, whether I should walk, not walk, use my boot and crutches or anything else on the matter. I told the doctor I felt confused and he said all the information I had been previously given was false and I should have not been told it. I feel as though there was no personal care whatsoever - I was not expecting them to care on a real personal level at all but some thought for my feelings would have been nice. It was a horrible experience and they left both me and my mum in tears. I don't know where my progress stands, what to do as far as my health is concerned and now I'm even wondering if the doctor knew who I was or was looking at the right records. I am no medical expert, nor am I doubting a doctor at all, however the appearance of the break from 6 weeks ago to now is phenomenal, there is absolutely no swelling or bruising and I can put my weight on without any pain, and I just find it hard to believe this means that there is no progress at all. I am not saying it is healed and I can go back to normal day to day life, however something must have happened for the break to have changed like this. I am going to ask for a second opinion from my private orthopedic surgeon to be sure.

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Responses

Response from The Great Western Hospital 10 years ago
The Great Western Hospital
Submitted on 10/04/2014 at 16:31
Published on nhs.uk on 11/04/2014 at 04:00


Thanks for your comments. We're really sorry for any confusion caused and for any incorrect information given. It would be really useful if you'd be able to contact our Customer Servcie team so that we can discuss what happened in more detail and try to resolve any concerns. If you'd like to talk to us in more detail, our team is available on 01793 604031 or by email to customer.service@gwh.nhs.uk

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