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Hi! Concerned about being dismissed by GP.

zixxo
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Hi!

I've stumbled upon this forum and saw some informative posts that made me want to reach out.

About three/ four months ago, my knee "popped" and caused me agonising pain - to this day, I'm still signed off - but the knee MRI didn't show anything other than minor trochlea dysplasia. Over time, I have become unable to bear weight on the leg, couldn't sleep, get deep bone pains, muscle spasms, and burning feeling around my thigh.

In the last month and a half however, I have noticed a presence of a "mass" on the back of my thigh. I wouldn't call it a lump, as it's not surface level, overly visible, or able to be moved. I'd describe it more like deep within 'something' that I only noticed because it caught on the edge of the seat, compressed something in my leg and made it numb. At first it happened occasionally, but now it's pretty much always there so I can't even sit properly anymore. i have also started developing red/ pink dots on the area right where that mass feels like it resides.

The problem is here: the GP completely ignored me when I mentioned it, and instead wrote it down as a KNEE bump, when I specifically mentioned THIGH, and when I requested a thigh MRI, the MSK specialist said she's "more concerned about my hip(???) and besides, [they] don't do thigh MRI's". So instead, I got an ultrasound that showed... nothing. And neither did the hip MRI.

I've spoken to them about the results, and they pretty much shrugged and said "they don't know what is causing these issues".

I'm a loss as to what to do, and the pain/ mass is getting worse. My leg turns purple and mottled, and I'm getting more of those "dots" as time goes on, and the pain is so severe I'm bouncing between amitryptyline and 30/500mg codeine... 

i don't know if it is cancer or not, but I just need some advice on what to do to be taken seriously and not be blown off by the doctors(which I have a long history of, by the way, which doesn't help lol).

Thank you!

Parents

  • Hello Zixxo and thanks for posting

    I'm sorry to read about your situation. This must be a very difficult time for you.

    I'm afraid we can't say what might be the matter (diagnose). Our standard advice is to talk things over with again with your GP and be guided by them.

    We are sometimes contacted by people who feel that their doctor is not taking their symptoms seriously and they ask us what they can do. But I’m afraid that we are rather limited in what we can say and do, because as you probably know it is not possible to have further tests or investigations, or to see a specialist without a GP's referral. All we can really do is to advise you to go back and discuss things with your GP again as your symptoms are persisting. You may may find it helpful to say to your doctor that you are worried about cancer and see what their advice is. You can also ask if you need to have any further tests. If they say no, ask them to explain why not. You can ask how long you should wait to see if your symptoms improve. It is useful to do this as it does put the onus on the doctor to see you again if things do not improve.

    The Patient's Association has some useful information on how to make the most out of a GP appointment which I hope will be useful.

    I hope this is of some use. Give us a ring if you would like to talk anything over. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Kind regards,

    Celene

Reply

  • Hello Zixxo and thanks for posting

    I'm sorry to read about your situation. This must be a very difficult time for you.

    I'm afraid we can't say what might be the matter (diagnose). Our standard advice is to talk things over with again with your GP and be guided by them.

    We are sometimes contacted by people who feel that their doctor is not taking their symptoms seriously and they ask us what they can do. But I’m afraid that we are rather limited in what we can say and do, because as you probably know it is not possible to have further tests or investigations, or to see a specialist without a GP's referral. All we can really do is to advise you to go back and discuss things with your GP again as your symptoms are persisting. You may may find it helpful to say to your doctor that you are worried about cancer and see what their advice is. You can also ask if you need to have any further tests. If they say no, ask them to explain why not. You can ask how long you should wait to see if your symptoms improve. It is useful to do this as it does put the onus on the doctor to see you again if things do not improve.

    The Patient's Association has some useful information on how to make the most out of a GP appointment which I hope will be useful.

    I hope this is of some use. Give us a ring if you would like to talk anything over. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Kind regards,

    Celene

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