"How have I been left to suffer so long?"

For 18 months I have been complaining of severe pain in my ankle I was sent for an x-ray. I was told there was nothing wrong with it but the pain was still there after another 5xrays. 5 months ago I was again sent to a consultant but he told me not to come back again. The swelling was arthritis, but my own GP said the same thing to me, that I was wasting his time. So 6 weeks ago I was in so much pain I went back to the doctor. This time it was a lady doc and she wrote to the hospital. I have been told I have a broken tendon and half of my heel needs to be replaced. I just can’t take all this in. I never got another x-ray so how have I been left to suffer so long? I think that I am a young 72yr old.