"Treatment received for my Ankle Injury"

The sequence of events following the injury to my right ankle in Sept. 2010 has been as follows:-

23rd Sept 2010 – Injured right ankle whilst at Circuits Training. Stopped immediately, applied ice etc.

24th Sept – Unable to put any weight on right foot. Got emergency appt. with GP. Prescribed 2 week course of anti-inflams (Naproxen).

w/c 15th Oct. – Still painful, returned to GP – given further course of anti-flams. and referred to Derriford Physiotherapy Dept.

3rd Nov. – Letter from Physiotherapy Dept. Asking me to ring to make appmt. Earliest apptmt. Offered was 1st Dec. Because of delay attended 2 private appointments with local Physiotherapist in November.

1st Dec./8th Dec./20th Dec. – 3 appointments with Physiotherapist. At last one (20th Dec.) concluded that physiotherapy was of no benefit. Referred back to GP for further investigation.

24th Dec. – Referred by GP to Mt. Gould Orthopaedic Dept.

4th Jan. 2011 –Letter recd. from Mt.Gould for apptm’t. 19th Jan.

19th Jan. Thorough examination finally identified the problem as “probable right peroneal tendon tear/tensynovitis”. Referred to Derriford Hospital for ultrasound scan.

1st Feb. Received letter for ultrasound scan on 24th Feb.

24th Feb. Attended ultrasound scan.

2nd March – Letter from Mt. Gould Orthopaedic Dept. To GP confirming probable partial tear in right peroneal tendons. Recommended referral to Derriford Hosp. for possible surgical intervention.

14th March – Eventually managed to speak with GP by phone. Advised no action yet taken to refer me to Derriford Hosp. Expressed dismay with time being taken to sort out my problem and advised I was prepared to pay to get treatment I needed in a reasonable timescale.

21st March. – Letter from private consultant for apptmt. 30th March.

30th March – Referred for further ultrasound scan and steroid injection into right peroneal tendon sheath.

18th April. Received scan and injection.

11th May. Follow up apptmt. with consultant. Concluded inflammation significantly reduced and able to resume limited, controlled exercise. Referred to private physiotherapist to oversee and advise. Further appointment with Consultant in 6 weeks to consider whether recovery sufficient to avoid surgery.

16th May. - received phone call from Derriford Orthopaedic Dept. to agree date/time for them to see me. They clearly were not aware that I had chosen to go down the private route.

The concern I have is that although my injury is not a major one in the overall scheme of things it is proving to have a significant affect of the quality of my life and of more concern to me at my age when I probably have less time left than most in which to enjoy an active physical lifestyle. The problem has been the time that each stage has taken and the on referring me to the Derriford Orthapaedic Dept. which did not respond at all until over 2 months after my referral to them (i.e. 16th May) is particularly concerning (even though I may not be classified as an urgent case).