"Bunbury Emergency Dept"

Recently I woke in excruciating pain in my back, called a friend and was taken to GP, who referred me to Bunbury ED. On arrival in ED was examined and given pain relief pills and suppositories, told to wait 15 minutes and the medication should work. A nurse came to advise me that I could now leave, I advised the nurse that I was still in pain and they advised I go back to GP. I returned to GP who was disappointed that the hospital did not perform x-ray and the GP prescribed more pain relief and referred me for an x-ray, which I had done the next week. 

Having seen GP multiple times, had x-ray/CT scan which showed herniated disk and nerve impingement, seeing physio 2 times per week, a Sports Therapist who referred me for surgery in Perth (seen a month after initial x-ray) and an epidural of which I am awaiting for an appointment with Global Diagnostics .

About a month after initial pain, early hours of the morning I woke in excruciating pain. I am a carer for my elderly parent and this pain was debilitating. I was unable to move, therefore had to call ambulance. They arrived promptly and were so understanding of my pain, initiated pain relief which eased the pain and allowed me to stand up, although the pain was still bad on movement.

I arrived at Bunbury ED. The nurses were amazing they gave me oral pain relief, at this point I was a bit spaced out, but explained to a junior doctor that as soon as I tried to move the pain went from a 3 to a 10. I had all my various pain medications that I have been taking with me.

A different doctor arrived and the duty of care ceased! This doctor sat down next to me and told me that pain medications and injections were not required and told me to work through my pain, as the doctor's spouse did when they had a bad back from nursing their baby! I told the doctor that the pain is excruciating and I cant go on like this. They told me that they could get my driving licence taken off me. They told me to get off the bed and stand up. I was screaming in agony and all the doctor said was good girl, you're doing really well, work through that pain, talking to me like I was a child! Once in an upright position the doctor said now you can go, they handed me my hand bag and threw the discharge letter into it and walked off. I told the nurse this is disgusting treatment, letting me walk out alone, in pain and obviously distraught. The nurse looked gobsmacked.

I hobbled around to the SJOG Pharmacy, in tears. Luckily they were open as I was ready to take every single pill I had in my bag at this point, I just wanted to end it. A pharmacy worker sat me down went through everything and advised me to go see my GP, she calmed me and offered to call someone to fetch me.

This episode could have ended so much worse if it wasn't for her.