Excellent service & the chance of 'repair' after 18 months of shoulder problems
During August 2019, my GP referred me to the physiotherapy department at Cheltenham General Hospital with a suspected rotator cuff problem in my right shoulder. My shoulder had been painful enough to prevent me from sleeping for a couple of months already and I was unable to move my arm behind my back.
Following treatment at the hospital which continued for 6 months, movement in my arm did increase slightly but the pain was continuing to keep me awake at night. I continued with physiotherapy exercises but following no change and a physical deterioration over 6 months, I contacted my GP to request an x-ray, which was organised.
The results came back and my GP advised that I had osteo-arthritis and nothing could be done, but the physiotherapist gave an alternative diagnosis in terms of chronic rotator cuff injury.
My GP had declined to make any referrals for further investigation, so in light of the fact that physiotherapy hadn't 'cured' my shoulder problem I decided to take matters into my own hands and make an appointment at Cheltenham Chiropractic Clinic.
During my first treatment, Catherine Owers advised that she would either be able to fix my shoulder within 4 treatments or be able to recommend next steps if my shoulder was not responding to treatment.
For one month, Catherine worked on my shoulder with manipulation and heat, and recommended exercises and activity to improve my symptoms. There had been some improvement but after 4 weeks, Catherine was true to her word and stated that my shoulder probably required surgical intervention. She sent a request for referral to my GP, who has finally agreed to refer me to an orthopaedic specialist.
Hooray! I'm certain that the referral would not have been made without Catherine's detailed diagnosis. The fact that a GP respects her referral is testament in itself.