I think my Dr thinks I'm mad...not sure what to do!

jenniewb

I saw my GP about this last week and walked away with the strong impression she thought I was a time-waster and I felt like an idiot. Sadly this has not made the problem magically vanish and so I'm left trying to sort it out myself.

The problem is with a patch of skin. It feels very sore, as if I've burnt it and comes and goes throughout the day without any real pattern or warning. It can feel so painful that just moving around is enough to force me to sit down because my clothes touching the skin (on my back) hurt too much.

The weird thing is...there is no rash!
No marks, no bruise nothing. I went to my GP and she also couldn't see anything. It is very sore to touch but doesn't hurt if I move my muscles (it's not muscular). It's woken me up in my sleep, has had me placing bags of frozen vegetables on my back despite shivering as the weather was cold... I've tried ibuprofen gel as the GP suggested but am wary of going back because there is nothing to be seen and the reaction my GP had left me feeling like I'd wasted her time. My GP basicly said she didn't have anything to suggest and that there was nothing there, just said it was kind of odd.

It's been a few weeks now and the pain is still there and my skin still looks normal and I still feel like an idiot (but an idiot with pain!). I've been whacking on skin cream to no avail, tried medications/pills and even changed my washing powder and stopped wearing certain clothes.

I was just wondering what if anything I could try being that the GP isn't any help. Has anyone had any experience with alternative therapies and if anything alternative specialises in skin issues?

Toothsmith

This thread has sever danger of turning into medical advice!

Has your Dr considered some form of neuralgia?

devildog

I would strongly advise you see another GP or ask for a second opinion don't be fobbed off. Ask to be referred to a dermatologist.
It could be something very minor but equally it could be something more major. It sounds similar to something someone I know has got (which is extremely rare) but fortunately dermatologist had knowledge of it (only ever seen 3 cases before).

heartbreak_star

See a different GP, not a quack alternative practitioner.

You're entitled to a second opinion from a different doc

HBS x

julie2710

I've pm'd you hope you don't mind.

Toothsmith

I wouldn't necessarily advise a different Dr JUST YET.

Often, if odd things like this come in, then they do just 'get better' after a little time, and no-one ever really knows just what was the problem, but it's minor and doesn't come back.

I would go back again. That way, your Dr will see that it is a persistent problem, and something that just warrants a little more investigation.

No one will think your mad - it's just when odd things like this turn up, it's a fine line between jumping in with big investigations and scaring the patient to death with all the rare possibilities it could be or just hoping it's one of those things that will just go away by itself in a few more days.

Give your GP another go. If you still feel like your being fobbed off - then get another opinion.

j.e.j.

I can only say I had some 'unusual' symptoms last year, and came away from the surgery wondering if the GP thought I was imagining things! The symptoms persisted and I eventually plucked up the courage to see a different doctor there and he sent me for further investigations.

If you're feeling pain it could possibly be something neurological. I'd say if it doesn't get any better ring nhs direct and see what they say, and/or go and see a different doctor.

paulineb_2

My mum went through a really stressful time last year, was quite ill with stress and she had hot blisters on her back that would appear from nowhere, her GP said it might be shingles, but wasnt really sure, but it is one of the signs of shingles.

She didnt get any treatment for it, but it went away when she was feeling better, she was under intolerble stress, wasnt eating and obviously her immune system would have suffered as a result.

jackieblack

If it's keeping you awake and has got no better, I would go back to the doctor.

A few years ago my DD had skin pain that felt a bit like sunburn, no rash, nothing visible at all. It took us a few visits but turns out it was likely to have been shingles, although she never got any blisters.

jenniewb

Toothsmith wrote: »

This thread has sever danger of turning into medical advice!

Has your Dr considered some form of neuralgia?

nope, she just said it was "very odd" and "try some ibuprofen gel and if it doesn't go away I suppose you better come back then" (stifled sigh).

I have been told in the past by another GP that ibuprofen gels don't work and are useless. I did try the gel anyway but its made no difference. Its been a few weeks now and I'm not looking for medical advice from anyone on here- just what else to try for advice ie another service be it alternative or medical but as there is no rash/etc I'm assuming a medical person would give a similar result to my GP and I'd rather not feel that stupid again.

jenniewb

devildog wrote: »

I would strongly advise you see another GP or ask for a second opinion don't be fobbed off. Ask to be referred to a dermatologist.
It could be something very minor but equally it could be something more major. It sounds similar to something someone I know has got (which is extremely rare) but fortunately dermatologist had knowledge of it (only ever seen 3 cases before).

Thanks.
Trouble is the chances of being referred to a derm. are slim to none. I've had a few bad experiences with the surgery in the past few years and asking them to spot something let alone cure it is like getting blood from a stone!

That being said I did ask my mum to see if she could spot anything on my skin and she couldn't either. The only mark in the area is of an old mole scar where the mole was removed about 3 years ago now and had since healed up. Another mole scar removed at the same time and that has healed up fine too and looks the same so I'm doubtful its anything to do with the used-to-be-mole. The sore skin patch is far larger than the mole area anyway, about 1/4 of the skin on my back.

I will go back to my GP, possibly next week if they have any appointments but I saw the GP only last week and as much as this is really sore and I can't lean on certain areas of my back..etc I know if I go back any sooner they'll just tell me I returned too soon and should give it another week. (It was 3 weeks of the sore skin last week when I saw the GP).


I suppose it doesn't help that I have had a lot of other random symptoms in the past year. A chest issue/cough/sharp pain which kept returning for a year (has now gone) for example, sharp stomach pains after eating, pain on my back which didn't relate to any part of my spine.... and now this. I've just felt more and more like an idiot each time because I go for help and each time they react in the same way, either "what would you like me to do" or "I don't know". As I rarely seem to get any answers let alone any help I am just left wondering what on Earth was the point and what do I do next.

I'll try again with the GP next week but in my experience from what has happened before, I'm very likely to get the same response again.