Do you have a muscle, joint or bone problem?
From 4 April, when you request an appointment, you may be offered an appointment with a specialist physiotherapist called a first contract practitioner instead of a GP.
A First Contact Practitioner can:
Nationally 96% of patients recommend the service and only 5% choose to see a GP afterwards
Speak to the GP reception team for further information
Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains are common injuries affecting the muscles and ligaments. Most can be treated at home without seeing a GP.
Its likely to be a sprain or strain if:
you have muscle spasms or cramping – where your muscles painfully tighten on their own
For the first couple of days, follow the 4 steps known as RICE therapy to help bring down swelling and support the injury:
1.Rest– stop any exercise or activities and try not to put any weight on the injury.
2.Ice– apply an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a tea towel) to the injury for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.
3.Compression– wrap a bandage around the injury to support it.
4. Elevate– keep it raised on a pillow as much as possible.
To help prevent swelling, try to avoid heat – such as hot baths and heat packs – alcohol and massages for the first couple of days.
When you can move the injured area without pain stopping you, try to keep moving it so the joint or muscle doesn’t become stiff.
After 2 weeks, most sprains and strains will feel better. Avoid strenuous exercise such as running for up to 8 weeks, as there’s a risk of further damage. Severe sprains and strains can take months to get back to normal.
Speak to a pharmacist about the best treatment for you. They might suggest tablets, or a cream or gel you rub on the skin.
Painkillers like paracetamol will ease the pain and ibuprofen will bring down swelling. However, you shouldn’t take ibuprofen for 48 hours after your injury as it may slow down healing.
You can find your nearest pharmacy at NHS Choices.
If you have a sprain or strain that’s taking longer than usual to get better, an appointment with a Physiotherapist might be of benefit.
You don’t need a GP appointment to book physiotherapy. You can book this direct at the reception desk by filling in a form stating what the problem is which will then be triaged by the physio department and they will offer you an appointment if appropriate.
Neck Pain / Stiff Neck
Neck pain or a stiff neck is a common problem that usually gets better after a few days or weeks. It’s rarely a sign of anything serious.
You can often get a painful or stiff neck if you:
For most types of general neck pain, the advice is to carry on with your normal daily activities, keep active, and take painkillers to relieve the symptoms.
These steps may help you manage the pain:
You should see your GP if:
Your GP will examine your neck and ask some questions to help identify any underlying condition.
If you’ve had neck pain or stiffness for a month or more, your GP may be able to refer you to a physiotherapist.
Back pain is very common and normally improves within a few weeks or months.
In most cases the pain isn’t caused by anything serious and will usually get better over time.
There are things you can do to help relieve it. But sometimes the pain can last a long time or keep coming back.
To help ease back pain, there are a number of self-care techniques you can try:
If your back pain is no better after at least two weeks of self-care or you develop other symptoms, your back pain gets worse or you need further advice, speak to your pharmacist and they can recommend other treatments and will advise you if you need to contact your GP.
If your back pain is no better after at least two weeks or you develop other symptoms then contact your GP.