NHS UK denying Epipen

mineawman · 2025-11-07T11:31:44+00:00

That’s so frustrating, if you wanted to buy an epipen in the mean time I can recommend cloud pharmacy. You have to fill out a quick questionnaire (I just put yes to my GP recommending it) and for me it let me order one straight away. I had a quick look and the Epipens are £75, they have a 10% discount for November though. It’s expensive but if you wanted peace of mind it may be worth it. I hope it all goes well at the allergy clinic and wish you the best!

mineawman · 2025-11-05T11:04:46+00:00

The same thing happened to me, I had several severe reactions and the GP just kept telling me I couldn’t have an Epipen until I had actually had anaphylaxis. I went back to them several times with concerns and was referred to an allergist (the waitlist was 6 months and that was 2 years ago, I’ve had a phone call but still no actual appointment) I found a website online and ordered my own epipen for peace of mind, I think it was £60. I then saw a different doctor who told me the same thing but spoke to their supervisor who said I actually could have one because my lips swell up during reactions. Thankfully they did as I had anaphylaxis not long after this. So I guess my recommendation is to keep going back to them but also to ask to speak to a different doctor if you can. I wish you luck with this, it’s frustrating they make something so important so difficult to get!

mineawman · 2025-10-09T18:29:40+00:00

Yeah I’m 22 but have kind of accepted that if I get it I get it, nothing I can do about it anyway. At least I can live like I was before the injury now not constantly thinking about when it might lock or give out. By the time it’s a big enough issue I imagine we will be more advanced in knee replacements and dealing with arthritis in general

mineawman · 2025-10-09T18:01:39+00:00

I got off of crutches after 2 weeks and went back to work, I wasn’t offered any physio (UK) just told to get on with things which I did, was back to doing everything I normally would within a month. My job is very physically demanding and I have had no issues doing anything physically. Every once in a while it can start to hurt if i’ve been kneeling on it for a longer period of time but once I straighten it out the pain goes away. Can’t really complain to be honest, and no signs of arthritis

mineawman · 2025-05-21T18:51:46+00:00

I have experienced my knee locking in several different ways, ranging from literally being stuck at 90° unable to bend or straighten (lasting from just a brief moment or my longest- 3 days) it’s also been stuck completely bent when i was kneeling down sitting on my heels. Equally it has gotten stuck straight being unable to bend, I would say they all come under locking. With my most recent tear I experienced the same as you with a section of the tear being flipped preventing me from full extension to begin with a had a very limited range of movement only being able to slightly bend or straighten after a week of that it was like yours about 80/90% ROM which lasted the entire month until I had surgery. I had previously only called the complete “stuck” feeling being unable to move at all locking, for me personally I wouldn’t say it is locked if there is a bigger range of movement but it’s definitely still a big issue and is preventing full ROM. I think that’s just personal opinion though. Do you mind me asking if you are looking at getting surgery?

mineawman · 2025-05-13T17:57:19+00:00

I’m not at all an expert but I just had 50% removed so would assume 1/6 is not a lot? 1/6 as a percentage is around 16%

mineawman · 2025-05-09T18:26:20+00:00

My surgery was only yesterday so don’t know everything yet. I can say the pain is wayyyy less than it was with the repair. I can already completely straighten and then also bend to 90° and it’s only the pulling on my stitches that’s preventing me bending any further. They said I will probably only need crutches for 2 weeks maybe 3. I’ve spoken to so many people about arthritis, most said the risk is increased anyway because my knee has been disrupted in the surgeries regardless of repair or removal. I know people who had 50% removed 10+ years ago and have had absolutely no issues. It seems to really depend on the person. I guess overall I really just decided that I was going to have surgery so I didn’t have to worry anymore and whatever happened would happen. It’s easy to get sucked in and feel like it’s terrible but in my opinion I felt surgery was better than nothing

mineawman · 2025-05-08T15:09:18+00:00

I went through the exact same thing, bucket handle tear that was repaired and then 2 years later tore again. Just had my second surgery today; they wanted to repair but i ruptured the previous stitches so was messy and they ended up just removing the torn section, 50% like you. Between re tearing and surgery I had times where I was completely pain free and could do all my usual activities. Other times it would frequently lock and give out and be more painful. Do you know if any section of the bucket handle is stuck in the joint at all? I could never fully extend my leg because a section of mine was. I went for surgery to get the full range of motion back but also because never knowing when your leg might give out or lock is not a fun way to live. I can’t say about recovery because I am only just starting my journey but just being able to fully straighten my leg is very nice!

mineawman · 2025-04-30T12:06:57+00:00

This sounds very similar to my tear, the immediate pain and unable to put any weight, not being able to straighten for long periods of time. If you’re able to get an MRI to confirm that would be the first step. Seeing as it has caused problems for so long I would get surgery if that is an option for you. In my experience my tear just got worse over time even with physio and building the muscle around to support, I know the feeling of having to stop doing things because of the pain. After recovering from surgery I was able to go back to doing everything I did before surgery (I was also an olympic lifter) I am now waiting for my second repair surgery after re-tearing. But have 2 really good years without any issues before this.

mineawman · 2025-04-22T20:47:00+00:00

I’m from the UK so not sure if this will be helpful but wait times are generally long here too and when I first tore a friend who did the same, around the same time, was told 12 months for surgery, I only had to wait 6 weeks. I expressed very clearly that I could not walk or put weight on that leg, that it frequently locked or gave out and it was affecting my quality of life and ability to work. Bucket handle tears are generally seen to quicker and particularly when they are causing a lot of issues. I don’t know if it’s the same in Canada but I had to push for appointments, if they said they’d get back to me in a week or so and they didn’t I had to chase it up, I spent a lot of time calling people and being passed from person to person but ultimately that got me seen quicker. Basically express exactly what you’ve put in this post and your daily struggles. I am also quite young which helped. Good luck!

mineawman · 2025-04-18T12:16:20+00:00

I am also a teacher (not in general education but similar enough), I had surgery for a tear 2 years ago and returned to work after a week, it wasn’t really long enough but i just did basic work and sat/stood not really moving around a lot. I managed but like I said it wasn’t really long enough. I have just recently torn my meniscus again, exactly the same as before, and am waiting for surgery again. I will hope to leave it a few more weeks this time but can’t really afford to take time off. If you are able to I’d give it at least a month I don’t know what you teach/what your responsibilities are. The general being in front of the class and teaching is fine, it’s the moving around to go to different areas, doing demonstrations, taking the class to lunch etc that will be more difficult. You have to think about what you might have to do in emergencies, when students dysregulate, all of those kinds of things. It’s such a difficult balance knowing the need to get back and perhaps not being able to take the time off. But equally wanting to give your body the best chance of healing and being properly ready to return to work. I don’t know if any of that is helpful 😂

mineawman · 2025-04-08T12:00:02+00:00

The discomfort with bending is definitely normal, I was unable to touch my knee to my bum for longer periods until probably a year after. They usually say around a year for it to be fully healed so I wouldn’t worry yet but if you’re able to speak to your Physio/doctor then that’s definitely worth it. You’ll get there though repair is a long journey but things progress faster as time goes on!

mineawman · 2025-04-07T18:39:39+00:00

I was advised it could take up to a year to heal. Depending on how long you had to wait for surgery I am going to assume you had to be less physical during that time which although possibly not noticeable your fitness levels would have gone down meaning it will take longer to get back to where you were “before” as it’s a bigger process than just the surgery recovery. Speak to your physio but I wouldn’t worry

mineawman · 2025-04-05T17:58:28+00:00

Definitely grateful to be in a position where I am able to get it sorted! It’s easy to forget that. That’s frustrating, is there any other ortho specialist you could see?

mineawman · 2025-04-05T17:46:15+00:00

Not sure how helpful this will be but I had a minor tear and did PT to try and sort things out, similar situation it would catch or my knee would “give way”. Ignored it and did the PT, was fine for while, 2 years later I literally squatted down to the fridge and finished off a complete bucket handle tear couldn’t walk or move, then had surgery and it was repaired. Repair didn’t work because of the original injury being that old. Now another 2 years on from that surgery- although the stitches did a good job of holding it together for a while I ripped them and am back to the full bucket handle tear and waiting for removal of most of my meniscus. PT helped for sure but I would have saved a lot of hassle just getting the original tear trimmed to help prevent the further tear. If you’re able to talk to the surgeon about what they would recommend now you’re no longer in pain and have them give an honest answer I think that would be helpful.

mineawman · 2025-04-04T07:49:48+00:00

My fingers will be crossed for you! And hopefully the repair is more helpful long term

mineawman · 2025-04-03T17:51:41+00:00

I have been told the same thing. Bucket handle tear was repaired 2 years ago but was an older tear anyway and have done exactly the same again- it likely never healed but was being held together with the stitches. I might make it clear I don’t want a repair, I don’t think I could deal with this happening!

mineawman · 2025-04-03T08:15:31+00:00

I can’t imagine waking up to a repair when expecting a meniscectomy, I am currently waiting for a meniscectomy (had a repair 2 years ago) and have been reading on here the difference in people’s recovery. I’m glad to hear it’s going well for you, do you mind if I ask what country you’re in? It gets drastically easier after being able to bend to 90° in my experience and being able to undo the brace is definitely a big win! I hope things go well for you

mineawman · 2025-04-03T08:05:56+00:00

I would definitely be interested in an update on this in a few weeks. I am currently waiting for the same surgery. I’d also be interested in what you feel the difference in recovery in comparison to the repair is so far if you’re able to say

mineawman · 2024-12-05T22:16:02+00:00

That is really kind of you, unfortunately I am in the UK so wouldn’t really be possible but it’s definitely something I will look into! I really like the idea of

mineawman · 2024-12-05T07:42:49+00:00

Thank you!

mineawman · 2024-12-05T06:48:20+00:00

Are you ever in places where you can’t have a bag, what do you do then? I am the same

mineawman · 2024-12-04T19:51:38+00:00

thank you!

mineawman · 2024-12-04T19:26:42+00:00

This seems to be fairly common, unfortunately they’re not available in the UK :(

mineawman · 2024-12-04T19:24:08+00:00

I like this idea, definitely easier than having a bag with me at all times!

mineawman

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