Musculoskeletal (MSK) Service
This service specialises in the assessment and treatment of muscle and joint problems and provides a range of speciality services ranging from diagnostic to ultrasound injection clinics.
What does this service provide?
Who we are
We are a team of advanced practice health professionals who provide a free service to support the musculoskeletal health and wellbeing for those who are registered with a West Sussex GP Practice.
What we do
We triage patients to receive the most appropriate care, by the right service, at the right time. We offer patients a comprehensive service to better live with, manage or improve musculoskeletal complaints.
Following an assessment and a shared decision making conversation, you may agree a treatment plan, or it may be that further investigations or treatments are organised.
We provide a range of specialty services from our modern facilities, including:
- diagnostic imaging (for example x-rays, MRI and CT scans when needed)
- injection clinics
- internal diagnostic ultrasound team
- blood tests
- rehabilitation strategies and onwards referrals
We work closely with local rehabilitation and physiotherapy, orthopaedic, rheumatology and pain services and can refer to these services when their expertise is required.
Further information on what we do
Appointment information
Who you’ll see at your appointment
You will meet with a clinician who is best able to support you with your condition. Our team includes consultant and advanced practice physiotherapists, chartered physiotherapists, podiatrists, occupational therapists, and osteopaths, who all specialise in the assessment and treatment of muscle and joint problems.
Appointment types
We offer face to face, telephone and video appointments. Appointments are available across our sites. Please let us know if there is an appointment type that would best suit your needs.
How to prepare for your appointment
To support the examination, you may be asked to remove some items of clothing during your appointment. Please ensure you dress appropriately to enable this. You are welcome to bring a relative or a friend to your appointment. Alternatively, we can arrange a chaperone if you would like someone to be with you.
Please bring a list of your current medicines. You do not need to bring your medicines with you.
If you have had a scan or X-Ray outside your local NHS provider, please contact our administrative team beforehand so we can aim to have these available for your appointment.
What happens after my appointment?
You will be able to discuss next steps with the clinician at your appointment, which may be one or a combination of the following:
- you may be discharged from the service with or without a patient initiated follow up process, which means you can access the service for the same musculoskeletal issue within six months
- you may be offered a follow-up appointment, either via telephone or in person
- you may be referred to another service if different advice or treatment is required
Testimonials
My initial assessment was wholly professional and thorough, and above all, reassuring and friendly. For the first time in months or even years, I felt heard and understood about the level of pain and discomfort in my back and legs. I was given a plan to work to, hopefully improving the symptoms and moving forward. The ensuing exercise plan was set by a physiotherapist, who was also very thorough, understanding and patient. The gym at Bognor is extremely well equipped and the staff have been kind, supportive and encouraging, helping me to progress with bespoke exercise and use of the gym equipment.
The appointment was a great way to assess my issues and for the clinician to be able to act as the person between me as the patient, my GP, and the surgeon.
It was explained and shown to me how my hand should be working. They knew exactly what the problem was. Two injections and twenty-four hours later I can move fingers and hand without locking and a lot less pain.
It was the first time I felt really listened to. The practitioner took time to explain the condition clearly and the options available.
From day one I was treated as an individual, looking at my specific realistic outcomes and was set a programme to work with to achieve this. I had lost confidence in my ability to move well and was unable to do some simple movements. With ongoing treatment and support I am improving well and doing so much more than I thought I could ever do again before treatment. We've looked at treatment and prevention and continue working towards goals for full recovery. I am so very grateful to have been taken under the care of MSK, it has improved my wellbeing considerably.
The clinician was friendly, polite, and knowledgeable. They fully explained the results of my MRI and ensured that I had plans for further improvement of my injury. They said they would keep the file open for six months in case I needed another appointment.
How can I access this service?
Most muscle and joint problems will settle naturally in time with little or no help. Occasionally you may need some extra help to get better.
If you feel you would like to talk to a healthcare professional to help you further with your musculoskeletal issue you can fill in a physiotherapy self-referral form.
If it is felt that a specialist opinion or investigations are required, your GP, nurse practitioner or physiotherapist will refer you to the MSK service.
How can I contact this service?
Contact details
Please refer to the CSIMS contact us section for telephone and contact details for all locations regarding appointments, active referral queries and any other queries.
Locations
Where can I find resources for this service?
Our specialist clinicians have compiled a selection of resources to help you manage your symptoms while you are waiting to be seen. It is important to know that a large number of muscle and joint problems do improve with time and can be effectively managed by following appropriate advice and guidance. We have drawn together a range of helpful resources. These include suggestions for managing muscle and joint problems, exercises you can do at home and information on local and national support services.
The videos below discuss how to keep moving and exercise while suffering with long term pain.
The best advice is to try and continue as normally as you can but that it may be sensible to make some adjustments to activities that aggravate your symptoms. Watch the 'not as fit as I thought' video.
Exercise, particularly strengthening exercise, is the best medicine for most aches and pains. Exercise can be anything that challenges your muscles and does not need to mean going to the gym or the swimming pool, as not everyone enjoys these things. Watch the 'importance of fitness' video.
In most cases, having an X-ray or a scan is not useful in helping you get better. In certain situations, they are important and necessary, but often the results show us things that are normal for your age and are not related to your pain. This is why your GP or clinician may say that it is not needed. Watch the 'do I need an MRI scan?' video.
Information about how your condition presents, how it's progressing and whether interventional treatments may be needed are keys bits of information that help to work out whether investigation are needed. Therefore, if your condition does not show any alarming signs, it is improving and does not indicate that interventional treatments are needed be reassured that an investigation is not required. Being anxious that every ache and pain is something serious can prevent many patients from getting better. Muscle and joint problems are more often ‘non-serious' and being positive has proven to be important factor in achieving success. Watch the 'health benefits' video.
The majority of muscle and joint problems improve without the need for surgery. Through following some simple principles and giving the body time to heal often leads to patients to avoiding surgery. Watch the 'will surgery fix it?' video.
Over the counter pain medications, if used correctly, can often help with the recovery of many muscle and joint problems. Prescription medications can often cause side-effects and therefore it is advisable to try over the counter medications in the first place. Watch the 'pain medications' video.
The Cuppa Routine – a video series of exercises you can do in the time it takes the kettle to boil. Please be aware this video may have adverts before or during its runtime.
Improve Your Balance in Five Minutes – an exercise video to help improve your balance in just five minutes.
NHS Fitness Studio – a range of NHS fitness and activity support information and videos.
Age UK – general advice, where to start, and how to become more active as well as links to local groups.
Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease – the Walk With Ease programme is offered as a self-guided course or in a community setting.
CSP Love Activity, Hate Exercise – The Chartered Society of Physiotherapist’s campaign offers help with being active with a long-term condition, getting started with exercise, and advice on getting inspired.
Couch to 5K – Couch to 5K is a running plan for absolute beginners. It was developed by a new runner, Josh Clark, who wanted to help his 50-something mum get off the couch and start running, too.
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