Looking after your general health is particularly important while waiting for treatment.
Visit our "Looking after yourself" page for helpful advice on staying as fit and well as possible.
Joint and muscle problems can be painful and frustrating to live with.
If you’re worried your symptoms are getting worse, contact your GP surgery and ask to see a First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) or another clinician – they’ll contact us if you need to be seen sooner. Click here for more information about FCPs.
For helpful exercises anyone can try click here.
The key advice with exercise is to start slowly and gradually build up the time and intensity as you feel comfortable. Slight ache or tiredness in your muscles can be normal, but stop exercising if you experience pain, discomfort, or unusual symptoms, and seek advice before continuing.
For more information about MSK conditions and Circle MSK services, please click here.
If you’re having to wait for a routine appointment with us after we’ve reviewed your photos (from your referral or teledermatology), be reassured that you’re considered low risk and please bear with us.
If we have any concern that you could possibly have cancer we’ll refer you to the hospital on an urgent cancer pathway (these appointments are not managed by Circle). This doesn’t mean that you definitely have cancer, just that you need to be assessed soon. The hospital will advise you on next steps.
For more information about skin conditions and the Circle Dermatology service, please click here.
You may experience a wait before we can offer you an appointment. We do everything we can to keep our waiting times as short as possible but if you feel you’re waiting longer than you expected to get an appointment, you can find our contact details here.
If you have any concerns regarding worsening of your condition, please contact your GP surgery.
If you develop any of the symptoms listed below, you should seek medical advice via your GP, 111, or your local A&E department:
- Constant, severe pain that you cannot ease – particularly at night
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Lumps or bumps that are increasing in size, or which your referrer is not aware of
- Feeling significantly unwell
- A change in symptoms after a significant injury, such as a fall
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or loss of sensation around the genitals/back passage
- Feelings/plans that you want to end your life
I’ve had an excellent experience at MSK in Bedford. From the physio – who was superb, through to the consultant app.
The exercises they prescribed made a difference in 3 days and now just over a week after seeing them, the pain is MILES better.