[greenpresident]

I have spent some time in emergency receptions at hospitals waiting to be treated, often in severe pain. Here is what gave me hope every time: If it can wait, it can’t be that bad.

There are a number of injuries for which treatment has severely changed during my short lifetime. A torn ligament used to be operated on in the past but now you are often told to wear a cast for some weeks, take painkillers only when necessary to sleep so you avoid movements detrimental to healing during the day (it’s painful) and to just wait it out. Not X-ray, no surgery, just time to heal.

E: added an all important if to the third sentence.

[ehnto]

Same with clavicle fractures, I shattered mine and they used to immediately plate and pin it back in place, but I was given a sling and 7 weeks latter it had pulled it's myriad pieces back together without surgery .

The doctor said had he got that result from an operation operation he would have been thrilled.

Worth noting my hospital is a learning hospital, so it was a hot debate topic amongst the doctors and most of them were surprised they hadn't operated.