Advice needed please.

Anniebach,I have always read your threads and feel I know you,I am so sorry you have to put up with this situation, you shouldnt have to, you are entitled to so much more help than you are getting.You are definately not being stupid, you are being neglected.I hope you get lots of help and less worry soon. Sending hugs.

Yes Annie, I’d realised your trolley wasn’t for disability, I wondered if that type would be better for you. Anyway I’d carry on using the trolley as a fall would set off a whole lot of other problems.
You can definitely have hand surgery, my consultant is a hand and wrist specialist. The one who operated before had been out in Afghanistan putting back together the hands of servicemen who were injured in battle. He was very good. But he’s gone now and my new consultant is a Spanish lady who did give me steroid injections into the joint, painful but helpful. But now I’m beyond steroid injections as the joint is crumbling, so it’s surgery for me, hopefully in January. Ask to see a hand and wrist surgeon, they can definitely help.

Maddy my trolley isn’t for disability, it’s a two tier trolley , solid and with four wheels easy to turn in this tiny bungalow.

When I saw a G.P. 3 years ago about my hands she said
‘Age related arthritis, nothing can be done’, my fingers were not twisted , now on both hands 3 fingers are embedded into
the palms, I only have use of thumb and forefinger on each hand , hands never were never x rayed, I thought I had repetitive strain injury . Been told surgery can’t be done on hands !

I had garden pots planted at the front on the bungalow so it would be nice sitting there, needn’t have bothered couldn’t get there .

Please Anniebach phone up PALS (patient and liaison officers) at the hospital you are under and insist they get you an appointment with an orthopaedic consultant to put your mind at rest and for any questions you have. Be firm, if your not firm in this life you get nowhere.....remember the saying ‘he who shouts loudest etc’ .
Also google your local Social Services and ask to be put through to the Occupational Therapist department and refer yourself for an OT to come up and assess your home for any rails etc you may need. You can refer yourself for a carer if you need one.
Age concern should be able to put you in touch with someone to accompany you to appointments. As has been suggested before, write to your Doctor and tell them you need information and help or the practice Manager who should be able to help you with seeing a Doctor. It’s awful to say but you really have to make a bit of noise nowadays to get anywhere or be seen properly but at least you will then get a bit of help, you need it and should have it so please don’t worry as you said you wouldn’t have thought twice years ago for your daughter!

Sorry posted without finishing. I was thinking that maybe a trolley like this would be helpful. It folds to go in my car, and has a bag for her things and a seat for if she needs to sit down. The trolley can be used indoors too, but Mum doesn’t need it indoors.
You do need to see the consultant, it’s not good enough for a therapist to come to your house. Also the therapist should have ensured that the garden rails were being fitted.
Age Concern is another possible source of help. Perhaps you could phone them and tell them everything you have shared with us, I’m sure they will visit you and work out how best to go forward. Good luck.

Annie, I’m so sorry to hear about all of this, and no, you are not being stupid. When I was given exercises for my arthritic thumbs (I’ve now had the surgery for one and waiting for surgery for the other) the exercises caused me pain, and the therapist then said not to do them, the exercises should never cause pain, so I wouldn’t do the exercises if I were you.
The link that grapefruitpip provided is helpful, I think you need someone to accompany you if you have appointments and to advocate for you in other areas ie speaking to your GP because it appears you have been badly neglected by your GP practice. Also there is absolutely no way should have been waiting from last spring for your garden handrails to be fitted, if you could have gone outside a little during the summer it would have been so good for your mental health. Carry on using your trolley in the house, if you suffer a fall because you’re not using it, then there could be further complications with the arthritis. My elderly mother has a trolley specifically made for people with mobility issues, she always uses it when she goes out, and it’s helpful with her walking.

icandhand no I haven’t had a fall, have the trolley. I think I will wait to see the consultant, recalling what the radiologist said after she checked the x rays, ‘ you have a lump, you may have to have a scan’ . My knee is badly twisted , knee cap not centre, three very large bulges size of tennis balls!

It will get sorted , thank you

It looks like there's lots of good advice here,Annie (I confess to not reading every reply) but I think the real problem is nobody following up on the 'lump' that you were told existed. The arthritis and such is painful, but we know what it entails and isn't as frightening as having a lump that nobody is talking about. I'd definitely try and get that resolved before anything else.
But as others have said, it's certainly worth persevering with those exercises if you can, even if it's just a little bit every day.

You need someone to coordinate all the various strands. If not a relative, outside help.

Suggest in the meantime , you prepare a point by point list of what's going on and who is responsible.

I have no idea why the NHS think it is acceptable to give physio without knowing exactly what the problem is. This happened to two of my adult children and it was only when I insisted that they had MRI's first, it was discovered that they had prolapsed disks. This meant that the physio was tailored to their needs. Had it been another condition which is common with their genetic history, it could have been disastrous as the treatment is limited movement and full bed rest.
Have you had a fall at all, Anniebach? We found the Falls Team very helpful in getting aids sorted out and they sent an OT to assist in getting adjustments made. My suggestion is that you don't ring about results per se but make an appointment to see a Dr about the pain so you can discuss a way forward with this. Maybe someone from the MIND team could come with you to advocate.

Gabriella I have no other means to walk the garden path,
am not going to walk it pushing a tea trolley, the trolley could shoot off. I can’t use Fred.

An occupational therapist advised the hand rail back in the spring. The council measured the path , some months later
Someone from Care and Repair came and measured the path.

The gentleman is awaiting surgery and doesn’t go out.

You have my sympathy but doing the proposed exercises has no bearing on knowing the results of the x-ray, or vice versa. The exercises may, as you say, be painful but if you don't put into action the advice you are given, then you can't expect to get any better relief.
The exercises are not dependent on you knowing the results of an x-ray.
The garden handrail is important so perhaps you could ring social services to help out if the council are being tardy.
Get your daughter to give them a kick.
Perhaps they think that as you have a walker plus Fred, that you're able to get about without a pressing need for the rail. It might not be a top priority if you have other means to get mobile outside.
I think the dept responsible for fitting have to fill out paperwork to concrete the path and order the rails and this takes time...as usual.
I have a relative who works for your council and I will ask how long these things take.
I wouldn't worry about being taken to A&E, as others have said, that would be a last resort.
I hope your therapy is going well and you're managing to keep in touch with your neighbours even if just by phone.
Why not invite the gentleman you've spoken about previously (who lives in the cul-de-sac) for coffee and chat? That might be a start.
Best wishes

I had severe wear and tear in both knees and bony spurs had grown in the place of the cartilage. I suspect that this may be what was referred to as a lump in your case?

Lots of good advice annie please take it. Sometimes you have to be persistent but if you feel you have done all you can then get someone to intervene for you.

Annie, when my FiL had an emergency button it connected with a service that had patrols that came out. They would do almost anything, apparently, including changing lightbulbs. He did pay a small annual fee.

They went to him several times, mainly because he'd pressed the button by mistake, but always checked that everything was OK.

By the time he did really need help, he'd forgotten what the button was for and had to wait for the carer.

I wonder if there's a service like that near you. FiL was in Sunderland, so a city location. Maybe worth investigating other emergency help options, though.

Pamdu, welcome to Gransnet. We usually keep threads to sorting out the problem of the person who started the thread, and then start our own new thread for our own problem. I am afraid your post may be overlooked just buried in this one.

Anniebach You are far from silly in fact very sensible to be concerned over a system that is failing you.British Red Cross /Age Concern can be found online give them a call as they have some wonderful services which you will be entitled to. Big hug from me.

Hi I am sure this question has been asked a number of times, sorry , but I am new.
Recently I have noticed my hair is thining and especially visable in the front. Does anyone have any advice ?

Yes ReadyMeals when I phoned for the results the GP told me I had been referred to the physiotherapy department for
physiotherapy, and there was no lump. She was wrong about me referred to physio dept, what else did she get wrong !

I am concerned about doing the exercises etc , I want to wait
to see the consultant and know the results of the x Rays, I don’t want to cause damage.

I am so grateful to all who posted yesterday. When I read the thread again last night I suddenly thought ‘where have I gone’
The years my darling daughter was ill, I had no problem with
fighting for help for her, surgery, psychiatric hospital, even went to the Welsh Assembly about lack of funding. Spoke out
at the inquest into her death.

Brought up our daughters on my own, did fund raising for local charities. That me got lost two years ago. I need to find her again. I have turned into a ‘nodding dog’. Last year I was put on liquid meals, the nutritionist spoke to me last November and said she would contact me again in March , never heard from her again.

I phoned Age Concern this morning, some one will visit me in
two weeks, they give support in so many things.

I have you all to thank for this. X

I have a hip and knee problem like you (though I realise you have additional problems) and I too was advised by a patient and caring physiotherapist that the exercises I was given would be painful at first but are designed to build leg muscle to support my joints. I did do them and they have made a terrific difference and I have much less pain now.

I continue to do them daily even after my consultant discussed the x-rays as now I am managing well. I don't want my hip done till 100% essential as they only last 15- 20 years.

I would say, just be persistent with the exercises and you will reap the benefits quite quickly. I have.
Good luck.

You are suffering...and it isn’t right...but these medical people aren’t good communicators are they. They could dispel some of your anxiety easily I think, by talking to you about the X-ray results in more detail. I don’t doubt the arthritis diagnosis from the X-rays but if you want more information, you must ask for it. They are there to provide a service to you-dont let them gloss over your concerns without discussion. Regarding the physio, if it’s too painful, you must equally, say that. Then they can suggest something else. Voice your requirements, whether its to do with the hand rail, the agoraphobia, or your physical health. I do understand how hard this is to do, but you do count, and now, in later life, you need to assert yourself a little, and ask for some help. Ask (very nicely but repeatedly if need be) for what you want. Thinking of you.

Seems to me you have had two conflicting stories. One is that you have a lump that for all you and they know could be serious - only a consultant can judge, the other is you just have arthritis that needs mobility aids and physio. I think I'd be worried until an actual consultant has said no it's ok. Physiotherapists and radiologists are not fully trained doctors. You need the reassurance of hearing the diagnosis from a fully trained doctor, IMHO.

Good advice here annie but what a situation. It just shouldn’t be. I see a private physio for neck/shoulder issues as the NHS exercises made the pain so much worse. The private physio said no one should, do exercise that increase pain, a little achey and stiff is fair enough but not pain. I’ve got one of those bumps under a knee, strange aren’t they but not serious. I ageee a triage system is unhelpful but perhaps better to see or talk to someone rather than no one. I do hope an advocate is possible in your area, some support has to help. You are definitely not silly, systems have let you down. I can only hope that common sense prevails.

I have claustrophobia and find doctor/hospital appointments very challenging. It's the extended waiting that I just can't cope with. Often, I just have to leave. My suggestions that they text me and I'll wait outside are rejected.

When I injured my back the (private) scans showed disk problems and arthritis. Private physiotherapy was wonderful but expensive until the NHS appointments came through. They were very different - and so disappointing.

Unbelievably, it was separate days, appointments and therapists for the lower and upper back! The first (lower) therapist just gave me exercises that I found very painful. The second (upper) forced my range of movement, despite restrictions due a previous shoulder injury and I was in extreme pain for a week. I cancelled then, deciding I really didn't want to spend any more thousands on further private treatment.

An ambulance was called when I had strange pains in my left arm one evening. They checked me over, then encouraged me to attend hospital for a blood test (in case of heart problems). I do wish I'd said no. I was taken in by ambulance, (the crew were good) then bullied, really, by hospital staff into leaving the trolley and waiting in a corridor. (I noticed that the drunk chap on the next trolley was allowed to remain.) I was in extreme pain with my back and couldn't sit on the metal chairs. After an hour (11.30 pm) I had the test. At 1.30 am, I could take no more and had to leave without seeing a doctor.

Walking without the trolley sounds like something that's alright with company and assistance but perhaps dangerous if you're alone. Maybe you could ask the physio for easier exercises to begin with. Go private if you can.

Thank you all so much .

I didn’t know about the paramedics, I thought you were just carted off and dumped in A & E.

I have a key box but they know my front door is never Locked, i am not ready to do that yet.

I don’t have a G.P, the surgery does that awful triage system, you get who your given, if a house call whoever is doing house calls, ring for results and it’s whoever is giving results that day.

The physiotherapist wasn’t arranged by the surgery , the physiotherapy dept contacted the community services , I didn’t ask, she just turned up.

I’m not worried about the lump, the radiologist told me after
she checked the x rays, it could be a mass of crystal thingies that some with arthritis have . My concern was doing what the physiotherapist said and no one has seen the x rays yet.

The front path has been measured twice, once by council and
once about Care and Repair,

I didn’t think about an advocate . I feel rather silly now but this triage system is awful. 10 doctors and you get who your given , no continuity.

Thank you x