That hip again

Thinking of you, lucky. Hope all goes well. Had my replacement replaced 15 months ago and tho it took a little longer than the first time to get back on my feet fully, I was pottering around quite effectively after a short time and was completely back to what passes for normal in around 3 months. But hopefully revision won't be needed for you

Glad things are moving at last lucky.

Glad to hear things are on the move at last, hope you get some positive news,from the scan.

Just goes to show it was worth speaking to the right person to get things done. Good luck for the scan!

Brilliant! Hopefully things are moving then.

Good thought Nfk - but I have an appointment!!!! They rung today and I am going Weds of next week for the scan. Hooray!!! Some progress!

My DD2 couldn't get a doctors appointment for three weeks so rang 111 for advise. They told her to ring the doctor back and say 111 says ... It worked, she had an appointment for the next day. Have you rung 111? Or presented at A&E?!

At least something is happening. If you don't hear back soon try nagging that admin person.

Thanks!

Poor you Lucky. It's a real buggeration - not much help, I'm afraid, but I can hear you IYSWIM!

So I rang the surgery to see if I could organise a phone consultation and see if the GP can ginger things up a bit. I spoke to the chief admin wallah who said she would ring on my behalf as a starting point. She tried Imaging and rang me back to say that they had just received the referral and were going to put it in front of the consultant radiologist so he could decide if the bone scan was necessary....!

Fair enough I do not want any unnecessary scans etc but it is now 9 weeks since I was told this was needed and it has taken all this time to establish that a radiologist's opinion is needed.

So if they come back and say not needed what next I wonder and how long before anything else happens?

That is an option Riverwalk - I plan to wait and see what next week brings and take it from there.

It is a nuclear bone scan with the radio-active injection beforehand, so I am guessing that it would be very expensive privately.

I think it's very unprofessional of the surgeon to have deliberately avoided you on the day. He obviously can't admit that all is not well - you don't suggest that he did anything wrong during surgery so I don't understand why he can't face you.

Can you not ask your GP for a referral to someone else? I would have lost all faith in this man by now.

Jane my thoughts were going more towards an MRI scan which in my neck of the woods costs £850 and more, depending on where it is done.

Quick google -private bone density scan ave cost £65. Just to give you an idea to bear in mind in case you end up on a long waiting list.

I am getting desperate, but cannot afford all the tests etc. If I thought a private consultation would help I would do it - but I know that what is needed is this bone scan and no way can I afford that.

I appreciate the reasons Jane but the cost does not stop there. If she needs a scan, it is difficult now to switch to NHS for treatment like MRI scans or even a simple xray and scans are expensive.

You absolutely have to lean on that consultant via every means possible. I suggested a private consultation as I thought she was pretty desperate!

Thanks folks. I am hoping that the GP will be able to suggest something - maybe she could ring the secretary this time rather than a letter.

The worry is that the bone scan showed abnormal activity that could be infection in the femur (which is where the worst of the pain is) and that this second elusive bone scan was to check whether this was the case by seeing how it had progressed. It is hard because obviously I am very worried that it might be infection as the only treatment for this is 2 further lots of the same surgery - I was so ill after the initial op that this is very difficult to contemplate.

Luckygirl I would not pay for a private consultation- I would keep nagging his secretary, if necessary on a daily basis. This is no way to treat an ex private patient.

Tell the secretary that you will not be going anywhere anytime soon and you have all the time in the world to keep in touch with her until the consultant gets things moving. If you moan on long enough about the quality of your life suffering, he may do something about it if only to get rid of you.

Thanks - I will ring surgery on Monday and ask for a phone consultation.

Sorry to hear that you're in such pain luckygirl, and how frustrating to feel that that the NHS wheels aren't turning at all not even slowly. From what you've said in other posts you've got enough to negotiate in family life without pain and such limited movement. Hope things start to happen when your GP writes on your behalf x

Oh dear. Sorry to hear that. Given that you are in such pain would you consider a private orthopaedic consultation?

I could copy and paste my original post here as nothing has changed, except that it is now 2 months from seeing the ortho reg and not one.

I gave them over Christmas and New Year, thinking I would get nowhere then, and rang last Weds. All the same stuff all over again.....imaging have had no referral; consultant ortho's secretary has no knowledge of what is going on but dug out a GP letter (which has not got to me, although it should)saying that a bone scan was to be arranged. She said she would sort it out and ring me back - did she?.......I leave you to guess.

Yesterday I could barely walk in the evening. I had been looking after GS (nearly 2) all day, been out for a slow walk, brought in logs, cooked etc. - in other words lived normally although in some discomfort - then by the evening I can barely get out of the chair for pain, and then only hobble across the room.

I am about to make an appointment with the GP to see what they can do, although they have written on my behalf before.

Hope it goes as you hope luckygirl. Be assertive!
I've got my appt on Friday. I plan to write a list of questions and concerns so I'll feel that I'm surer of the way ahead and don't feel hustled through and out and left wondering if the right thing is happening!