👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ Hips and knees part 6 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️

I am not keen on ‘bless’ which always sounds patronising, even if it wasn’t meant. No one has called me my love or dear though, it might be a north south thing.

One of the nurses used to call people my love all the time but I didn't mind it so much coming from a nurse [and I was much younger then, anyway]. It'll be interesting to see if I'm offered physio without asking for it. I'm just furious that I waited in and no one phoned me.

MayBee What a performance for something so simple. Making a list is an excellent idea, and if you exceed your 10 minutes, tough. Good luck.

MayBee70 I had to have several physio sessions over the years before I was recommended for surgery…have you not had any physio sessions?

I saw a consultant many years ago about my knee. But when I told him I'd been to see an osteopath he got up and walked out of the office. I'm sure I have had NHS physio because the exercises I do are on a bit of paper given to me by the hospital. I've had arthritis in my knee for so long I can't remember who I saw and when and it's just become a way of life and I've always been able to keep on top of it until recently when I think the knee had deteriorated slowly so I didn't notice it but then rapidly deteriorated and is now in my good knee, which came as a complete shock as that knee has never caused any problems. It doesn't even look like my bad knee, which is much bigger and mishapen. I think this is why I'm questioning my own mentality and not understanding why I can't walk [I know it all sounds bonkers!].

maybee From experience, your doctor will be happy to refer you for physiotherapy! Hopefully you might also be referred for an Xray.

I’ve had an x Ray. That was really straight forward and fast. I’ve been waiting for a telephone consultation explaining to me the result of the x Ray but no one phoned.

You want to find out the grade of the OA on your knee. 1 is fine but 4 is the worst, bone on bone.

I know. You told me that and it was what I was going to ask my GP when he phoned me. But he didn’t. It’s now on my question list for next week.

Maybee an excellent practice (ex hospital) physio assured me that x-rays are not always an accurate indicator of pain and dysfunction levels but merely part of an assessment process. Please stress, with support from your daughter, how disabling your knee and other issues are.

Our area does not label joint issues from 1-4 but rather mild, medium and severe, far less clear in my view. My knee was labelled medium from x-rays, it was however very misshapen and my leg noticeably bowed. When MSK referred me for surgery the consultant surgeon was horrified and asked why I’d not seen him two years before. My response? The system!

There’s a clear referral route at our practice. GP to practice physio, exercises and consideration of steroid injection as first level. Then referral to hospital physio where an escape pain hospital gym course can be offered as an option. After completion or on refusal (it is genuinely optional) the hospital physio, practice physio or a GP then refers to MSK where a decision is taken on appropriateness of onward referral to a surgeon. Yes, it all takes time, a lot of time, but at least a clear path is followed.

Good luck maybee. You seem to have fallen through some primary care cracks, I hope you can receive the help you deserve.

It’s my fault for ignoring it for so long. Plus the difficulty in seeing GPs these days. My leg isn’t bent at all. But the arthritic knee is much bigger than the other one ( which, now the arthritis has set in there too will probably catch it up). I don’t know if I’m just a complete wimp and that other people would ignore the pain when walking. I have a friend who had a TKR last year but, prior to that she used to go walking on Dartmoor with a walking group. There’s no way that I could do that. Problem is none of us can live inside someone else’s body and people experience pain differently. It doesn’t hurt at all when I’m resting. Friends that have had TKRs have been in constant pain. I don’t want injections. They’re just a quick fix and don’t always help. And I don’t want to take painkillers but might consider codeine and paracetamol. I always thought my osteopath would fix it just as he did last time so it was a blow to find it didn’t help. ( sorry to ramble on; I’m just thinking out loud).

maybee. I’m sure you aren’t a wimp, pain is very individual. It often helps medics to understand if you use a 1-10 system to describe your pain. 1 being no discomfort, 10 being the worst you can imagine. This describes your experience of pain and your reality.

Don’t give up. Your mobility is so important.

Has anyone else suffered more pain from hip arthritis during the hot weather? Yesterday and Sunday were particularly bad and even ibuprofen and paracetamol didn't help. The pain was in my hip thigh and lower leg.

cornergran

*maybee*. I’m sure you aren’t a wimp, pain is very individual. It often helps medics to understand if you use a 1-10 system to describe your pain. 1 being no discomfort, 10 being the worst you can imagine. This describes your experience of pain and your reality.

Don’t give up. Your mobility is so important.

Message from surgery after I complained via email about no one phoning me. They apologise and say it was down to ‘staff shortages’. To add insult to injury they’re on strike next week. I waited in for days, even scared to take the dog into the garden for a wee.

AGAA4

Has anyone else suffered more pain from hip arthritis during the hot weather? Yesterday and Sunday were particularly bad and even ibuprofen and paracetamol didn't help. The pain was in my hip thigh and lower leg.

Please be careful taking ibuprofen if you’re not taking omeprazole with it, especially if you’re increasing the amount you’re taking. My arthritis varies so much and it isn’t just down to how much walking I’ve done so the weather must affect it. I notice it mostly in my hands, which sometimes are hurting even as I wake up and then won’t hurt at all. The position I sleep in seems to affect me the most. The hot humid weather drains me of all energy. I’m sure I sweat more than most people; I feel as if I’m going to turn into a puddle sometimes.

When I looked just now we were at no 1 on active. 😀 well done all.

Maybee I have never heard that you need omeprazle with ibuprofen.
I hope you can get some
Answers at your appointment and don’t forget your list. All too easy to forget something.

AGAA I have always thought warmth of the sun Helps things like arthritis. Is your keg swollen?

Maybee be careful with Codeine. Can bring on terrible constipation.

It's my hip silverlining48. I have googled and found for some people heat can cause a flare up. It's much better today now it's cooler. Thanks for replying

Are you on a list for a replacement AGAA4? That will solve the problem when the time comes. It’s a rocky road but so worthwhile!

I'm not yet but will see the doctor again after my recent painful episode. She was reluctant to send me to orthopaedics and I wasn't as bad last September. I may have to insist next time.

Sorry AGAA , hope you get some help soon.

I was on omaprpzole but because I take naproxen on and off, a nurse switched me to Lanzaprole which is better for long term use...
and yes, the heat made my OA worse and I love sitting out in sunshine with SPF50 big brimmed Sophia Loren sun hat to get natural VIT D, BUT my knee complained and turned itself into a melon!

Am glad we've had rain today...

silverlining48

Maybee I have never heard that you need omeprazle with ibuprofen.
I hope you can get some
Answers at your appointment and don’t forget your list. All too easy to forget something.

I know of two people that were seriously ill after taking ibuprofen. One was prescribed a high dose by a GP who forgot to give her omeprazole and another guy in my village who self medicated with ibuprofen. Both had stomach ulcers and one had to be put into a coma to recover. I'm very wary of ibuprofen. But also wary of omeprazole that can cause different problems long term. It was never meant to be taken for long periods of time. Having said that they are all necessary if someone is in pain and can't live a normal life.