Doctors Appointment - What to ask

craftyuk
craftyuk Member Posts: 47
edited 15. Jun 2009, 09:17 in Living with Arthritis archive
I am beginning to suspect that I may be starting to suffer from some form of arthritis in my ankle. I had an operation on my ankle for a rare bone disease 21 years ago. I was told about 5 years after that that I was showing some signs or arthritis but nothing was really done. In the last 10 weeks or so I have been suffering increased pain in the ankle and often sharp pains in addition to the stiffness and lack of mobility in the joint ever since the operation. It is very painful if I do lots of walking and walking downstairs is really hard.

I have made an appointment to see my GP at the end of the next week to see what they say, and I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to diagnose it on here, but I really have no ideas what I should be telling the doctor and what questions I should be asking.

I should also mention that I have asthma and cannot take anti infammatorys and also they make me ill so not sure what choices I am going to have.

Can anyone advise?


craftyuk

Comments

  • dymonz
    dymonz Member Posts: 10
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    craftyuk wrote:
    I am beginning to suspect that I may be starting to suffer from some form of arthritis in my ankle. I had an operation on my ankle for a rare bone disease 21 years ago. I was told about 5 years after that that I was showing some signs or arthritis but nothing was really done. In the last 10 weeks or so I have been suffering increased pain in the ankle and often sharp pains in addition to the stiffness and lack of mobility in the joint ever since the operation. It is very painful if I do lots of walking and walking downstairs is really hard.

    I have made an appointment to see my GP at the end of the next week to see what they say, and I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to diagnose it on here, but I really have no ideas what I should be telling the doctor and what questions I should be asking.

    I should also mention that I have asthma and cannot take anti infammatorys and also they make me ill so not sure what choices I am going to have.

    Can anyone advise?


    craftyuk

    Hi
    I'm sorry you are experiencing such pain. When you visit your GP...

    1. Ensure that you explain the discomfort you are experiencing in detail.
    2. Ask for a referral for an x-ray - this may confirm if you have OA.
    3. Ask for any gentle daily exercises you can do to help ease the discomfort. Your GP might refer you to a physio.
    4. Your GP might be able to advise on alternative medicine (eg herbal remedy, acupuncture etc) as you are unable to take anti-ims.

    In general...
    1. wear comfortable footwear (cushioned soles),
    2. keep the weight off your feet when possible,
    3. a walking aid might help with the stairs which you should use on the oppo side of your pain. My physio uses the saying "good leg to heaven, bad leg to hell" - meaning step up with your good leg and place the bad leg on the same step. And vice versa coming down. (I'm two weeks into recovering from a R THR!!)

    Good luck!
    Dymonz
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi again crafty!

    Pleased to see that you have posted your thread on here. Hope your day is going along ok.

    Best wishes
    Elna
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,953
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Crafty
    Welcome to this forum!
    You have already had some sound advice, but my main one would be to be clear and concise in what you say. The GPs apt is usually only 10 mins. You have that time to make sure they understand you.
    Check whether or not you have a temperature incase it's relevant and think whether swelling is before efter duriung use, morning evening etc. I actually measured the size of mine! In inches!! he he!
    Anyway good to meet you
    Toni x
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, Just saying hello, its good to get the ankle looked asap, as it may mean you get any treatment and exercises sooner, and they will work better. Glad you wanted to join us :shock: we're not too bad, in fact i'd say the support we get from others is wonderful medicine, but please use carefully, it can be addictive :!: :D:D
    Love Sue
  • craftyuk
    craftyuk Member Posts: 47
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    well i was in so much pain over the weekend that my husband took me to a&e to have my ankle looked at. The doctor there has diagnosed arthritis but says i need to go and see my own gp (Appt on friday). She has given me some stronger pain killers and now it's just cope with the pain and wait and see what happens on friday.

    It's nice to know that you have something and that gives you a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel but still hard to know how to deal with the pain.
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello When you see your gp he may offer to send you to see a rheummatologist or to have Xrays. It would be great if you get to see a rhummy, but you may have to wait, but do ask.

    Pain is one of the hard problems to crack. What suits one person won't work for the next so its a bit of trial and error at first. He may also send you for physio, which can be very helpful.

    I hope you get some help, at least you'r on the right road now.
    Love Sue

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