Anyone else get a numb bum?

babette

One of the many, but most annoying of my symptoms is a numb bum if I sit in one place for too long, I also get a strange pins and needles feeling/prickly sensation just across my back in the pelvic region at the same time, on occasions it travels down the legs to my feet. I have OA (so I'm told) in L5/SI joint and in the pelvis with bony spurs. Am still awaiting the results of my MRI scan (nearly a month ago) and am getting fed up with lack of info. Dr's surgery has become a total joke due to a revised appointments system which means you have to ring up at around 8am to see if you can get appointment with Doc for that day only; it took me half an hour to get through when I should have been setting up my class for the day. You can't book an appointment in advance anymore, the reason has something to do with Swine Flu, which seems like a weak and feeble excuse since they don't even want you in the surgery if you have it. Am still fizzing from my last encounter with a docs receptionist who told me I could phone in and reception would give me my results ( like they would know what all the medical jargon meant!!). Needless to say I declined somewhat frostily I hope the call WAS recorded. Am going to try again on Monday for appointment with GP but failing that I'm going to complain in writing about their ludicrous appointments system which completely discriminates against anyone who also has a job.

Rant over.

B x

woodbon

Hi, I get a numb bum from sitting too long, I have to get up and move around. I have OA in my lumber spine and in my Cspine, but its not bad enough for surgery, thank goodness.

We have an appointment system in out surgery that allows you to make an appointment in advance but, the doc keeps a few back, which can only be booked on the day, for people who are emergencies. If you really need to see a doctor on the same day, including Saturday, then their is always a duty doctor, but you will have to wait unless lucky, but I've always found that the duty docs are good and if I'm ill enough to have to see them, it means I don't care who I see! :shock: I can always talk to my doctor on the phone if I need to. You leave your number and she phones back.

Swine flu hasn't made any difference, accept they have a big notice telling anyone who thinks they have it not to go in, but go home and ring for a home visit! :roll:

I'm sorry you are having such a lot of problems with getting an appointment, I hope you manage to get something soon. Hopefully, if its a month since your MRI, their will be nothing of importance to see on it, as they should get in touch with you if theirs a problem, but you do need to discuss this with your GP, I realise. Fingers crossed, Sue

babette

Hi Sue

Thanks for your reply, I just needed to get that off my chest! My doc's used to work a system just like yours. Sometimes I would have to wait a week or so for an appointment but I didn't mind if it wasn't urgent and it meant I got to see who I wanted... I don't know who thought up this new system but it's a complete farce. Have already typed my Mrs Angry letter and got my son to check it to make sure I was succinctly angry but not rude.
I will be handing it in on Monday whether I get an appointment or not. I was beginning to worry that they had found something more since I hadn't heard anything but realise now that that is completely illogical. The Rheumy had said she would write to me too, but I haven't heard anything and am getting slightly agitated about the whole thing.

Luv B x

debatat

Hi I get a numb bum :shock: I have OA and other probs in same area as you, chase the MRI. I didn't hear for a month and they had lost the results. :shock: When they did find them, I need surgery!!!!

You have to chase them unfortunately.

Let me know how you get on.

Take care

Deb x

babette

Thanks Debs and Pixy

Will see how I get on tomorrow with getting an appointment. Don't know how to go about chasing up the scan at hospital as I have no contact number for Rheumy or for secretary......sigh! Things haven't progressed that far down the line yet as MRI was just after 1st Rheumy visit, hope to hear soon. Will let you all know how it goes.

B x

woodbon

Hi, I don't know why they just didn't leave the system the way it was, but, someone had a bright idea! I think its something to do with the Governments league tables. :shock:
Love Sue

skezier

Hi Barbara,

the numbness I can equate to as well as the pins and needles, bit like an electric shock running across the lower back especially if I lean forward. Sometimes arching my back with the aid of a chair sorts it out. Mine is the spine that has got 3rd stage oa and a lot of extra bone and it has moved slightly off line and pushing at the peripheral nerves a bit. I also get a bi of numbness in my legs from old nerve damage done long ago. In my case it is unstoppable and as Sue said moving about can help.

My Rumo takes a good 6 weeks to do a letter and well doctors the less I say about mine the better

I really hope you soon get some answers and help though. take care Cris

cruisedolly

I don't get a numb bum - I have oa of hip, When I've been sitting for a long time it's painful to get up and it hurts in the coccyx(tailbone) area. I've bought one of those cushions with a hole at the back to see if that helps.

babette

Hi Cris

Sounds very similar to me, Pixy suggested sciatica and that's what I thought I had initially when this all started 1 1/2 years ago, never for a minute thought it was arthur. Doc described the OA in my back as severe with osteophytes (bony lumps.) Bum is constantly uncomfortable it feels really peculiar. Rheumy said letter would be out to me in 10 days, Radiographer said 14 which I thought was less ambitious. As my mum says " a watched pot never boils"


B x

sharmaine

Hi Babette

Before being diagnosed with OA I suffered from a numb bum. It was agonising especially as I was horriby stiff when i did get up. I didn't make the link with OA. I don't know how I got through some of the meetings/seminars when I worked. As time goes on I find I cannot even stand in one place for more than a minute - it is agonising. I have a perching stool in the kitchen which helps enormously when I'm preparing meals. I find queuing agony - I wish they had chairs or benches nearby for people such as myself - especially in places such as Post Offices; surgeries etc.

I had a smear test today and the nurse said it would take 4 weeks for the results to get through. I didn't realise they inform you of the results by letter these days. They should do this with MRI scans too. My docs surgery is quite good they actually wrote me to come in and discuss the results of my latest x-rays (it wasn't great news)!!

We have the same system where I live when you have to call in at 8.00 am. I have got appointments by walking in to the surgery rather than 'phoning. I hope you hear something soon. Can you speak with the nurse? They're normally quite good at referring things onto the GP.

Fingers crossed you hear something soon

Regards
Sharmaine

skezier

Hi Barbara,

It sort isn't right for the normal sciatica, that tends to be painful and down one or both legs. It might be the extra bone, that is what mine is........ It might not be though and I do hope the rumo has addressed it all when his letter does come.Mine is very good and needs to be just now

Try, if it doesn't hurt you, arching your back so it feels almost like the skin is being stretched....... I find that helps stop the electric shock feeling as does the pregabalin. If you decide to arch up do it gently and stop if there is any pain at all. Mine is where the bones are fusing them selves up and it is caused by the restrictive movement in the back.

I really hope they can sort yours out soon. The letters down here take up to8 weeks and scan results well mine were 4 months! Good luck and keep us posted. Take care, Cris

babette

Hi there everyone!

Finally managed to get an appointment today with my own doc. The Rheumy hadn't sent him any results either, but luckily the surgery and the hospital are linked by computer so the doc was able to access the radiologists' report on my MRI scan, it seems that they haven't found anything more than was evident on my x-rays. No nerves are being compressed and I don't have any inflammation showing. So that's good news! Will await the official letter from the Rheumy for confirmation and what happens next.

B x