getting a rhumy referal

anne49

Hi all

I am at the moment seeing an ortho consultant with my OA in my knees. I did see on my local hospital website that the rhumy department dealt with pain management and OA as well as RA. I asked my GP if I could have a referal, but he said I would have to ask the ortho as to whether he thought it would benefit me and he would do a referal. Anyone else had to do this as I have read some of you do see your GP, rhumy and ortho, and have had some good results having the 3 of them. As I am getting fed up with physio as everytime I go it seems to aggrivate my problem, and I am not keen on having injections in my knees or having an arthroscopy, as this later one does not seem to last long.

Anne x

hileena111

Hi, I was diagnosed by a rheumy but after that saw an ortho {eventually} at first it was just nthe GP giving me painkillers...then when I said parcetamol wasnt en ough he referred me to the local hospital where I saw an ortho and had a THR......GP would not refer me to rheumy....said it was an orthos job not a rheumy {OA}
Love
Hileena

dreamdaisy

It isn't usual for a rheumatologist to be involved with OA patients, as they specialise in the auto-immune versions of the disease. OA has a different cause - tho what causes it is still open to question, I think! You are more likely to be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon as the need for joint replacements or arthroscopies arise. Physio can sometimes aggravate matters but it is worth pursuing as stronger muscles better-suppport your joints. Steroid injections and arthroscopies are not cures as such, they are done in an attempt to alleviate symptoms. A referral to a pain clinic is a good idea (at my hospital that is a completely separate entity to the rheumatology unit) as is the occasional review, by your GP, of the pain dullers and anti-inflammatories, to check that you are getting the most beneift you can. I hope things improve for you soon and I wish you well. DD

julie47

Hi anne49
no advice I am sorry
Just want to say that I hope things improve soon
Juliepf x