Appointment Tomorrow 15th March

dreamdaisy

Don't wait for the pain clinic to write, contact them. Ask them to prompt your memory about the next appointment etc, there is no reason why you shouldn't. If it was an ortho chap you saw then yet again there is not a great deal he can do apart from the spine injections and they are going to be sorted so that is a positive, albeit a dim one.


One of the many mis-apprehensions about arthritis is that you will be given drugs and it will go away. Neither is particularly true. You may well be given some meds or treatment, and perhaps the worst of the symptoms will be addressed for a length of time, but it does not clear up like an infection. It hangs about like a trapped - well I won't type it but you know what I mean! We all do what we can in terms of exercise, diet and meds (either all three or a combination) but it will never go. It likes its host.

The swimming sounds like a plan - and have a cream cake after. Why not? You deserve/need/have earned it. DD

elainebadknee

Hi Jaki

It was only a few months ago that i had an appointment like that where you dont seem to be listened too, where your condition is just seen as normal and you feel like "why did i come and see you if all youre gonna do is make me feel bad"...Like you my ex consultant didnt want to answer any questions and made comments about lifestyle choices (weight) and how young i was...I was like hello ive had this since the age of 18, give me a break!! I sometimes wonder how these people would react if one of their loved ones got bad bedside manners - would they stand for it NO and why should you, I or anyone else?
And you know if youre not happy write it down, maybe firstly to vent out and then why not conisder speaking to the hopsital about how you felt, let them know and how disappointed you feel.....It may help and he may invite you back and be like he should have been....
I know its a heck of a knockback but regroup and if you can tackle it head on....Its hard but if you can fight in a composed manner it shows them you mean business....And you know what if i can anyone can.....

Sending you a virtual hug.......Please let us know how youre getting on....

Elainex

rugbygirl wrote:

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the support this morning. You really helped me get through it.

My diagnosis was strange. The consultant was poking and prodding me, asking me to touch my toes (like that was going to happen).

He asked me if I was being seen by the pain consultant and asked what I had been told by him. I said that I had been told that I had degenerative arthritis in the spine. He told me that there is some degerenation there, but with people of your age who are "normal" you expect to find some.

He was basically implying that there is nothing wrong with me and that I am not in pain. He seemed to be implying that because I am overweight I am not doing enough to help myself.

I feel like I have been overlooked and that I am wasting his time. His bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired and I dont feel as if I have had a response.

I just feel that it is another kick in the teeth and that no-one seems to understand that I am in as much pain as I am.

I am in turmoil. He didnt want to explain anything to me and was more interested in getting me out of there.

The only thing that is coming out of it is the fact that they have put me on the waiting list to have spinal injections done but that is going to take 4 months before I get a pre-examination done.

dorcas

Hello Jaki nice to meet you.

I hope you don't mind me butting in?
What others have said is right...this consultant lacked what we used to call a 'bedside manner' and instead of treating you as a human being and explaining exactly what he thought, he left you disappointed and perplexed. :shock: It is a sad fact that many of the docs we see don't have/ take time to know us, and I think Lynn is right in saying that the OTs, rheummy nurses etc get to know their patients better.

One thing is for sure.... you are not imagining your pain (he wouldn't have referred you for spine injections otherwise) and you have already had a diagnosis of degeneration in the spine, so please do not let this doc's lack of communication skills undermine your self belief.

DLA will write to your doc for information so perhaps you need to have a discussion with him/ her about the impact this condition has on your daily life and ability to manage tasks so that s/he is better prepared to comment if/ when DLA get in touch.

I don't know if you had someone with you during the consultation? but maybe for next time having a friend, partner there could help in asking questions of the consultant.

Hope that it will work out for you and that the pain clinic will be in touch soon.

Iris xx

rugbygirl

I have had a regroup already thanks to you all and I have been on the phone to chase up things.

I phoned the Physiotherapy Department, and chased up my most recent referral from the pain clinic - they still havent had a referral from the pain clinic.

I phoned the day treatment centre with regard to the spine injections as I had already been referred for them by the pain specialist. I am on the waiting list for them and I should have it by June. I have requested to be put on the cancellation list but it is unlikely that I will be put on there as there are lots of other people waiting (basically the person I spoke to was about as helpful as a chocolate teapot and not interested).



I will however not give up. I am going to write to the Orthopaedic clinic about the treatment I received today.

I have phoned the Pain clinic and finally there was someone who was helpful. I explained the situation and the letter for Physio has only just been typed but they should receive it by Friday so I will chase that up then.

I have also been told that my doctor will have received a letter by then with regard to my diagnosis, treatment plan and medication. I feel like someone is on my side. Obviously this has helped and the fact that the pain clinic secretary understood why I was chasing things up made things easier. I think by next week when I receive a copy of the letter has been sent to the doctor I will feel that things are starting to improve. Maybe I can get the meds that I should have started three weeks ago.

I am now feeling a bit better about things and not so down on myself. I hate the fact that I allowed myself to feel so bad but I guess that its just one of those days.

Time to pick myself up, dust myself off, and carry on with life

rugbygirl

dorcas wrote:

Hello Jaki nice to meet you.

I hope you don't mind me butting in?
What others have said is right...this consultant lacked what we used to call a 'bedside manner' and instead of treating you as a human being and explaining exactly what he thought, he left you disappointed and perplexed. :shock: It is a sad fact that many of the docs we see don't have/ take time to know us, and I think Lynn is right in saying that the OTs, rheummy nurses etc get to know their patients better.

One thing is for sure.... you are not imagining your pain (he wouldn't have referred you for spine injections otherwise) and you have already had a diagnosis of degeneration in the spine, so please do not let this doc's lack of communication skills undermine your self belief.

DLA will write to your doc for information so perhaps you need to have a discussion with him/ her about the impact this condition has on your daily life and ability to manage tasks so that s/he is better prepared to comment if/ when DLA get in touch.

I don't know if you had someone with you during the consultation? but maybe for next time having a friend, partner there could help in asking questions of the consultant.

Hope that it will work out for you and that the pain clinic will be in touch soon.

Iris xx

Thanks Iris,

I really appreciated this message. I had my OH with me and he was just as astonished as I was.

Just one question but who are the Rhuemmy nurses?? I dont have one and no one has mentioned anything about them.

dorcas

Hi Jaki

It depends on what type of arther you have whether you see a rheumatologist and rheummy nurse....

if you have RA, PA or any of the many Inflammatory arthers caused by an over-active immune system, then you'll usually be seen by a rheumatologist rather than orthopaedics.

Whereas if you have OA then you'll be seen only by the orthopods.

I have PA and the rheummy (rheumatology) nurses in the hospital I attend can be contacted between consultant's appointments at the day ward... if advice or an injection is needed. They're a good source of support.

Don't know if I've explained that very well!

Iris xx

rugbygirl

Thats me out of the equation for Rheumy nurses then I have OA!

Hopefully the GP will be helpful once things are with them.

Just spoken to the helpline to see if I could get more info and it was helpful and explained things a bit more to me.

ironic

Hi Jaki,
Well done for getting things moving. Hopefully your Dr will be able to go through things with you when he receives the letter. May be he/she will be able to add some weight to getting your appointments sorted out.
Lv, Ix

tiggernut

Hi Jaki,

So sorry the appointment wasn't very good.
Hope you get it sorted soon.
Anita.

rugbygirl

caterina57 wrote:

Hi Jaki
Ow, move over Tony and stop snoring! I am here in your pocket for you Jaki, not much room though, and there are loads of crumbs that must be Tony's JD's! On a serious note sending you hugs and good luck for your diagnosis!
Cath

Kept meaning to thank you guys. I got in trouble for leaving a trail of crumbs behind.

Had people laughing at me because Tony was snoring so loud they thought it was me.

Feeling more myself now and I think once I've had a good nights sleep I will feel better!

julie47

Hi jaki

just popped in to see how it went.

oh dear not too good i am sorry.

But good on you for taking control and chasing things up....

Hope a cancellation comes through for you.

Juliepf x