First of all, just to say a proper hello.I've recently signed up here, and have been overwhelmed by the knowledge people have and the support they give.
How do we put it altogher? By this I mean, over the years, I've seen various people about various problems. Psoriatic arthritis diagnosed long time ago affecting mainly hands, but now I suspect its in the feet as well as they're always sore and I have the expected problems with pitted/fungal nails.
But, as a result of a work related accident a number of years ago, I had my spine x-rayed the outcome was that the radiologist said that the bone density of my spine is lower than they would expect for someone of my age.... I was 20 at the time.
Osteochondritis dissecans in right knee cap, which apparently is more unusual than having it elsewhere in the knee joint, and have had 3 ops to help with it.
I've had a lot of back problems potentially caused by fallen arches, though some recent visits to a chiropractor highlighted that my pelvis was out of alignment, confirmed by an x-ray. So chiropractor has helped 100% with back.
My question really is, how do we put all of this together, GPs dont seem to have the time nor the inclination to dive deeper other than what's currently the problem.
Partly my fault, as I don't take meds for PA and havent been near a rheumatologist in 5+ years. So when I do go in anything i say is in isolation. At this point in time the very centre of my hands and feet are sore. I will go to GP who might do a blood test which wont show anything. Wont look at nails on hands/ feet and give me something for the pain and off i'll go. If i need to go about my back, the fact that the bone density is what it should be won't be any concern...
Sorry I'm ranting here, and in comparison to how all of you cope with nasty uncle Arthur, I should shut up....
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Comments
As Val suggests it may be a good idea to be referred to a rheumi. You cannot really expect your gp to take all this on board.
Perhaps when you have an appointment you could write your history down using bullet points for easier reading along with dates, for the rheumi to digest, or even send it to him prior to your appointment date.
I am not sure if a pain clinic referral would help you atm. I have oa so do not see a rheumi.
Elna x
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.
Sometimes I think I have drawn it all together and that I am coping just fine, but the actual truth is I am a swan, elegantly floating on the arthritic pond of life but, when I want to get from A to B there is frantic - and unseen - action. My GP has her uses but not for the PA so please don't expect yours to cover it, in my experience that kinda stuff is way beyond their knowledge. Western medicine tends not to look at the whole, just the specialism of the expert you are seeing. My PA has led to OA and flat feet, and now possibly plantar fasciitis (I accept that the latter two could have occurred anyway regardless of arthritis) but what the hell: I will see who I need to see but I realise the common link between the 'experts' is me. I have to tell 'em what's happening and I do, but it's taken a while for me to get to grips with that. DD
I geniunely didnt realise that this was sort of outside of the scope for a GP. And on re-reading my original post, I should say change "partly my fault" to entirely my fault nobody else made me do it
Elna x
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.