mobility

stevanmelia

Not to sure where i fit in with arthritis as i am being treated for OA, PA and Gout. During the past twelve months i have had a flare up in my Left knee, then left big toe, then the right big toe and currently my right knee. Each flare up last for three to four weeks and leaves me housebound. For the last few days the whole of my right arm aches and throbes. It also affects my neck and lower spine. I eat painkillers like sweets but nothing stops the severity of the pain. Twice i rang the hospital (ruematology depr) they asked coul i come in and i said no i could not walk so they suggested i contact my GP. My GP asked could i come in i said no i can not walk; she advised i take painkillers. Depression is a nasty reality.

dreamdaisy

Hello stevanmelia, it's nice to meet you but I am sorry that you have had to find us. Without a doubt you fit in with the arthritis thing as you have the same two as me (the PsA and OA) but I don't have the gout - I think it's related though. :sad:

I struggle with my mobility, I have been on crutches since 2002 and have recently invested in a four-wheeled rollator, complete with a seat, and I am finding that a real boon. My PA is in my toes, ankles, knees and sacro iliac joints, the OA is in the knees and ankles, and my shoulders, wrists and hands are being affected now with the PsA. Every step hurts and has done for years, but I am used to it now and try to pace myself accordingly. I am also on anti-depressants (the shock of discovering the extent of the OA in my knees was a real downer, I have bone-on-bone on the inner side and that is spreading) so Citalopram was the logical answer. I recently wanted to come off them but my rheumatologist said no as it helps me to cope with the pain. This pain is constant, and, thanks to the OA, increasing: every step hurts, as does stanidng still but it's the only way to get from A to B so has to be done.


As for getting to see the doctor/rheumatologist, the glib answer is taxis, but that depends on distance and finances. I am fortunate in that my hospital is not far away, just a five minute drive, but even that is a tenner in taxi fares there and back. Does your hospital run a volunteer driver scheme? Mine has one, it's public-spirited members of the public who use their own cars to collect and take home patients who lack transport. Could that be an answer? It is tough, isn't it? DD

stickywicket

Hello Stevanmelia and welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry you're feeling rough at the moment. I'm afraid having one brand of arthritis is no guarantee of not having another too, as you have discovered.

Painkillers are a bit of a misnomer in that they very rarely do what the name suggests. For that reason, several of us on here refer to them as paindullers. However, if yours aren't even doing that you probably need a change of meds. I would have thought your GP could have arranged this over the phone unless you have other health problems which might need to be checked first. I can, however, see no reason why you can't get to rheumatology. Does your hospital not have a transport system for patients who can't access either public transport or a car? No wonder you're depressed.

Personally, if the paindullers weren't doing anything for me I'd stop taking them. What other meds are you on? Maybe they need changing too. Could you ask your rheumatology department about transport?

Note from Moderator
Please don't stop taking any medication without checking with your health professionals. Users of this forum (and moderators) are all people with various types of arthritis but we aren't doctors so can't give any specific advice, you will have noticed that there is a huge variety of symptoms, and we all react differently to the different meds available.
Take care
Moderator
YEH

CJHunter

Hiya, welcome to the forum, sorry its under such horrible circumstances.

Think you need a meds revie, tell them how the pain meds aint working and how it is effecting your mental health.

I know some people call them pain dullers, but if you are on the right ones they are pain killers, so keep on trying untill you find the ones that work . We are all different and it may take time but is orth it in the end.

sulkycat

Hi - I second what others have said about hospital transport.

I can't get to a bus stop here, and taxis cost a small fortune. The nurse at hospital told me I can use their transport, which has been excellent. I usually get a taxi home rather than wait up to three hours, but for getting there they are reliable and very caring.

Would certainly be worth ringing the hospital and asking what they can provide. Also see if there is an Access Bus scheme locally.
Your GP should be able to do a home visit too.

I totally sympathise, I am in a lot of pain at the moment and find walking extremely difficult. My social life seems to revolve around hospital trips!

bubbles

Hi there and a welcome from me. Sorry to hear about the problems and pain that you have. You are certainly in the right place, where people with the same diagnosis and or problems, can share advice and offer support.

I find mobilising a real struggle, going from one stick, to two crutches and a wheelchair within two years, so arthur is firing on all cylinders. Pain is depressing, hence a lot of us take anti depressants along side all the other medications. Pain relief is fleeting, but I do agree that a medication review would not go amiss, there are different regimes that can help, it is a bit of try things and see sometimes.

Hope things ease and you get to see one or other Dr as soon as. Take lots of care XXX Bubbles

skezier

Hi Stevanmelia,

I am sorry your having these problems and you do really need to see someone.

Transport can be a problem but I agree with the others and maybe you could ask the hospital to arrange transport for you? It would make it easier for you. The volentry transport is a possibility as well if the hospital wont.

There is obviously the taxi option but here the main hospital is 25 miles away and it can get a bit expensive. I am lucky I got a auto car that's very comfy.

As Clare said if you get the right combination of pain killers they will help. The more pain you have the less chance they will eliminate it all but the right combo will bring it to manageable levels.

It does sound like you need a review and for that you do have to see someone and when its not easy to get there it makes it all so hard.

I really hope you can get something sorted and they will help you a bit more. hang in there and nice to meet you. Cris x

Oh forgot to say in addition to the tablets and that there are courses for pain managed and challenge courses. They can really help you as well so it might be worth finding your local AC group and asking about their course.

A lot of the pain thing is helped by how you deal with it and they give you some very good technic to mange the pain.

I really hope today will be an easier day x

stevanmelia

Many thanks for all the kind responses to my topic on mobility.It is a pleasure to feel the warmth attached to the advice given. I must apologise for not being as clear as i should have been relating to mobility. The transport facilities are quite excellent and i do have a car even though i could not drive it. My concern was that i could not stand and had to drag myself along the floor to get to the bathroom. The intensity of the pain was such that it caused nausea and i could not apply any weight to my leg. I suppose i needed crutches or a chair to get around which is what i asked for but to no avail.
As a veteran of the first Gulf War i try to treat the condition as a new challenge but it is one that as yet i am losing. For a good part of my life you would not see a problem as it is managed with variouse medications that work. Flare-ups however cannot be managed. It seems that you just have to deal with it as best you can.
It is for me a time to learn more about my condition so that i may manage it better "Through the shinning light of knowledge we dispel the darkness born out of ignorance" (Baghavad Gita).
Again, thank you for your kind support.
Stevan

lindalegs

Hi Stevan and welcome from me too.

Why don't you request a home visit from your doctor then you wouldn't have the worry of getting to the surgery?? Your painkillers certainly need reviewing although I will say that sometimes they're helping and we don't realise how much till we have to come off them :shock:

When I started with RA many years ago my GP arranged for a Rheumatologist to come and see me at home .........but that was the good old days and my circumstances exceptional as we had a newborn baby and a 2-year old toddler!

Luv,

barbara12

Hi Steven
And a very warm welcome from me
Pain like you say causes depression, there are lots on here that have taken or still taking ADs, and from the feedback they do seem to work well.
I do wish you well with everything, and please let us know how you are getting on.

stevanmelia

I have been a member for only two days and i must say it has been the best medicine for me. It feels like a family and one that i have been accepted into. I am not the best of communicators but will do my best to support anyone who needs a chat.

stickywicket

I'm glad you feel this is a warm place where you've been accepted because I think most of us feel it's a good, supportive place to be for anyone with arthritis. We all get where people are coming from, we give support where we can and get it when we need it. It works.

I was wondering if an Occupational Therapist could help with your mobility problems. There's a lot of stuff out there that you can buy for yourself in disability shops, whether on the High St. or online, and the good ones will be skilled in helping you choose what's right for you. However, an OT, who might even visit you at home, is even better, the only problem being you may have a wait. Your rheumatologist could arrange for you to see one in the hospital either.

I know a lot of the shift we deal with is simply anger, fear and frustration but it is very frightening when you suddenly find yourself unable to do the basics. I hope you'll stay here. We have a lot of answers between us and a great deal of empathy.