What to say to the dr

purpleunicorn

Hello all

I am new to this forum, having spent a few years in pain which is gradually worsening. I have asked the gp on a couple of occasions to diagnose me but all he says is 'you need to lose weight'. But last year I lost 3.5 stone and the pain just kept on getting worse so it's not just that.

On waking in the morning I can barely get out of bed, and when I do I have virtually no range of movement in my back...bending over is an impossibility. The pain is excrutiating, and with dreadful stiffness. It is all in my lower back, and continues round to my right hip and on a really bad day to my knee. Out shopping the other day my leg gave way several times.

When I lie on my back and raise one leg up in the air, as I return it to the floor there is the most awful sickening grinding thud in my back/hip area.

Does anyone have any advice on what to say to the dr to take me seriously and look beyond the fact that I need to lose a bit of weight? Does the thudding in my back/hip sound familiar?

I'm 43 by the way

Thanks

frogmorton

Hi Purpleunicorn

l love your name by the way.

You are not alone in struggling to get a diagnosis. the 'loose weight' response has also happened to others on here (and my own sister)

First of all can you take someone with you (a partner would be best as they can say what they see, but a friend will do), there is safety in numbers and you are less easy to fob off.

Also they may remember what you forget!!

Then write a list a short concise list. Begin by reiterating your weight loss(well done by the way!)

What happens, when, for how long, how many out of ten pain-wise is it (0-10 10 being agony!), how it affects you (lack of sleep, inability to get in/out of the bath/drive etc

Then you have to put the ball in his court and ask how 'we' can find out what is wrong.

You could be requesting simple tests like Xrays/blood tests if he doesn't suggest himself.

and GOOD luck do let us know when you are going and l will cross fingers for you.

l have been there too.

Love

Toni xxx

kellerman

Hello Purpleunicorn,
I read your post and thought except for the weight issue thats what happenened to me.
Last December I fell on the ice...I was going for a blood test I have every 3 months for my cancer.I told the surgery I had fallen and was told "oh not another one"yet I was in a great deal of pain and could hardly speak.
By April my back was no better,I was dragging my right leg and still in pain.I went to my GP and told her...before she had time to speak.
She did send me for an xray and an mri scan as I had a fractured vertabrae..I'd had this for 4 months.
This didn't explain the pain in my right hip,lower back and the fact that my right leg kept giving way under me.All she ever said was I had OA. No examination,no xrays,no blood taken.
I came on this forum and was advised to push for tests.
So..well I did it.I went in to the GP and literally word for word told her to listen to me and then she could comment.I had bloods taken,still waiting for xray but have been told I have AS and I have a rheumy appointment later this month.Result.
I'm not saying it was easy to do but its your body and you should know if something is wrong.To say its your weight sounds like a cop out to me.
You have done really well losing the amount of weight you have.
Nobody can do this for you....just take the bull by the horns and don't move until he arranges some tests.I had the last appointment and she wanted to go home but I wasn't moving until I at least got something sorted.
If you can take some-one with you as Toni says at least you have moral support.
I can only wish you luck but GO FOR IT.
Good luck May

barbara12

Hi Purpleunicorn
And a warm welcome from me, the others have given you good advice, the one thing I learned from this forum, is we have to be heard and stand up for ourselves...its so easy for our GPs to put everything down to weight...then when you lose that its all down to Arthur...so you keep a list of all your probs and pains...and make sure you take it with you, whoever you see.
I have OA in my back and hips...so I do understand some of what you are going thor7ugh..especially the legs going from under you.
Wishing you well with everything x

dreamdaisy

Hello purpleunicorn, it's nice to meet you but I am sorry you have had to find us. I second the others: make a list of what hurts, when and how, whether things are worse in the evening or morning, whether any intial stiffness wears off, whether heat or cold on the affected areas helps to ease matters, whether the weather affects matters, how your sleep is being affected etc etc etc. I once lost the same amount of weight as you and that made no difference whatsoever to the pain levels - I have again recently lost just over a stone by stopping my oral steroid treatment and yet again the pain levels are just as they were. I have an auto-immune caused arthritis in my feet, ankles, knees, sacro-iliac joints and elsewhere, plus fairly advanced osteoarthritis in my knees as a result of the damage caused by the other. C'est la vie.

You need answers girl, so don't be afraid to politely nag your GP. If it is OA then not a great deal can be done apart from pain relief, maybe anti-inflammatory treatment and exercise, but better-targeted meds may well help to alleviate matters for you so that life becomes better - let's hope so, yes? I wish you well and let us know how you get on. DD