hello and GP help REQUIRED!!!

paulh05

Hello to eveyone

Hi all i am new to the forum in need some help
i have been living with AO in the right knee for last 8 years but only found out that i had AO last 2 years

the help i require is how to deal with indiffrent GP'S I feel that they are really intrested with my AO and support is difficalt to get i am going back to see my GP this week and need some ammo to fire at him
all the best
paul

stickywicket

Hello Paul and welcome to the forum. I’m sorry to hear about your arthritis and I’m guessing you just got the initials the wrong way round and mean OA (osteoarthritis).

Whatever form of arthritis you have it’s much easier if you and the medics can work together as a team. If your GP doesn’t seem interested then maybe you should try a different one or even register with another practice.

Having said that, there’s not a great deal can be done for OA until it’s bad enough for surgery. Before that, it’s just a matter of pain relief and exercise. Some people benefit from attending a Pain Clinic or getting specific exercises from a physio. Have you read AC’s info on osteo? http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/AboutArthritis/Conditions/Osteoarthritis

paulh05

Hi Stickywicket

yes it should have been OA i was multitasking on the laptop last night.
Thanks for the info what has lead upto my docs appointmnet this time was that the knee was getting very sore and i think that i may have a bakers cyst behind the knee. This has also happend in the past but it has got to the point now that i can not walk up or down stairs without a lot of pain.
But i can walk 8-10 miles ok in normal contryside with no steep down hill parts ok the knee will be a little sore at the end. So excersise is not the issue.
but my weight is! it is still too high and i have stalled losing weight in the last 6-12 months. so i will hit the doctor with this as well that might get him to do something possibly.

stickywicket

The doc should be able to tell you if you have a Bakers Cyst. As for stairs - it can be easier to come down backwards, one step at a time, bad leg first. Do you use walking poles, when out on your walks? My husband, who doesn't have arthritis, swears by them for taking the pressure off his knees for downhill walking.

paulh05

Hi Stickywicket
it is exactly what i do for the stairs take them one step at a time keeping the knee straight as much as possible as for walking i do use walking poles but try to advoid any really steep down hill parts as for uphill apart from the phyical effort i usally do not have a problem unless it involes steps i've even managed a routine to get over styles but it is the stairs that really kill the knee joint as or the bakers cyst i think that what has caused the bad patch of really bad/sore pain hence the trip to the GP I know he cant do much but i think there must be a better pain killer for me out there is it usaul not to be refered to a specilist ? and is there any booklet or advice notes what help GP'S are excpected to give.
best regards
paul

dreamdaisy

Hello, I have OA in both knees (and both ankles) and it's my GP that deals with it. I won the arthritis lottery as I have both sorts, the OA and an auto-immune, I see a rheumatologist for that one, she ignores the OA and the GP ignores the auto-immune. I think one of the problems with having OA is that it is so common and there isn't much to be done apart from pain relief, exercise, possibly anti-inflammatories and, as sticky said, waiting for things to get bad enough for surgery. :roll: I'm at that stage, I have at least another year to go and by the time the system creaks into action that could easily be another year on top of that. Hey-ho, no matter.

I'm impressed that you're able to walk for 8 - 10 miles, I can manage about 8 - 10 yards. I am now reliant on my rollator (crutches for a better day tho) and yes, stairs are my nemesis. I do them like a three year old, good leg to heaven, bad leg joining it for going up, then bad leg to hell, good leg joining it for descent. The trouble is both legs are cr*p but I have to lead with the left as that has had the worst of the surgery.

I try to manage the pain by pacing myself and resting often, and I think one of the key things is to stop doing stuff when you feel you can do more. It may be worth your while seeing another GP - how many do you have in your GPs practice? Mine has 14 and I reckon I've seen most of 'em as that is how the appointments work (you see who's free) and they do vary in their attitude towards the arthritis. The one who is very good is also good on other things too so it's damned hard to get an appointment with her! Stand your ground mate, don't let them fob you off and research the info sheets that AC produce so you have some ammunition. I wish you well. DD

paulh05

Hi All
thanks for the advice and support
just a quick update i do not have alot of time will give full update later what a diffrence a diffrent doctor makes he has put me back on diclofenc and refered me to the speclist consount at the hospital and the physio as well
will fill in later
best regards
paul

stickywicket

Thanks for letting us know, Paul. I hope it makes a big difference for you.

paulh05

Hi All
Further to my last post after I went into see the GP who is apparently the senior partner in the practise. (He was none too complementary about my previous GP). Has said a lot more should have been done. I also told him about the way I was treated by the previous GP who basically turn round and said "what do you expect me do there is not much else I can do”. But the way it was put I felt that I was an annoyance to that GP.
Anyway I was expecting to go In with all guns blazing but it turned out to be one of the most productive sessions I have had with this current surgery .My doctor said I should have never been taken off diclofenac or a suitable anti-inflammatory.
The swelling behind my knee is a baker’s cyst which is causing the knee joint to go out of alignment which is also causing the increased soreness and pain .
Doctor is also sending me to see physiotherapist to see if they can strengthen the muscles so that the knee will not swell and go out alignment as much.
He also sending me to see the specialist at the hospital .As I have a complication in so much as it is not straight OA but possibly be a result of infected arthritis as well which I had before the knee.
Best regards
paul

dreamdaisy

Wow! That sounds a very positive appointment and that has to be a good thing. One of the biggest problems we all face is that we are at the mercy of the doctors' opinions. This chap sounds as though he is on the right track - I have heard of Baker's Cysts but have not, so far, had one. I hope you will be seeing a rheumatologist re the 'infected arthritis' and that he will be able to help. DD

paulh05

dreamdaisy wrote:

Hello, I have OA in both knees (and both ankles) and it's my GP that deals with it. I won the arthritis lottery as I have both sorts, the OA and an auto-immune, I see a rheumatologist for that one, she ignores the OA and the GP ignores the auto-immune. I think one of the problems with having OA is that it is so common and there isn't much to be done apart from pain relief, exercise, possibly anti-inflammatories and, as sticky said, waiting for things to get bad enough for surgery. :roll: I'm at that stage, I have at least another year to go and by the time the system creaks into action that could easily be another year on top of that. Hey-ho, no matter.

I'm impressed that you're able to walk for 8 - 10 miles, I can manage about 8 - 10 yards. I am now reliant on my rollator (crutches for a better day tho) and yes, stairs are my nemesis. I do them like a three year old, good leg to heaven, bad leg joining it for going up, then bad leg to hell, good leg joining it for descent. The trouble is both legs are cr*p but I have to lead with the left as that has had the worst of the surgery.

I try to manage the pain by pacing myself and resting often, and I think one of the key things is to stop doing stuff when you feel you can do more. It may be worth your while seeing another GP - how many do you have in your GPs practice? Mine has 14 and I reckon I've seen most of 'em as that is how the appointments work (you see who's free) and they do vary in their attitude towards the arthritis. The one who is very good is also good on other things too so it's damned hard to get an appointment with her! Stand your ground mate, don't let them fob you off and research the info sheets that AC produce so you have some ammunition. I wish you well. DD

Hi Dreamdaisy
Thanks for your lovely replies and also for not getting back sooner been a tad busy this week. But please read my reply about my GP visit as a lot of water has flowed under the bridge so to speak.
As for walking I am quite lucky here in Gosport as the local ramblers do a friendly 6-8 miles on flattish ground and a sensible pace the group are great to be with and up to 50 members are usually out . I am ok walking that distance as long as I have taken my meds and not had any serious knee problems in the week my knees do get a bit sore by the end of the walk but the pills make it reasonably ok. I do have to us a walking stick! but the alternative I.E. stiff or lockup knee joints etc makes the effort well worth it and on the plus side I get to see some great country side down here in Hampshire.
As for the stairs I know that routine very well if I am out I will actively seek out the lifts instead of the stairs.
best regards
paul

paulh05

dreamdaisy wrote:

Wow! That sounds a very positive appointment and that has to be a good thing. One of the biggest problems we all face is that we are at the mercy of the doctors' opinions. This chap sounds as though he is on the right track - I have heard of Baker's Cysts but have not, so far, had one. I hope you will be seeing a rheumatologist re the 'infected arthritis' and that he will be able to help. DD

Hi Dreamdaisy
Yes apparently infected arthritis is fairly rare and needs to treated with caution as it can linger for many years dormant and can flare up at any time and can cause some real damage especially if any joints get damaged ALA my knee which was a tear in the lining of the joint.

stickywicket

Reading your longer post, Paul, it does sound like a very good appointment and I expect you'll be sticking with this GP from now on. It's so important, with a chronic disease, to be able to work with the medics as a team.

It's also good that you are being referred for physio and to a specialist. I hope the outcome will be good. Do let us know, please.

paulh05

Hi all
just a quick update the medication is working ok and the swelling in the knee has greatly reduced .
i have an appointment at the xray dept next month and an appointment with the physio a week later no news from the specilist yet but to be honest i do not expect any thing for at least a couple of months as doc did say that they are very busy as always with the nhs.

stickywicket

Thanks for the update. It does sound like good news and I'm very pleased about that. Less pain and the prospect of an x-ray, physio and a consultant are just the thing. I hope the physio goes well too.