Update !!

emmaadams

Finally seen my Orthopaedic specialist again yesterday , i now have to have physio on my back as well as my knees, he said that all my muscles in my lower back are weak , my nerves are in tatters and he is suggesting i be referred to the pain clinic also ,
i have also just been diagnosed with depression and now have to go see a counsellor to talk through "how im Feeling" she is prescribing me with some anti-depressants which i have to pick up later when i attend another doctors appointment to sort out pain meds as my new ones are not working !!

oh and my arthoscopy and lateral release was a waste of time and it has caused more damage than good ..

im still waiting to be referred to a Rheumy, i will be asking my GP this afternoon about what's going on .


arthritis is kicking my but at the moment !!

me 0- OA 1

theresak

Arthritis frequently does!! It`s always popping up when it`s least wanted. I hope physio will help to strengthen your muscles.
I`ve never been to a Pain Clinic, but it`s got to be worth a try - it may be a big help.

Depression often goes hand in hand with long-term illnesses, and counsellors are non-judgemental, so it`s often of benefit to explain how you really feel, when perhaps you hold off from ` telling it as it is` to friends and family.

Hope your GP appointment goes well.

emmaadams

i certainly do " Hold Off " im trying to fight it , its been here for a while and i probably should have gone and got it sorted out earlier .. i just dont want to feel like failure ...:(


im forever pasting a FAKE smile for everyone and today its cracked.

stickywicket

Like Tezz I hope the physio helps. It certainly should as strong muscles support joints and hold them where they're supposed to be whereas weak muscles are no use to man nor beast.

Equally, the Pain Clinic. I've never been to one but most people speak highly of them.

Finding the balance with family and friends is never easy. The brave smile will help in some circumstances and hinder in others. There's no point whinging on incessantly about pain as that puts everyone off but those closest to us deserve the truth. It doesn't have to be a moan just a plain statement of fact. If we keep using the brave smile as a means of keeping them away from our true circumstances there's no way, with the best will in the world, that they can help and we will soon start to feel very alone.

daffy2

i just dont want to feel like failure ...

Try not to be too hard on yourself Emma. None of the people who matter to you will see things that way, and in fact would quite likely be upset to think that might be how you see yourself. Putting a brave face on has its place in the scheme of things but as Sticky says it's not always the best thing to do. With so many difficulties to try and cope with it's easy to feel overwhelmed and perhaps only see what you aren't able to do, but I see someone dealing with what life is throwing at her with courage, good sense and a touch of humour - and you're not only planning for Christmas you're making presents - that alone takes you out of the failure category in my book!

GraceB

Living with arthritis is a bit of a so and so, isn't it?

I hope that the physio works for you and that you can be seen quickly. May be worth you asking if your physio can offer you some hydrotherapy as that's lovely (I speak from experience)!

I went to a Pain Management Clinic years ago; they said my pain was real, prescribed Coproxamol which my GP then refused to let me have! :shock: When I went back to the Clinic I had to tell them the GP wouldn't prescribe this. It was on "red flag" list at my GP's and now you can't get it at all. Shame as it worked quite well for me, but that's life. I had an alternative prescribed.

I borrowed a TENS machine from the Pain Clinic and, following a trial, subsequently bought one which worked for me for quite a while. Don't use it anymore as I have too many joints affected and one TENS machine can't deal with four sources of pain.

I'm sure you'll find the counsellor to be helpful. It's good to be able to off load on someone else other than family, as you can tell that person everything that's irritating you and it does get it off your chest.

I suppose now you have to wait for all these appointments to start now? Hope you don't have to wait too long.

Take care,
GraceB

emmaadams

thank you Daffy,Sticky Graceb

im feeling slightly better this morning and your kind words of reasurement and support have made me smile today .. so thank you x

it is very easy to feel bogged down with one thing on top of another .. im trying to keep positive (at times i fail )hopefully the counsilor will work as well as the meds

im a bit apprehensive to be honest about having to see someone but hopefully it will all work out in the end

daffy2

Speaking as one who tends to the Eeyore rather than Tigger end of the spectrum I can sympathise with the difficulty of staying positive. Rather than 'fail' at staying positive, I now try and avoid being negative, easier to do and sometimes will lead to a more positive outcome without trying. If I can't see the silver lining behind the cloud I look at something else so to speak. I suppose it's a form of acceptance, or distraction.
I don't know where I saw it - might be someone on here uses it - but there's a saying to the effect if you can't change a situation, then change the way you think about it. The counsellor may well help you to do that.