newbie needing advice please

mariposa
mariposa Member Posts: 3
edited 23. Nov 2017, 05:41 in Say Hello Archive
hello new here, been reading all your posts and find it really helpful.
I was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis feb 16, since then has been getting worse , pain now in hip ,wrist and fingers, my problem is my doctor will not refer me to hospital until I am on 60mg morphine, currently been on 10mg for 2 weeks, I feel it does not help with the pain and feel spaced out all day. I work full time and been in constant pain and now spaced out is not helping , I go back to docs on weds when I think he will want to double dose.

do any of you lovely people have any tips for getting doc to refer , before he makes me out of it and addicted to morphine xx

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 3,635
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Mariposa,

    welcome to the forum, I'm sure you will meet others with cervical spondylosis (osteoarthritis of the neck) who can offer support. It's not usual to be referred to a rheumatologist for any osteoarthritis issue.

    Do you have multiple doctors at your practice? If so it might give you a new angle on your condition if you saw a different doctor. I am happy to see any doctor for an acute illness like a cough that will get better but try to see 'my' doctor if I need to talk about arthritis issues. 'My' means the one I've chosen, not the one allocated to me.

    You could also have ring our helpline tomorrow on 0808 800 4050. They are available between 9.30am - 5.00pm

    I don't know if you have been given any information about your condition, here it's described by the NHS website
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-spondylosis/treatment/
    It has clear information on the causes, diagnosis and treatment. I can't see anywhere that morphine is a useful first level of treatment - or any level come to that.

    Let us know how you get on

    Take care
    Yvonne x
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Mariposa and welcome from me, too.

    I've been struggling with this. I keep thinking I'm turning into Victor Meldrew ("I don't believe it" or John McEnroe ("You cannot be serious") :lol:

    My advice would definitely be to change doctors even if it means changing practices. (Changing practices is easy. You just turn up at the new one, ask to join and they do the rest.)

    The only possible excuse I can find for your current GP's attitude is if you're both at cross purposes. You talk about being referred to a hospital. Maybe you are thinking of a rheumatologist but, as Yvonne has pointed out, they deal with auto-immune forms of arthritis not osteo. It's just possible that your GP is thinking about an orthopaedic surgeon and, for cervical problems, I believe (as the reference Yvonne gave you says) surgery is essentially to prevent things getting worse not to 'cure' anything.

    However, morphine should surely come as a last line of resort. Again, as the reference Yvonne gave you shows, there are lots of other options to be explored first. Physio would be my preferred first option. Perhaps you could re-post on the Living With Arthritis forum where, hopefully, others with cervical spondylosis will see it.

    But do change your doc.

    (I love the username and the appropriate choice of pic to go with it :D )
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Babsb
    Babsb Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi to you. I have spondylosis oa in my neck as well as dystonia which is muscle spasms. Went through a lot of different pain killers therapies which left me like a zombie I eventually asked to see a specialist who sent me for a mri scan. I now have botox injections in my neck every three months as well as pain killers. Please ask to see a different doctor as Yvonne advises.if not happy it easy to change surgeries. Hope you get the help you need babsb
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello, it's lovely to meet you but I am sorry you have had to find us. Cervical spondylosis is a grand name for osteo arthritis of the neck, and as with all the versions of arthritis it causes a great deal of discomfort and interferes with all aspects of life. I am one of the 'lucky' ones with a creaky foot in both camps, I have an auto-immune arthritis, psoriatic, PsA) and the joint damage from that has led to osteo: some joints have one, others the other and some both. My rheumatologist ignores my OA as that does not come under her remit and my GP ignores the PsA for the same reason. I have been treated by an orthopaedic surgeon for issues arising from the OA but, as yet, my neck is unaffected. I have been down the morphine route but decided it was not for me - I make do with the minimum of pain relief so I have an escape route for when things worsen (which they do from time to time). Pain is part and parcel of our conditions, over my arthritic years I have found distraction the best pain relief - if I'm not paying it attention it appears to dwindle.

    I suspect that you and your rather unhelpful GP are at cross-purposes and I don't think that he is explaining things to you particularly well. I too think it time for a second opinion, it is GPs that deal with it but your current one doesn't seem to be particularly competent. Please let us know how you get on and I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • mariposa
    mariposa Member Posts: 3
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello thank you for the replies, have been to see doctor again and he is now referring me for MRI scan and I have told him I do not want the morphine as makes me feel awful
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good. There are plenty of pain-relieving options other than morphine.

    I hope the MRI is useful. My husband has just had one for his hip. It seems the hip is very badly deteriorated but he's kept himself so fit, with walking and golf, that he hardly ever takes pain relief.

    Please let us know how you get on.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright