Hello again

Teri66
Teri66 Member Posts: 19
edited 31. Jan 2019, 14:42 in Living with arthritis
It’s been a while since my last post, and a lot has since happened, I joined the forum after diagnosis of OA in my hips, had a lot of shoulder pain and nerve pain to go with it, the GP I saw at the time put in a referral for an MRI (which after some time and going back to Drs discovered it had been cancelled due to not meeting the criteria!?!) as time went on the pain increased and I had 5 weeks off of work, back and forth to the doctors and once again referral for MRI, got the letter through, choice of 4 hospitals of which none had available appointments until May, by this time fed up with uncontrollable pain (even Tramadol didn’t help) I decided to go private & paid to see a Neurologist and pay for an MRI myself, I have OA in my neck and due to degeneration it’s squashing my spinal cord, I have an appointment with a Neurosurgeon on Thursday to discuss the next course of action for me.
I feel somewhat relieved to finally have answers to why I had so much pain but disappointed by the fact the GPs answer to everything seems to be just writing out prescriptions for more medication to mask the symptoms rather than finding the root cause of them.
Teri.

Comments

  • stellabean
    stellabean Member Posts: 307
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Terri66 when you r GP refers you to Hospitals now there is another level of admin to get through hospital doctors look at GP letter and decide if the GP request can go through. Waiting can be so frustrating it is annoying that you hadn't been informed about their decision. I hope you get some answers on Thursday and that they can help with your pain control Good luck let us know how you get on.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I do hope your appointment goes well - whatever that means in these circumstances. I envy no-one having neck surgery. I think it's usually to stop things getting worse rather than to cure anything. You will, hopefully, know more tomorrow. Please let us know how you get on.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Teri66
    Teri66 Member Posts: 19
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I’ve had my consultation with the Neurosurgeon, I’m to be sent off for a CT scan, he needs to take a closer look at a particular section that has narrowed right down and has caused (or is causing) damage to my spinal cord, he’s ordered the CT scan to see if it has hardened (whatever that means?)....I kind of understood at the time but forgotten bits of what he was saying, medical jargon goes right over my head, but I now know the difference between an MRI & a CT scan, I’m booked in next Tuesday for that so not too long to wait, which is just as well because I’ve been experiencing dizziness & nausea lately usually followed by a headache from hell.
    Since last June I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many doctors with my ever growing list of symptoms , I’m glad I’m finally getting somewhere instead of feeling like they weren’t taking me seriously and generally sending me on my way with more painkillers or the such that did nothing for me.
    Then I have a further consultation with the Neurosurgeon and he’ll discuss what’s to happen next.
    Teri.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks for the update. It certainly sounds as if things are happening for you and that has to be a good thing in the long run. Given the dizziness, nausea and headaches, I hope things happen quickly from now on. That must be extremely unpleasant. Do, please, keep us in the loop as it can help others. (And we care about you, too :D )
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Teri66
    Teri66 Member Posts: 19
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    They’re not entirely sure if the dizziness & nausea are related to what’s going on in my neck, I’ve already been prescribed Cinnarizine which wasn’t helping very much after a couple of weeks on them, now I’ve got Stemetil to take along with them too, GP said if the symptoms don’t improve over the next 3-4 weeks and also depending on Neurosurgeons outcome I might have to go to an ENT specialist.

    Teri.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A typical 'arthritis' problem ie not everything we get is connected either to the disease or the meds. Sometimes we just get other things go wrong the same as everyone else :roll: I hope you get some answers soon.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright