Diagnosis and Treatment

yumyum

Hello, Sue here, just registered. I have arthritis in my left knee has been about 2 years now. After about 3 months it seemed to disappear and reared its ugly head again about 3 months ago. I also have additional pain down the inside of my left calf and in my thigh and buttock. Every step is paintful. My GP only offers telephone consultations and this has proved useless. He offered a steroid injection in my knee. I am concerned as I feel that I need to see a specialist who can diagnose what is going on with my leg. I am not ready to have a steroid injection until I have been properly diagnosed which the GP doesnt seem able to do. Also have Plantar Fasciitis in my left heel for the past 2 months.

Can you advise where I can go for help. GP is a lost cause.

Ellen

Hello @yumyum Sue.

Welcome to the versus Arthritis Online community on World Arthritis Day.

I see from your post that you have Arthritis in your knee together with a lot of pain in your hip, buttocks and other areas all on the left hand side. If I understand you correctly you are concerned about having had an adequate diagnosis in light of all your contact with your GP being over the telephone so far. While you are waiting for one of our members to come along I am attaching a couple of, hopefully, useful links for you to read:

This article might help if you scroll down to diagnosis, (but the whole article is worth reading)

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis/

and this one is a question/answer about steroid injections:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/your-experiences/your-questions-answered/your-questions-on-steroids/

Many of our members get do get good outcomes from steroid injections into joints:

This is a recent thread on the subject:

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/54987/first-appointment-for-steroid-injection

Best wishes

Ellen

helpline_team

Hi yumyum Sue,

Thank you for posting on the Helpline forum. I am sorry to hear you have arthritis in your left knee and pain in your left leg and foot which is made worse by walking. It is understandable that you are apprehensive about having a steroid injection when you feel that you still don’t have a proper diagnosis. The pain down your leg may be coming from your back or hip. We are not medically qualified to offer a diagnosis. Ellen has given a helpful response to your post and useful links.  

I am sorry to hear that your GP has not been as supportive as you hoped. You may wish to try a different GP in the practice. Referral to a physiotherapist may be worth considering. Private treatment is another option. You may also wish to consult a podiatrist for help with your plantar fasciitis.

I hope you find the information given below of some help. 

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/knee-pain/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/plantar-fasciitis/

If at any point you would like to talk things through informally and in confidence, you are welcome to call our Free Helpline on 0800 5200 520 weekdays 9am – 6pm.

Best wishes,

Fiona, Helpline Advisor