GP - how to explain my chronic pain /mental health

over the past year x rays have found osteoarthritis in hips, knees and hands .

initial prescription for Naproxen impacted my liver function so GP now only offering paracetamol. I had a short course of physio

in the last three months or so my knee pain is so severe. I am vomiting with pain and anxiety, I cannot sleep and am crawling upstairs on my hands as bending my knee is painful. A private physio has said my knee only rotates one way and described it as “blocked” (not sure what that is)

ive explained all this to 2 gps at my surgery and also written one of the consults. They have.told me it isn’t how bad your x ray looks but the effect on your quality of life

I’m not one to be in floods of tears and dramatic when talking to them but I’m starting to feel that’s what I’m going to have to do to get anywhere.

im not even sure aside from NSAIDS the Gp Can prescribe. I’m on universal credit amd am buying topical treatments such as voltarol , flex and I’ve purchased items like knee supports and a pillow that goes between your knees in bed and monthly physical massage therapy (my hamstrings and glutes are so tight they are giving me sciatica and gp said there’s no nhs for this) but I’m having to cut back on gas, groceries to afford those things as I’m on universal credit.

I absolutely need some kind of better pain management and a gp /specialist to do SOMETHING. I’m starting to feel I’d rather not live anymore it’s so bad

has anyone gone through the same with a GP ?

Are there key phrases/words that help?

what is available on the nhs beyond NSAIDS - such as topical treatments or support bandages?

how can I even get my gp to see me in the surgery - I can’t get beyond a telephone appt at the mo

what are the options the gp has referral wise after themselves? I am on a long waiting list for musculoskeletal referral. I asked about a referral to the hospital pain clinic but they said “oh we have a lot of options here before we get to that” - ?!? But that doesn’t seem to be the case

it seems I’m just not saying the right thing about my chronic pain and perhaps not being pushy and insistent enough because frankly I don’t know what I should be pushing for the gp to do and what the options are to refer/escalate beyond the surgery

any help would be much appreciated

incidentally let me end on a slightly more upbeat note and tell you my yorkie has luxating patella in the same knee - so we’re two old duffers together. I’ve nicknamed us ‘Hinge and Brackett’ 😉

Comments

  • Ellen
    Ellen Moderator Posts: 1,591

    Good Morning @Jo_H

    Welcome to the Online Community. You do seem to be having a lot of difficulty getting help for your chronic Arthritis pain. You have titled your post GP so I think this is your major concern you want to see a GP in person if I understand correctly. Many of our members are experiencing real difficulty getting face to face appointments with medical professionals since the start of the COVID-9 pandemic you ae absolutely not alone.

    However this doesn't mean you should accept it and you will probably need to be assertive and insist that you need to see someone face to face. You are in tears crawling on your hands and knees at home, but your Dr is not seeing this. Do you perhaps put on a brave face when you speak to him or her? X-rays are absolutely not the whole picture it is your experience of the pain which matters. In an ideal world our members have often advised taking someone with them as support when they see their GP, but this may well not be possible unfortunately.

    A nice succinct list is always useful when you do speak to any health professional and really should include that you are starting to feel you'd "...rather not live anymore it’s so bad" Possibly top of that list.

    I am not going to talk much longer but leave you to meet our members who might have some tips of their own.

    Oh and which are you by the way Hinge or Bracket?

    Very best wishes

    Ellen.

  • Brynmor
    Brynmor Member Posts: 1,755

    Hi @Jo_H

    If you need to talk to someone, please do ring our FREE Helpline on 0800 5200 520 (Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm) where advisors aim to bring all of the information and advice about arthritis into one place to provide tailored support for you.


  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,332

    Hi @Jo_H

    What a nightmare Jo! I am so sorry you are feeling in so much pain physical and mental.

    You are the only other person apart from me who has ever said they have vomited with pain! I hope you have told your Dr that?

    The list idea is a good one it really is you don't forget anything and you can tick off as the Dr answers.

    Phrases like' what tests/pain relief can you suggest now'?

    or 'I'd like to be referred to a pain clinic their waiting list might be shorter' If he/she says there are lots of options before we get to that again you can say ' Oh that's good so what are the options'?

    'Could you refer me back to physiotherapy'

    I mean you shouldn't just be left with nothing.

    By the way have you tried simple home treatments like a warm wheatbag (the kind you microwave) or an ice pack in a teatowel?

    How sweet your little Yorkie having a poorly knee too bless him. I used to have one called Scruffy they are so sweet.

    You take care and keep talking to us lot.

    Love

    Toni x

  • Collette
    Collette Member Posts: 5

    I a dimilar doctors just say exercise andctake paracetamol some days my hands are so painful i just want to give up

  • Ellen
    Ellen Moderator Posts: 1,591

    Welcome @Collette

    So kind of you to offer support to someone else with your first post.

    I am going to attach a link to hand pain for you to read it might have something in it that you haven't tried:

    best wishes

    Ellen.