First Post

Chrix

Hi all,

Wanted to introduce myself and share my experiences of living with arthritis and other health issues. Unfortunately I have had a lot of negative experience with my health care providers and wonder about that on comparison to other people. It's a real issue for me for some reason....

Anyone had negative experiences in getting medical help?

noddingtonpete

Hello @Chrix and welcome to the Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience as well.

There are always ups and downs with getting medical help and Covid didn't help. I hope that you get some help soon. In the meantime do have a look around our website. It contains a lot of useful information on arthritis, treatments and hints and tips. I've put an example below.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-your-pain/

Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on.

With best wishes

Peter (moderator)

Lollipop

Hi my name is,Laurina I have had rheumatoid for 20 years now as well as osteoporosis under control with Methotrexate hate taking it as makes me sickly for 3 days any suggestions?

TLee

I have had some doctors who appear completely dismissive of my pain and inactive in treating it. It is infuriating! It doesn't help that they are usually VERY young and fit, so I know that they have no idea what it is like living with arthritis. I don't know where you are from, but here in the US it is frowned upon to prescribe any type of opiate, so I'm told Tylenol and more Tylenol. Here the insurance companies run the show as well, so surgery is a last resort only--after everything else has been tried & has failed. It's a long road of pain and aggravation. I have been exhausted by it and have given up on getting much medical help at all. Now I rely on myself & do what I can on my own. I looked up chair exercises & have been doing those regularly. I'm paying more attention to my diet and hoping to lose some weight to ease my hip pain. I have found wonderful suggestions and encouragement here and I'm sure you will too. Best wishes.

jonr

Hi Chrix,

I think you'll find a lot of people here will share the same sentiments over the actions or inactions of some healthcare providers. Based on my own experience, it seems to be down to the approach these people take. For example, I spoke with one consultant whose sole aim it seemed was to rule out further treatment and he did this by shaping his questions in a certain way to get the answers he wanted. I came off the phone feeling annoyed and upset so I called back, arranged to speak with someone else who couldn't have been more helpful and was happy to refer me for a consultation with a surgeon. So, I think if people hit a brick wall with one individual then seek a second opinion elsewhere or ask to have a follow-up. In the case of my local GP Surgery, they lacked the knowledge to help me in any meaningful way, other than to prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatories so my GP referred me to an organisation called ConnectHealth who provide a sort of outsourced resource to the main NHS. They have a "MSK" department who were really helpful in getting the aforementioned initial consultation at short notice (about 2 weeks from referral). Give them a Google to see if they operate in your area and good luck!

Chrix

Thank you for the advice but I recently had a very bad experience with Connect health so much so, it made me feel worse.... It is difficult to get someone to listen. The attitude of some medical people towards chronic pain is not very good..

Woofy

I must be one of the lucky ones. My Rheumatology experience has been good. I’m still getting some pain, but we are getting there as far as my meds are concerned I think. Sorry to hear that some folk have found their experiences not so good.