Rubbish doctors. no help.

thevikinghb
thevikinghb Member Posts: 6
Hi i've been suffering arthritis for about 15 years and have pain like most of you every day. it took years to get a full scan and was told that i had degenerative arthritis in back and base of neck. rare times i get a dizzy spell and given neck exercises to do every day.
I keep leaving jobs because of these problems and now work part time for boots.
Anyway last time i had a bad spell for 6 months i went to my doctor in herne bay, and was told
(What am i surpposed to do about it! you will just have to live with it)
I was taken back by this and went to another doc but had no help because they close ranks. I dont know what help i can get etc. and prescribed Solpadol and Dicloflex.
Which helps very little. Very deppressed with this and like most of you worry about the future. When im off work i go on incapacity then sign on again to look for work. and treated the same as the fit.
I do

Comments

  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, clearly your pain meds aren't managing your pain effectively. I think you should ask for a referral to a pain clinic - they are the real experts on pain and how to manage it. Have you had hydro/physio recently - maybe it is time to request this again. Also have you ever been referred to an ortho consultant .... I have OA too - hips and knees and have had two ops now when OA too severe and unmanageable ... not sure what options are for OA where you have it.

    Does your current job suit you? Have you asked for a DDA assessment from occy health? Have you asked the disability officer from the job centre to assess you and recommend/agree to adaptions that would help you carry out your job easier?

    Seems I have asked more questions than given answers ... sorry!!

    Speedalong
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • thevikinghb
    thevikinghb Member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi had physio around xmas once a week for 5 weeks. and it ended.
    had no other treatments. Doctor did say if i get dizzy just wait till it goes and carry on working. i do get discomfort down one leg but doc says its not bad.

    bar a desk job which i have never done. i deliver drugs locally and it is easy brain dead work. nothing else i could do as we need the money and disability advisor in jobcentre just trys to push me onto jobs that are not suited
    plus theres no training etc. I always want to work but dont get any help or backing. its the same story if you dont make a effort you lose your money.
    I really dont understand people who just have a slight back ache or something mild get disabiltiy money.Maybe im too honest. or they Must have soft doctors.
    Thankyou for answer, good of you :)
  • janie68
    janie68 Member Posts: 1,186
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi there

    You are not having your arthritis managed properly at all. Are you seeing a rheumy at all? If not insist on a referral, there are many meds that can help you. Also you need adequate pain relief, this is not good enough for you.

    Sounds as though you need some time out to get your arthritis better managed along with your pain. So perhaps this is the time to take time out or off sick to achieve this.

    Janie
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Your doctor should realise that this is beyond his remit as a GP and refer you to a rheumatologist. Ask for that referral, as rheumatologists specialise in what is afflicting you. Treatments and meds have improved, you are not really on enough to help.

    If your GP is unwilling to refer you just point out, politely, that he is a general practitioner, he does not have the specialist knowledge to deal with your problem, his meds are not being effective enough, your quality of life is now being severely affected and you would be more than willing to complain about his lack of action to his bosses. That may get his attention and get you the outcome you need. Let us know how you get on. Dreamdaisy
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • thevikinghb
    thevikinghb Member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Went today and he is making appointment for another mri scan. plus given me Amitriptyline 10mg. will try them end of weekend.
    This is another doctor who at least is doing something.
    Thanks for all your comments. :lol:
    Will take on board what you said.
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Went today and he is making appointment for another mri scan. plus given me Amitriptyline 10mg. will try them end of weekend.
    This is another doctor who at least is doing something.
    Thanks for all your comments. :lol:
    Will take on board what you said.

    so glad you have doc who giving you some help it awfull when they do not belive what you say. had some male docs like this and they do make you feel small . these days try not to let them intimidate me they are human like me just educated differently and so know different things to me so look them in the eye and smile ask what i want and listen but do not always remember as quaking inside rather have a female doc mine great listens never pushes anything on you lets you decide for your self. val
    val
  • thevikinghb
    thevikinghb Member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Val :)
  • mellman01
    mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My old GP was like that so what I did is I e mailed the practice manager simply enquiring how I could go about changing my GP??, I got an e mail back saying it was no problem who did I have in mind?, so I gave them 2 names and they e mailed me back in an hour saying it was done and that was it.
    Bottom line is it's a service you pay for so youe employing him or here in a round about way, and you have a right to proper medical treatment and not the treatment your getting right now.