Back problems/arthritis

HopeAndDriftWood

I will, thank you.

Any advice on what to say? I dont want to seem like im being a pain, but i really need this sorted now. Advice would be appreciated...

And im really glad you didnt take your dad home, well done. I hope he's better now?

McKneff

Saucy secrets, forget hospitals, pester your GP, ask him to refer yu to a specialist for a proper diagnosis. Dont take no for an answer.
And if you are in so much pain i can hardly believe that yur parents are not helping you even emotionally. Only when you get a diagnosis will you be able to move on to the next step.

I

HopeAndDriftWood

My parents dont care. They really dont. It used to hurt a lot, but most of the time im okay now. The same happened with my older sister, they just lost interest when we got older.

Ill make an appointment to visit my GP tomorrow then. Usually he just arranges an appointment with outpatients, and gives me very strong co codamol. Ill try and insist on seeing a specialist instead.

Thanks everyone.

dogder

Hi, Saucy.

Ask your doctor to be refered to an orthapeadic triage consultant. He or she will decide whether or not you need an MRI scan..from that they can give you a definitive diagnosis. and suggest further treatment. this is your best bet to get closure. I had bad back problems for years and only found out why after getting the scan.
hope you get sorted out ok.

good luck

HopeAndDriftWood

dogder wrote: »

Hi, Saucy.

Ask your doctor to be refered to an orthapeadic triage consultant. He or she will decide whether or not you need an MRI scan..from that they can give you a definitive diagnosis. and suggest further treatment. this is your best bet to get closure. I had bad back problems for years and only found out why after getting the scan.
hope you get sorted out ok.

good luck

Thanks so much

max2009

SaucySecrets wrote: »

My mum was always the one who caused trouble, and got things done, so i think the hospital are just glad that they dont have to deal with her anymore.

I now understand why the hospitals do not like dealing with you even though it is no fault of your own but your mothers.You need to sort this yourself in a calm and pleasant way with the hospital staff.You are 18 and an adult now.

chivers1977

Hi, You have already had scans. You need to ask the NHS for the results. Your GP will have the results and if they don't, shout. You said that you had metal in your back - why?

I suffered from back pain from 16-31 (31 now!). It varied between severe and nil, worst when pregnant. I had flat feet (orthotics), knees that looked inwards( can;t remember the proper name but treatment with taping and exercise improved it). Have had physio with so many different physios from NHS to British Olympic medical centre. At 30 an MRI identified that my discs are degenerating - wearing away - and more physio for that. At 31 another instance of pain led me to a new physio. He identified that it wasn't the disc joint degenerationt hat was causing the pain but that my right hip wasn't working properly as it was always in spasm. Noone in 15 years had ever mentioned the hip despite me saying why does it look higher! My back does not really hurt any more with the ongoing hip physio (exercise, acupuncture and ultrasound) - although the hip does LOL.

In short, you have to be proactive. They are not going to come and find you for treatment. It may be as with me that You are entitled under the NHS to treatment and if you are on a low income I believe that they will pay for transport - I had this when a student - even if it is on a bus that picks up loads of people on the way.

Many people are in loads of pain and manage to work even if it is PT on painkillers. I think that it is very easy to get into a depressive state about pain instead of thinking more positively and trying to live your life the best that you can. Maybe look into voluntary work in the meantime?

Sorry this is long but your post struck a cord with me....

esmecullen

SaucySecrets

How long have you had this back pain (forgive me if you have already stated it, but cant seem to find whether you have)? Is it worse in the morning or afternoon? Do you also have stiffness in you spine on waking up and/or during the day?

You should go to your GP and ask to be referred to the Orthopaedic spcialist at the hospital and ask for some blood tests to be done, specifically ask them to include a B27 antigen test, sounds to me that you may be suffering Ankylosing Spondylitis, you are around the age when this starts showing itself. Dont be disheartened if it comes back negative, sometimes AS sufferers have negative results on blood tests. You should also have x-rays done of your spine.

You could try and claim DLA, I know you say you can cook, etc but if you have difficulty in doing these tasks, you could get money for this........... also try for the mobility componant as you ahve said that you have difficulty in walking. Not sure if you'd get that but it is worth trying.

Hope all goes well

McKneff

You said in one of your posts you had scans but you never heard anything back, normally you wouldnt wait to hear from them, you have to go back to the doctors for the results, unless there is something life threatening. If you have to go again for scans, xrays etc, ask at the time when you should go back to the doctors for results. they should tell you automatically when to but sometimes they forget.

Paparika

Good luck SS keep fighting, I need to too by the sounds of it.

Just spent a few days in hospital for a bad back, left drugged up to my eyeballs on co codamal and eventually they gave me tramadol, this left me dizzy and sick and when i told the nurse this, and the fact i was desperate for the loo, she told me to stay in bed and walked away, the room was spinning and i was sick, you'd think they'd put the side bars up.. no i almost fell out,

3 days i was there waiting for an MRI scan, all for nothing it was forgotten each day, and finally on the 3rd day they told me to walk to the MRI scanning room, unaided i did, where i was left for an hour in pain, this was enough for me, i went back to the ward and discharged myself, yes now i see that i should of just stayed but i was in so much pain, my GP has been asked to refer me to a RA speciallist, she refuses as she says i haven't got it and i just need a bit of physio, once seesion is all i managed to get.

I have Uvitiies too so everytime i feel ill they automatically assume its a nurological thing and won't accept anything else until they see me and then tell me its not.

Been waiting years to find out whats wrong with me (took them 5 years to tell me i had Uvities) as i work part time and am now struggling, i know i am entitled to DLA etc etc, but whats the point in me applying when my consultant tells me i have a nurological problem but they don't know what it is, I cant see that going down too well on the application form.


So comon girl give me the hope to believe the NHS will help me one day, i cant go private i just couldn't afford it.