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Date: 05.10.2014
From: mike short

Subject: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my left hip. I've been to the GP numerous times and at one point was on morphine patches. I have now found that the pain is in both hips, my lower back, my shoulders and other joints in my body. My co-codamol doesn't seem to do much and I can't take anti-inflammatories because of other illnesses. My gp's don't seem to take me serioulsy and the pain is getting unbearable now. Any advice at all ?
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: bsk

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

You need to get a referral to a rheumatologist. If your gp's are being difficult, then I suggest you write them a letter asking for the referral. I had a similar problem with gp practice many years ago and I wrote to them. It's then on record that you've asked and they are more likely to comply. You could also ask for an MRI and further X-rays. Best of luck.
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: marlene

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

Hi Mike welcome I am an OA sufferer and have been for 30 yrs or so.
Can I ask you have you had an Mri Scan or a full body CT scan.
I had the same thing as you with my GP years ago.Do you have different GP's at your practice if not I would seriously think about changing.
Some Gp's are not very considerate with OA at all.
I have Asthma so no anti-inflammatory for me either. I take Tramadol and Co-dydramol. Oh Yes and two hot water bottles they can be very soothing.
I have had surgery for OA and yes it was good but they are reluctant to do surgery.
You can't let your GP ignore you just keep knocking on the door. and as Bsk said write a letter saying you need to see a specialist.
Good luck Mike
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

Hi Mike, I agree that you should be seen by a rheumatologist, sometimes you have to be firm with the GP and tell them you want to be referred. Have you had any blood tests done at the GP's? You should have tests done to make sure it isn't any other type of inflammatory arthritis as there are many different types of arthritis and different treatments. It just seems to me that if you are having so many different joints affected then they should be checking you out to see if there is any inflammation showing in your blood. Please insist that you are seen ASAP. Good luck. x
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

hi Mike , I would ask to be refered as well , they can give you stronger morphine patches , they start they pretty low like 12.5mg & go up to 100mg , other thing you could try is some anti-inflammotory gel on your hips , you can buy voltarol from the chemist or get prescrition from GP , or something like difflam gel which is good if you got a bursa on hips
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: bsk

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

Colin, if people can't use anti inflammatory drugs they shouldn't even use the gel like voltarol, as it is absorbed into the body. Just saying!
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

bsk , I got industrial asthma and all anti inflammatorys tablets cause myself asthma & I cant take them , but the gels & eye drops are fine ,

as for the tablets only one in ten people with asthma will be affected
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: Jenny

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

Has your G.P diagnosed your arthritis ? Your symptoms are alike to A.S.
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: bsk

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

Colin, I can't use the gels as they make my asthma worse.
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: Bsk

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

Colin, I just had a look on the website drugs.com to see if I am imagining the asthma thing with something like volterol gel and it interacts with drugs such as leflunomide, affecting the liver, even though it is a topical drug. Interesting to note and a word of warning to always check for interactions before you try! Obvious but often forgotten.
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

Bsk , in hospital this year I was having problems with ketoprofen gel , using it three times a days I needed nebuliser , this was what my GP issued & when it run out the hospital gave me voltarol & used it ever since with no problems , its the smell/fumes that causes myself problems with asthma , my eye drops are ketoprofen & have no problem with them

the voltarol gel / I use is the 1% & not the stronger one advertise on tv

with industrial asthma is a bit different to normal asthma , you take longer to have a bad attack , so you do get some warning & can control it but if you do have a serious attack you end up with lung damage & take a long time to recover
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: bsk

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

It's that usual age old adage that we are all different. I just wanted to point out that you can't necessarily assume over the counter meds are safe for everyone to take.

I assume you got your asthma through your work.? That's quite tough if that's the case. All the best.
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

yep , mentioned it before about can of red paint can exploding & had a reaction to it , went on holiday for couple weeks & when went back had problems with the resins we used in the Foundry I worked in .

was about 5 years later developed RA & pretty sure both are linked but can never prove it , anyway totaly agree what you said & people should check before taking anything
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Date: 05.10.2014
From: Bsk

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

Yes, sorry, you did. I worked with cadmium paint for many years plus was exposed to other toxins. I'm pretty sure that triggered my RA.

Sorry for derailing your thread, Mike. I'll keep to the topic for here on in!
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Date: 06.10.2014
From: Michael Short

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

Thank you all for your help and comments. My gp appointment is this afternoon and I'm not moving out of the chair until I have been referred, have blood tests and referral for scans. I am literally in pain all over and can't sit or lay down to sleep because of it nearly. I've had three hours sleep and it is really getting me down. I want to be referred to a pain clinic as this is too much.

It is very hard to tell people as you look fine on the outside. I think it may be RA as it has quite quickly got like this. RA and OA run in my mum's side of the family.

I want a fast track referral and won't take no for an answer. I'm seeing a different GP as the one I saw before refused to refer me. I'm also going to throw the NICE guide lines at them because they haven't reviewed me and I've had OA for over a year.

Once again thanks and I'll post again after being to my GP.
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Date: 06.10.2014
From: marlene

Subject: Re: Help I'm in tremendous pain at 47 and don't know what to do

Hi Michael, if RA runs in your family they have no excuse what so ever for not testing you. I was unsure what Arthritis my Paternal Grandmother had so they tested me too make sure.
Good luck. Let us know how you get on X
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