the pain in my left hand continues and the fingers are curled over but can use thumb and small finger sometimes...the pain is high...heat helps only sightly, joints are not swollen it feels muscular...doctor says to try to extend fingers!!! right hand...less painful to keep fingers straight...more pain if bending them...very little strength..hands are aso extremely hot....fine movement almost impossible...so dressing, personal care every day life slow, slow..have not driven since January....shoulders and thighs painful...walking up and down stairs diff.......... Blood ttests...FBC hovering 40...ESR going up now 43....both not considered a problem by Doctor as my age is 61....have lots of spontaneous bruising...Dr said to concentrate upon hands and wait for Rheumatologist..on 8th May..private consultation. Asked what would happen if I waited the 26 weeks for NHS ..dr said they would put me on steroids but would prefer to wait for consultant. Have now been prescribed diclofenac......waiting for prescription as our pharmacist has to order it in..............
I told the GP that I felt very let down as nothing seems to be able to be done...she said that the system is overloaded with people feeling ill....when I left the room I struggled to use the door handle...watching me struggle as its something hard to do..she said you could have asked me to open the door if you could not do it...!!!!!!!!!
I feel pathetic........I told her that at 61 I have been fit, running a successful business and have fit parents in their 90's...this has happened quickly...can almost give the day in January....
I am so sorry you are getting so little productive response from your doctor. Her attitude concerning ESR level seems out of date. I think it's considered for women that high 20s are the upper limit, and age should not be a factor. And certainly 61 is not old in these times. Is this a doctor you have had a relationship over the years? Is she someone who has seen you in better days?
Sorry I can't do or say any more, but I hope the next few weeks speed by and the specialist is able to determine your diagnosis quickly so you can get some relief.
Thankyou for your support...this is the first time that I have seen these GPs since coming to live in the area...so eleven years...a good run of health in many ways....looking forward to my specialist visit. Coincidentally we have had a neurologist stay at one of our accommodations and he looked at me. spent some time and said she thought PMR and I needed steroids...so fingers crossed...if I can unclench them
I would have thrown something at her - and I would definitely file a complaint. The ESR is high and it is NOT acceptable "at your age", she is out of date. It would also be the last time I saw her.
Sorry I have only just replied - this is the first time I've had a notification. Not even on the side bar.
Your post has only just come into my email. I am appalled by the treatment you are receiving..... in fact not receiving. I can't understand why you are being left in such pain when another medic can make a diagnosis without the blood result. I would be considering seeing another GP in the practice. Surely the fact that you don't normally attend would give even more credence to your symptoms. I hope you get some satisfaction before your rheumy appointment.
There was an issue over the weekend with emails not being sent. This has now been fixed so they should start again. There may be a delay in some while it "catches up".
Hi Mary, I am so sorry you are in so much pain? Is the diclofenac working? Normally it is a bit of a waste of time for PMR. Good luck with the private rheumy. You could ask to try steroids for a week. If they work they are a wonder drug, if they don't you know you probably do not have PMR. You can just stop taking them after a week or so with no problem, as it is such a short time.
Out of interest isn't the health service there for people feeling ill??!! What a waste of space of a GP.
Sorry to hear how much you are suffering. I waited 6 weeks till my own GP came back off holiday, immediately diagnosed me with PMR and put me on a dose of 20mg of prednisolone aver the weekend to see what my response would be. it was so immediate that it was obviously the PMR, but at the time I only had the back, hip and shoulder pain. Carpal tunnell with additional swelling of my hands and pain in my fingers and thumb when trying to make a fist has only occurred 6 months later when I had reduced down to 7.5, probalbly too much too soon, but your symptoms of the burning and the difficulty with using your hands for everyday tasks, sound very similar to mine. My GP upped my dose to 15 and over the couple of weeks since most of the pain and all of the swelling has disappeared, leaving me with rather numb two first fingers and thumb. Still painful in the morning before I have taken my pills. Ibruprofen is quite good for the pain, but it sounds ike you need a DR who will give you pred, although it is not an official way of diagnosing PMR, it certainly confirms it if it is! Eileen may have something to say about this...
You should not take Ibuprofen with pred as it is contra indicative and can cause stomach problems. Ibuprofen is not much good for PMR anyway, it is pred that is needed. Ibuprofen may work for other aches and pains of course.
Interesting...that is what my Dr prescribed, but he did tell me to take it wih food and not in the evening,and to stop if I got any indegestion, so obviously he is aware of the dangers. I tend to take it only once a day, in the morning, to help the pain in my hands until the pred kicks in. I have found it works better than paracetamol or cocodamil, as it is an anti-inflammatory.
I didn't get a notification either, but I noticed there were several new posts waiting for reply, including this one. I hope after five days Mary hasn't given up on us.
Anoyther thought...many years ago I had the bruising issue, and was diagnosed with a shortage of platelets in my blood which made me a haemophiliac overnight...can't remember the official name for the condition, but it is another autoimmune disease. the treatment was...you guessed it, a course of steroids. Perhaps you should have a blood test for your platelet count.
thankyou....I was called to the haemotogist (Spelling sic)consultant today. I was very well treated and felt that I had someone who lostened and was interested. My platelet count is now 44 from 30....my bruising is a little less but he was concerned and I am having further tests. In his considered opinion it is an autoimmune attack and this causes my muscular pain...will all be sent to the Rheumy for 8th of May. He said that it will perhaps be a steroid treatment but will leave it to the next consultant...and will follow up with me in three weeks. The medications I have been given do not really help....I am worried about the clawing on my left hand and my right hand is going the same way. The consultant was very scathing about the age related comments and said that my syptoms will be relieved asap...the best thing has been this forum as it has been so helpful...if it is not PMR ...this site has been so supportive.
Glad you have found a doctor with a bit of heart and brain - because your GP has neither.
I do hope that once you get this sorted out you will put in a complaint about how you were treated by the GP. One day she will kill someone with her dismissive attitude. They have a hard job these days, I won't deny that - but they are paid to care.