Ankle driving me mad ..

[Bazzypants]

As some of you may know I have had a bad ankle for almost four months now my GP sent me to the hospital for an xray got the result today and they have said my ankle is fine and no more action is needed on it . What kind of care is that. My GP the other week deemed me fit for work despite the pain and swelling with a walking job like mine, I am so mad I could f in scream excuse the out burst. looks like I will have to wait to see my rheumatoid people in march...... There is clearly something wrong things don't swell for nothing do they.

[cathie]

I'm so sorry! I'm doing a waiting game too, waiting for an MRI scan which would show what a cursory examination of my hands before midday would show clearly, that I have rheumatoid swellings. Why dont they listen to us?!

If your GP is in a group practice can you see someone else who might take a different view?

[Bazzypants in reply to cathie]

Hi Cathie, your right they don't listen to us I don't know who to turn to next with it. There is clearly something wrong with it its very swollen and I find it hard to walk. Will just have to wait till my appointment at the hospital. xxx Hope your scan brings you answers and good treatment.

[kazp in reply to cathie]

Yes why don't they listen to us!! after all we are the patients with the problems!!

[Hidden]

Hi Bazzypants, that's terrible. I feel your pain. I've been having bad trouble with my left ankle for a few years now. It's permanenty swollen, I'm walking funny on it I did have an X-ray and it came back damaged, so had steroids injected in the ankle. I'm off work at the moment because of this RA malarkey. The thing is, people don't understand unless they have it! If your ankles swollen, then there's a problem! You said you had an x ray and came back okay, there's probably no damage to it. If you're not fit to work then you can't attend. No one can make you go. Chin up xx

[Bazzypants in reply to Hidden]

Hi Lou30x, thanks for responding I to walk funny and the worse thing is that I am a community carer lmao and most of the time it is me who needs one. I am fine doing my work with my clients its just all the walking in order to get to them as I don't drive. I don't think I am fit for work but my GP does. thanks and I will keep my chin up well as best I can hard do that with a double one. lol xx

[Hidden]

Could it be tendonitis perhaps? I had a really bad bout of this in my left ankle about 18 months ago - it was on the outer side by the ankle bone and the physio said it was the tendon and soft tissue around the bone that was swollen - which she said was due to RA. It hung around for about six months in total - sent my ESR sky high and meant I couldn't wear a boot on it for ages and it made me really hobble. But when I saw my rheumy he just ignored it and only checked my joints despite the swelling being red hot very visible - although he acknowledged it was caused by RA. It away went with max dose of Naproxen in the end. I had my feet x-rayed a few months ago after a lot of pain and swelling and they were "unremarkable" with no bony erosions. It's great to know that it hasn't caused any damage in my feet or ankles but isn't that the whole point of the drugs we take?

[Bazzypants in reply to Hidden]

Hi RArebird, your foot does sound similar to mine hot swollen and I have had pain around the ankle both sides and sometimes I get lots of pain in the back of the heel, my foot also hurts if the pavement is slightly off and that is so painful its almost like my foot dose not want to be in the slightest out of alignment I am very glad they did not find anything on the x ray it makes me glad it has not reached my bones, but to say no further action needed was a bit hasty I think not even a steroid injection offered or more investigation in to the pain. I have naproxen also but my GP will not prescribe me the stomach tablets that go with them so your stomach does not get upset he say you don't need them unless your already suffering stomach problems. xxx thanks for responding glad your foot its better. xxxx

[Hidden]

Yes I always take stomach protectors while on Naproxen Bazzypants - but when I took Omaprazole it clashed with MTX so I switched to Ranitidine and it worked just as well - you can buy it over the counter as Zantac I believe. Mind you I have had stomach problems but it seems daft to wait for them before your GP will prescribe them? Your ankle sounds worse than mine although it was incredibly painful when it flared up once I recall. For ages it would feel like I'd twisted or sprained it if I walked on anything uneven. I would ask your GP to refer you to a physio who might be able to give you special exercises for it. I also found that rubbing Ibuprofen gel on it really helped but don't take Naproxen or anti-inflammatories at the same time if you do this. It is a good way of avoiding stomach upsets/ ulcers too. X

[Bazzypants in reply to Hidden]

Thanks RArebird, the more I read of your foot and how you felt mine is so very similar can really relate to the walking on uneven ground ouch can feel the pain as I say it lol. Wil have a chat with my RA team and my get some help with it thanks again for responding this RA makes you feel like your always moaning lol.

[allanah]

Hi , know how you feel, the senior partner at my docs said"why are you walking like a duck?"

I hadn't met him before and won't see him again!

[Bazzypants in reply to allanah]

Hi allanha, what a horrible rude Doctor you saw that's dreadful, I sometimes think it would be good if they could walk in our shoes for a day and feel how we feel its such a misunderstood illness even I was blind to its affects when first diagnosed. xx

[Hidden in reply to allanah]

OMG Allanah was this man for real?!!! X

[allanah in reply to Hidden]

Yes senior doc!! And he wasn't even joking but the nice one today is lovely and has worked with my Rheumy!,, so guess he was trained well in rheumatology !

[Hidden in reply to allanah]

Well that's a relief anyhow! Xx

[Sharon56]

Hi Bazzypants sorry to hear about your troubles. It is really annoying when they don't listen. Can't you ask to see another gp for a second opinion.

[Bazzypants in reply to Sharon56]

Hi Sharon56, thanks for responding I am going to the hospital in march so I will see my RA team and see what they say, my GP did write on my xray card that I have RA and my benefit from a steroid injection but the hospital say no more action needed. lol will make them listen im fed up with it all xxx

[kazp]

Do you have any twitching that you notice your ankle doing? Mine does as does my hand, arm and wrist on the same side and ive got lesions on this part of my brain.

[Bazzypants in reply to kazp]

Hi Kazp, no I am glad to say it dose not twitch, sorry to hear that is happening to you what treatment do you have for it ? xxxx

[kazp]

nothing it affects some of us that suffer with RA alongside my main illness that's Lupus DLE and SLE. had it for 30 years now twitching started 8 years ago and can be so so bad that my ankle is in agony, like now it started a major twitch a week ago now not as bad ow but still sore to move and trt and get comfy, onwards i go ..

[Bazzypants in reply to kazp]

Hi kazp, I think that must be so horrible to live with, what with all they other stuff you have going on. Hope you don't mind me asking but how did your illness start what were your symptoms, and I am also interested to know what affect lupus has on you sorry for being nosey.xxx

[kazp in reply to Bazzypants]

Not being nosey its what the site is for helping others and sharing stuff. All started when I was 9, I'm now 40 !!! I lost lots of weight about 2 stone in a year, had millions of tests for =fevers, cancers I was first diagnosed with RA but this didn't fit all my symptoms, so more tests, 9 months in Northwick Park Hospital under renowned Dr Ansell, she was scarey! Finally I was told I had DLE (skin Lupus & SLE, systemic that affects all my internal organs inc my brain. Being so young this wasn't possible I was rare and even now i am unique having both types with RA and Raynauds (blood circulation problem). having had this for such a long time we live alongside each other, I do all the listening though! Its not easy but I make myself cope, i have to I have a family and I don't want to let them down. I've never been one to give up, I do what I can when I can, the way I see it is the less I do do, the less I will be able to do. So when i am well i do as much as I can. Positivity a great hubby and son, not forgetting the cats. Thank you for taking an interest.

What drugs are you on for the pain and inflammation?

[Bazzypants in reply to kazp]

Hi kazp, thanks for sharing that, I have luckily only been diagnosed with RA but I often wonder to myself that I have something else, I am on humira injections naproxen and co codamol at the moment and I have had steroid injections to. I have been on a lot of treatments over the last six years but I am never pain free sadly my doctor gets a bit annoyed with me at the hospital because he says he cant understand why the treatment does not work on me its working I am a lot better but not how I would like to be, he even said last time he didn't think I was even taking the treatment at all I am beginning to feel a bit of a pest. I am in need of a steroid injection and have been since Christmas but am reluctant because of his attitude towards me last time. I think your amazing with all what you have got going on and you have a great outlook. xx

[kazp in reply to Bazzypants]

Thats not good for a doc you should see if you can change docs!! ? Have you thought about officially complaining? How rude and uncaring! I'm gobsmacked, alas I am never pain free so i know how it feels.

[Bazzypants in reply to kazp]

Hi again I have thought about complaining but not sure who you complain to.

[kazp in reply to Bazzypants]

If its GP the surgery has a practice manager to complain to Hospitals go onto nhs.uk website and type complaints in search box on right hand top, a list of different complaints will come up go from there, hope this help.

You should complain as is the service you need, expect and as a taxpayer want? Or pay for!! Follow it through. keep in touch. K

[Bazzypants in reply to kazp]

Hi Kazp thanks for that will keep you posted, xxxx anytime you want a chat or a moan feel free to x

[RayC1 in reply to kazp]

Hi kazp. Saw your reference to Dr Ansell and felt obliged to respond. I was diagnosed by her when I was 5/6years old. She was the scariest person ever (particularly as a small child) but she was certainly formidable. I hope that your health is manageable at the moment. Keep smiling.

[kazp in reply to RayC1]

Thank you. You are the first member thats commented on Dr Ansell. Yes wasn't she very scary I knew that if I didn't do the exercises she set Id be in trouble! My health is good at present and very well managed by my GP and myself. Hope you are well also. Stay positive.

[mille]

Hi, It is horrible when the ankle hurts and it doesn't help when you feel you are getting ignored. I am having problems with my ankles, mainly the left one and walking down a slope or hill is agony, walking on the level isn't so bad but sometimes I have to stop as the pain feels like my bone is going to snap. I have asked about it but they don't seem interested. I hope you get some relief soon. xx

[Bazzypants in reply to mille]

Hi there mille, as I have said to others mine feels like that like its going to snap if the ground is uneven, I to hope you and I both get some relief with it, will keep you posted on what the hospital say or do if I am not ignored again ... this time I will not be ignored. xx When I mention my knees being bad they ignore that to.xx

[minka]

ask for an ultrasound on it and maybe a nerve conduction study look up peronova nerve goes round under ankle this can be a right sod if its trapped and inflamed