Feeling feed up and need some advice please

[Lynxx]

I am looking for some advice as i feel I have been fobbed off and don't know what happens now. I am sorry if this ends up being extremely long.

It's been a whole year since I started getting extreme lower back pain. Two of my doctor's disagreed with each other, one said I needed an MRI the other said it was just period pain even though it would flare up when I didn't have my period. It took 11 months of waiting for an MRI to actually get the appointment. I have seen two different specialists who both said they thought it was some type of arthritis. I have had big flare ups where I can't get out of bed I have to call someone to come help me and every step I take I feel my lower back is being crushed. When it's bad I can't even sit on the toilet without pain that causes me to cry as I have never felt pain like it. While I was waiting for my mri I got blood tests and was sent to a physiotherapist. When I was about 7 I was told there was a problem with my leg and knee and it makes me walk with one foot slightly in which does make me trip over a lot. The first specialist I seen said he wasn't happy with me knee or hips so would get that looked at as well as my back. Well the physiotherapist said my leg was straight and disagreed, even though I had jeans on and she couldn't see my knee, she said for some reason I walk with my foot in on purpose not because there's a problem. Anyway she made me do a few exercises and told me she would see me again once I'd had my blood results and mri results.

Well yesterday was my first appointment since my mri results and I thought she was going to go over them with me but instead asked me what they were. I got a letter from the first specialist I had seen saying blood was clear MRI showed just basic wear and tear and that he had arranged treatment for me. Well the physiotherapist wouldn't give me it. Insisted I just keep up with the exercises and gave me new ones. The appointment felt very rushed as I was the last patient of the day. I had to ask so is it some kind of arthritis and she kinda laughed and said no it's just like when ppl get tennis elbow and over stretch a muscle. You are just weak from your lower back down and need to build strength in the muscle's then sent me out the door. I am angry at myself that I didn't say well I need the pills that's been arranged for me by the specialist but it happened so fast and I was out the door. When I have a flare up over the counter painkillers don't work at all so I have nothing if I have a big flare up over Christmas and New year. I don't even know if I have to go back and see the physiotherapist they didn't say. I am now thinking we'll is this it. I don't know what to do now. Does the physiotherapist have the last word over the specialist? Thank you.

[food-lover]

Sorry I can’t answer your questions. However last year I had problems with a physiotherapist who I found very negative. One day when I was due an appointment I phoned to cancel and said I had a bad week medically and could not handle her negativity. Next appointment I had a new therapist who was brilliant and helped me back to health.x

[rabbits65]

I think you need to go and see your GP and explain everything as you have done on here, your clearly very stressed out over all this... No the physiotherapist doesn't have the last say, I have had back trouble for a number of years, you do need to keep doing gentle exercise or else your muscles will go into spasm, but please go back to your GP as you have a lot of things to unravel, good luck to you.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Lynxx. I can tell by the way you've written your question you're upset & confused, not helped by the Physiotherapist, though it was telling he said it was wear & tear, if so that would be Osteoarthritis. Unfortunately it's not an easy question to answer if it is OA or RD without further information which it seems you don't have such as the actual breakdown of values of each of the blood tests, what was said about the results of the MRI, what type of arthritis the Specialists said you have etc. So can I suggest you make a double appointment to see your GP, preferably the one who ordered the MRI, & see what he makes of it. He'll have all the info to refer to so should be able to determine if you have RD or OA, or another kind of arthritis. If it does turn out to be OA though I can say it can be painful, I was diagnosed with both RD & OA at 48 but the important thing is if it is RD you've had a lot of wasted time, the earlier you receive treatment the better the prognosis, this is why I think it's important you see your GP asap.

Meanwhile maybe this would help, see if you relate to one or the other, it's a from a US based site but the same info applies webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthri...

Take care, if you feel you need any more help we'll be more than happy to do so where we can.