Hey everyone.
I’m hoping someone can help me out here, maybe based on their own experiences. I would be very thankful as I feel quite at a loss about what to do.
I haven’t been diagnosed with RA but I’m having such pain in my ankle joint which I broke many years ago and having no answers through X-ray I paid for a private MRI. It showed tiny dorsal Talonavicular bone spurs, bone oedema, bone bruising and cystic change to a ligament, (I can provide the actual report findings if helpful). I’m also flat footed so that doesn’t help I guess, ...have had fibula fractures on both feet at separate times and had to wear casts.
I feel like I’m not getting anywhere with resolving the pain and inflammation in my ankle and it’s affecting my work and my mood. I have been referred to ICAT’s, a multi disciplinary team of Ortho doctors/ Physio/ Podiatry. Yet the referral takes six months and in the mean time my ankle feels so unstable like it’s ready to break again. Also my GP will not consider giving me a steroid injection until I have seen the ICATs team which means the inflammation can’t be eased whilst I’m waiting.
Really considering paying for a private consultation with an expert, either a foot and ankle surgeon or a rheumatologist, not sure which is more appropriate? As even though money is tight I fear waiting for intervention is risking making my ankle worse and I really would rather avoid taking time off work.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as I’m starting to feel pain is just the new norm now.