Confused

[nanny_bee]

Feeling a bit confused. I have RA only n MTX and folic acid as nothing else sujts. After last GP review in March GP sent request for appointment with outpatient podiatrist dept due to several issues with feet/ankles. Due to covid nothing happened but have now received an online video podiatrist appointment. Can't quite see how that is going to work so anybody got any ideas. I feel if I request face to face appointment I could wait another 6 months with painful feet compromising everything I do

[Hidden]

nanny_bee this is the route most appointments are going down. I personally would say no matter what keep the appointment but make sure if you feel if it is not working, in the fact you feel they are not understanding the issues you let them know. However better to use the time to get some input and go from there.

Good luck

[nanny_bee in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I will try it as I need a bit of help now

[KittyJ]

My first podiatry appointment could have been done via video as it was only an assessment for treatment. I wonder if this is how your podiatrist works too. Maybe your second appointment will be face to face. 🤞🏻

[nanny_bee in reply to KittyJ]

Thanks for comments I will give it a try and see how it goes

[Dobcross1]

I'll be very interested in answerscto your post as this is similar to my situation. I have a call Wednesday with the nurse and am requesting Podiatry appointment. It seems very random which parts of the NHS are now operating face to face and other areas refusing to see anyone at all and using telephone/video appointments only - i may be being unfair but I get the impression certain areas are 'hiding,' behind Covid as its more convenient for them.

[Biofreak in reply to Dobcross1]

I feel the same way Dobcross. All my hospital appointments have been cancelled. GP only doing phone appointments. My husband is still waiting for diagnostic tests that should have been done months ago. I ended up taking him to A&E because he was breathless so he had an X-ray but now waiting for a CT scan.

[Dobcross1 in reply to Biofreak]

Its getting ridiculous. Yet my mum has had 2 F2F appointments at hospital in the last 3 weeks!

[Biofreak in reply to Dobcross1]

Can't work it out. No consistency whatsoever 🙄

[Hidden in reply to Dobcross1]

Know how you feel . No f2f with gp only by gp request asked go to see then for something that needed examining she just referred me straight to hospital without seeing the problem but next door neighbour same gp had her coil fitted . Hey priorities!!!

[Hidden in reply to Dobcross1]

Tomorrow I am going for my third face-to-face podiatry appointment in two weeks (because of an urgent problem). The podiatrist and I both wear masks. There is hardly anyone in the building (Gateway, not hospital) and all are wearing masks. I feel perfectly safe.

Hospitals clearly vary. Consultant and nurse phoned in March and June instead of having me in, but that was adequate for what was needed then. Liver scan was postponed, but I now have an appointment in August.

I just can't get a check-up (due since April) at the dentist's because they're only doing emergency treatments. On the other hand, I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow. Whoopee!

[Jacey15]

I've had a video consultation with a foot surgeon. Trying to get the camera on my phone to angle correctly to say where the problem was was hopeless. In the end he said I can't treat you because I can't see that there is anything to treat!

Maybe request a face to face appointment when you have your online one?

[nanny_bee]

Thanks for all your comments - all I can say is I'm glad I haven't got haemorroids (sorry my sense of humour is dreadful). Still haven't decided whether to go ahead or try and get a face to face appointment

[Biofreak in reply to nanny_bee]

🤣😂😆

[Hidden in reply to nanny_bee]

😂😂😂

[Gigi71 in reply to nanny_bee]

Go ahead with the appointment and if they think they will need to see you, hopefully you will get a f2f fairly soon. X

[Hidden]

I had a physio online appointment for ankle and Achilles problems. I had someone with me and I asked them to hold the phone while I walked so the physio could see me walk. This was my idea not the physio as I wanted him to see rather trying to explain. Some things don’t work on telephone appointments. If you need orthotics I’m not sure how that will work

[helenlw7]

I had an appointment at the food and ankle appointment next week but it’s now been postponed until October. I have arthritis in one of my ankles and is now very painful to walk on. I really need another steroid injection but I know that’s not going to happen. My ankle is very swollen, but how is the dr going to know that from a telephone cal!

[medway-lady]

I saw a Podiatrist years ago, a waste of time. I was then referred to an Orthopaedic Surgeon as all the insoles made the problem worse. He said lets have you in and straighten the foot and we'll shave off the overgrowths, straighten toes and plate them. I did that and it was best thing I ever did. Two feet that work and no pain, so yes see the Podiatrist but do consider that sometimes surgery is a better option. OK in plaster for 8 weeks then a fetching blue boot for 3 months but it worked and scarring is minimal. Very worth doing.

[nanny_bee in reply to medway-lady]

I hope that is what will be the next step. My one passion in life is coast walking with the dog but I am able to do less and less. I have said I didn't think the podiatrist was the appropriate referral so here's hoping ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but won't hold my breath

[Vonnie10]

RA *only* isn’t that enough!!!!