Arthritis bad pain, stiff joint, contest problem.

[ste1983]

hi i had a operation when i was 25, it was a compound fracture, my ankle bone came out my leg and snapped, they put a llizarov frame on my leg and it got better, but ever since ive had contest pain and recently im finding it more and more a struggle just to walk round the house, and dont mention stairs i just about make it up stair, and going down stairs, is even worse. im 30 now, its only been 5 years since the operation, and im already using a walking stick, the pain getting worse and worse. my doctor told me after a x-ray i got arthritis, and i should go to hospital to sort it because he cant do anything about it. only thing is i cant get to hospital, im house bound, i have fear of going out and freak out with panic, i got to xray because my dad took me, but he does not want to help anymore,

[Calceolaria]

Your doc might help by perhaps prescribing something to help with anxiety in the short term. This might help get you feeling OK enough to get to the hospital for tests and treatment.

[Boozybird]

Poor you! It's awful to have to cope with fear, anxiety AND disabling pain! But you must try and get help especially if the GP is supportive and thinks hospital treatment can help. Is there anybody else who can help you get to the hospital? Can you phone the GP and ask for his/her help?

Best wishes

[emb398]

It sounds to me as if your main problem is Not the pain, but your inability to leave your home! This fear is preventing you from getting the help that you need. Have you told your Doctor about your fear? It is not something that he won't have heard of before, and he can get you help with that. Are you in the UK? If so, you should be getting DLA (or PIP if you are on the next generation of benefits already!) and you can "invest" some of that in a taxi or minicab to take you to appointments, and ask a friend or family member to come with you to any appointments. If you need to go to hospital they can arrange Hospital Transport to take you - with or without a companion.

I'm sure your Father does not really want to stop helping, he is probably trying to force you to be more independent and pro-active in dealing with your own health. By showing him that you are trying to move forwards, you can be sure that he will be happy, and probably he'll even get back on board!

I am not trying to say that your pain is not an issue, I have a similar story, and a decade after my ilazarov frame was removed I have only ever been able to walk with crutches, and now have been booked in for a hip replacement. Our only difference is that I am able to go out and about, with my pain, when I want to. I am in and out of the hospital like one of the staff, and regularly visit the Pain Clinic, and I am hoping to start some hydrotherapy in two weeks time! Arthritis is something that the specialists may be able to treat, and constant, chronic pain is able to be helped, with the correct medication, but if you can't get to the hospital clinics they don't stand a chance!

Ask your GP to help with your fear of going out. If you can't get there, ask for a telephone consultation, or even a home visit. Without this help you will not get any of the other help that is just waiting for you at the hospital, or even further away. Let your Father know what you are trying to do, and tell him that YOU need to do this yourself, and thank him for giving you the push you needed. He doesn't want to see you suffering and tied to the house, but he knows that only you can stop this, and he might be making things worse, not better!

You are not alone, and there are others out there with the same difficulties. You don't need to be afraid of the outside world, most people are friendly and helpful, and will even offer to hold doors open for you! Start by standing by the open front door, then stand outside on the step, and move a yard or so away each day! You will have achieved something as great as anyone if you can stand ten feet away! Then call a Taxi to drive you around the block! You may surprise yourself with how much you can conquer your fears.

I wish you well.

[rosewine]

I am so sorry to hear about your problems. Because of your agrophobia would it be possible to get hospital transport to and from the appointment or can you only travel if you have the support of someone you know and trust?

[pippingford55]

Hi ste, 1983 I can understand your worries about being seen as you are and seeing hospital doctors but you are young and should not think of putting up with this pain for the rest of your life if something can be done about it. Perhaps you could tell your GP about your fear., The longer you sit in the house the more difficult it could be to go out. You do need to get to the hospital even if your father won't help l. Perhaps you have a friend who could go with you for moral support? Has he given you a reason why he won't? If you have an appointment you might be able to arrange for the hospital to send a car to pick you up. Here in Sussex the service is run by volunteers and can be arranged through your GP. If you do not have an appointment you might be able to get to one of the 'walk in' centres by taxi (sorry about the term) where you would be seen by a doctor who could send you to a hospital. You are worth the effort you need to make! You could ask about the cost of a taxi to get you there. Be brave!