After my previous post “Is this PMR or something else?” I went for another chiropractor appointment for my arm. Apparently it is a trapped nerve in my neck. A lot of manipulation which initially made it feel worse , but since then is slowly improving. An ice pack helps!
Today I had a telephone appointment with my GP for a medication review. It did not go well! The only medication reviewed was the pred. She told me I needed a blood test - fair enough - to check ESR and I have to reduce by 1mg every four weeks. She disregarded that the pred will lower the ESR. She regaled me with the side effects, diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure etc, etc.. When I said that I had increased the dose at one point as the pain and stiffness had come back, she told me it wasn’t PMR it was something else, probably osteoarthritis! It seems that she thinks because I’ve been taking pred for more than two years I’m cured! I wish! When I mentioned my shoulder she told me to ring the musculoskeletal team for an appointment. No interest in it whatsoever.
This took all of five minutes. I came off the phone absolutely fuming. In the time since diagnosis, by telephone just after Covid, I have only had two other telephone consultations with her. How I wish my very good GP hadn’t taken early retirement. I am now arming myself with as much ammunition as I can for my next appointment in three months. Any links that help will be appreciated.
Hand and feet pain - PMR or something else?
Leflunomide and plan for reducing prednisolone
Asking for ESR & CRP numbers
Diagnosis - without any blood tests?
