strange visual ever- report

[Scaredofpred]

thankyou for the replies which were reassuring. Saw new GP today who as great, blood tests ordered, doesn’t seem too concerned. Also discovered for any Norfolk folks on the forum that there is a rheumatology helpline available, they were good too. Wish I had known about it sooner!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Good to hear.

[marionofnorwich]

Is there a link to the helpline? I think it is new. I was just in hospital (another story)! And one of the nurses suffers from PMR and doesn't have a consultant yet but said she was told there is something online. I have several 'masterclasses' in PMR to various medics while I was in there who knew little about it and certainly not about the Forum.

[marionofnorwich]

So do you have a link? How do you access the helpline? It should be added here to PMRGCAuk resources. Is it only available to NNUH or Norfolk patients or more widely?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to marionofnorwich]

I know Mukytar at the N&N has a helpline for his patients to contact his nurse of they have problems.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to marionofnorwich]

It should be added here to PMRGCAuk resources.

You’ll need to take that up with the charity, and it should be on their pages, not on forum. Not sure that’d be happy to do that unless it’s a national helpline.

I have advised  Scaredofpred how to do attached external link see this -healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[marionofnorwich]

I was recently in hospital after tripping over and breaking my hip. I emailed my consultant at NNUH, Max Yates, who helpfully replied promptly even though he was away at a conference that week

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to marionofnorwich]

Oh well done - so easily done unfortunately! How are you getting on? Was it being wobbly after the cold/Covid? Was it Covid in the end?

[marionofnorwich in reply to PMRpro]

No it wasn't Covid, just a bug, and I was properly better after that. In fact I felt quite sprightly that morning but I took a corner too sharply and caught my foot on the skirting board of a doorway. The other foot tangled with that foot and both twisted together so when I hit the uncarpeted wooden floor it was hip first with my feet still hooked on the skirting board m I recall looking back at my crossed over feet. So I also fell with some forward velocity as well as downward impact. Neck of femur broken into about three pieces. Luckily ambulance crew knew immediately what I had done and exactly 24 hours after my 'trip' I was entering the anaesthesia room for a hip replacement.

While I was still laying on the floor I took 800mg of Ibuprofen and am extra 5mg of Pred as a precaution. A&E docs were quite impressed as they were about to give me hydrocortisone for adrenal insufficiency boost but I had beaten them to it

Bloods etc all ok, bit low on vitamin D. Op went well and I have been pretty mobile though now that I am home finding I have to pace myself as it is easy to stiffen up and also to get tired so balancing test and activity. But overall mobility is improving.

Been back on 4.5mg after a few days at 9mg in hospital

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to marionofnorwich]

"Leg shortened and rotated" - absolutely classic sign to look for. NOF is probably the better break to pick up when it can be dealt with as a replacement - shaft of femur is trickier I think in terms of mobility, Just as a note - paracetamol is probably better because ibuprofen can worsen bleeding and a fractured femur is a high risk for bleeding.

Get well soon!

[marionofnorwich in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I have been taking paracetamol since but normally I am an aspirin and ibuprofen kind of gal as historically paracetamol hasn't been effective and I don't think we had any in the house. I thought of you PMRpro and the flooding dose of 800mg but anyway luckily it seems I wasn't bleeding that badly. They did give me fluids as I was waiting in the ambulance. But I will remember in future. That side quad muscle has been tight for a few weeks now and I don't suppose that helped. But full on impact hip first want a great idea. They are going to do a dexa scan in the next few weeks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to marionofnorwich]

Did you have to wait long for an ambo? They usually give i.v. paracetamol for the pain but if you have already taken some oral you must wait 4 hours - so if they are going to be quick (hahahahha) don't take oral paracetamol as it takes ages, i.v. is amazing and kicks in in about 10 mins! Even works for me!!!

[marionofnorwich in reply to PMRpro]

Well I waited about 45 mins before we called anyone because it wasn't immediately painful ie not sharp pain but my leg felt numb and 'slapped' so I thought the feeling might come back after a while but when that initial feeling wore off and I still couldn't move my leg we called them. Propped up by cushions I was reasonably ok until I moved to get more comfortable and then couldn't move back. Then I was thinking I didn't want to be there any longer. Unbeknown to me they had told my husband that a clinician would call back within two hours so just as I was getting a bit concerned the ambulance crew turned up. So I think I was on the floor from 8.30am to about midday. But to be fair my husband wasn't telling them I had broken my hip when he called as neither of us thought I had. They say no sense, no feeling!

[Scaredofpred in reply to marionofnorwich]

Hi Marion. So sorry to hear about your fall, are you ok?

Found Rheumatology helpline by looking up Norfolk and Norwich Rheumatology Dept. Helpline number is

01603 287801. Not sure how to post that on Forum.

The webpage is really useful, gives details of nurses involved etc. Made me feel a ton better to know there was a contact point ( though this forum would be my first point of call).

Hope you recover well, thinking of you

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Scaredofpred]

See this from the FAQs under Non medical Questions section -

5. ADDING EXTERNAL LINKS TO A POST AND/OR REPLY

To add a link in your post/reply to a website/page of that site .

Go to page you wish to link – select the URL address etc at top of screen. Once selected it should show a blue background, and you will get a drop-down menu. Select Copy.

Go to where you want to add link in your post/reply. You should then get option – select Paste – and voila there it is…

Press Post or Reply as appropriate and the link should appear in blue lettering. That shows the link has worked. If it doesn’t turn blue, then recheck you have copied the whole address correctly.

All info here -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Rugger in reply to Scaredofpred]

Surely that phone number is just for patients who are under the care of that department in Norwich? I can't imagine they will want calls from far and wide! 🤨

[Scaredofpred in reply to Rugger]

Yes, I think it is just for local patients, but assume a similar search in other areas Rheumie departments may turn up same result.

[Rugger in reply to Scaredofpred]

It might be wise to edit your reply to that effect. I imagine those of us who are under the care of Rheumatology departments will have been given our own helpline numbers. I certainly have.

[Scaredofpred in reply to Rugger]

Really sorry, didn’t intend to confuse, hoped that

“Norfolk” explained. Still learning how this site works. Apologies again

[marionofnorwich in reply to Scaredofpred]

Thank you on both counts. I will face this info just in case I need it. I am hoping that this fall doesn't provide the PMR but at the moment I seen to be ok. A bit of extra pressure on shoulders and collar bone muscles from using crutches but maybe I will end up doing more walking than I have been doing

[marionofnorwich]

Thank you all. Yes I am ok and recovering slowly (well quite quickly really but taking my time). I have wondered, not for the first time, about arranging a coffee get together for Norwich based PMR people as I keep meeting more and more that are not well informed

[Scaredofpred in reply to marionofnorwich]

Hi marionofnorwich.

Glad you are feeling better.

I too have been thinking of coffee get together for local people. If necessary I can offer ab free venue and coffee in Blofield ( I live in Brundall). Think there are quite a few of us about.

[marionofnorwich]

I am in Trowse and also have access to various meeting places in the city centre

[Scaredofpred in reply to marionofnorwich]

Great, near neighbours!, When you feel up to it perhaps we can plan to meet to discuss next steps, my GP said there are a lot of “us” about. Think of yourself first though.