Rheumy at Stepping Hill

[Glasgow55]

Went for my first ever rheumy appointment which I waited a year for and saw Dr Bachau at Stepping Hill on Dec 6th. She was initially concerned I’d been on steroids for 3 years and should have been off them in a year. I disabused her of that notion by quoting all the facts I’d learnt from this site!

After that she listened to my concerns and gave helpful replies and the agreed plan is set out in the letter to my GP.

what was more amazing and totally unexpected that Dr Bachau had access to me X-ray of my left knee. I’d never seen the xray just been told I had severe arthritis which physio were hoping to improve with exercises.

Dr Bachau’s first remark was she’d assumed they’d referred me for a knee replacement as it was clearly bone on bone. She was flabbergasted by what I told her and suggested that she would refer me! Nice work!

At my next physio appointment he agreed no surgeon would refuse me. I’m waiting for the appointment with the surgeon.

Finally I should have seen a rheumy at Macclesfield but agreed to be seen at Stepping Hill as it would be sooner. I still waited a year but at least something positive came out of that wait.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Did she actually take on board your personalised myth-buster session? Excellent if so - must tell Sarah. Though since Sarah has done it in places rheumies look, it is concerning she hadn't come across it before. On the whole - sounds a keeper.

Who decided physio could improve bone-on-bone OA? More education needed there too it seems! In fact, I'm surprised the physio didn't do something about it.

[Glasgow55 in reply to PMRpro]

I think Dr Bachau did take it on board at least in my individual circumstances. My initial referral was because at one point my wrists were so painful I couldnt even lift the kettle. By the time the blood test results came back with no rheumatoid factor my wrists had magically returned to normal. Such is the way with the ever changing PMR.

I decided to keep the rheumy appointment as my GPs were happy to let me self administer and all in all I’ve had a fairly stable journey down to 2.5. I finalised my speech to Dr Bachau by explaining that I was quite happy with my tapering procedure and that it’s not a race to zero and as I was a very active person it was a compromise to retain a quality of life.

When I saw the physio at my first appointment I immediately asked to be put on the list for a knee replacement especially as I’m expecting for the right knee to need doing soon too. He said they didn’t jump straight to that and would try exercises first. Baffling especially after his comment lately no surgeon would refuse me!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Glasgow55]

Well done you!!! I have problems with my wrists - had it to start with with PMR and it revisits every so often.

Some physios have over-inflated opinions of their abilities - and postponing being on the list is silly because it goes to a surgeon first who makes that decision. They could have confirmed this was a lost cause ...

[hill-walker in reply to PMRpro]

I'm interested in Sarah's pred myth-buster info. I have a rheum. appointment in March (USA) and it may prove useful, as so many posts on the forum are. Thank you all for giving your time, experience, hard-won info.

[Spinnie]

I’ve had an appointment re. PMR at Stepping Hill in December too and was pleasantly surprised.

I had had some previous eye issues ( horrendous A& E experience) and was worried re. GCA. I had to wait an hour or so after seeing the consultant but she organised a scan for me -I think that it was someone giving up part of their lunch hour so that they could fit me in - I was both impressed and grateful for that.

Subsequently I have had rib pain issues; I contacted the hospital rheumatology helpline last week; they initially got back to me and the nurse said that she would speak to my consultant. I waited a week and no response so managed to get an emergency GP appointment this morning and, Sod’s Law, the helpline phoned back this afternoon. I spoke to a different nurse who was very apologetic at the delay and her proposed actions were same as GP suggested.

I have heard some good reports about Rheumatology at Stepping Hill so perhaps we are lucky.

[Bridge31]

I was born in Stepping Hill hospital.

[Floridafan]

I worked at Stepping Hill hospital between 2005 until 2011…..small world!

[Bridge31 in reply to Floridafan]

It was that dreadful winter ….February 1947. Mothers were kept in hospital for almost 2 weeks. My Dad walked the 2 miles there and back every evening because the car was snowed in. 🥶🥶