Pain Thresholds...
Posted , 9 users are following.
Having read many posts, I wondering just how much pain a patient with severe arthritis needs to be in before the NHS will consider surgery. I have read posts where patients are in such excuriating pain they cannot work, and are suffering financially. In a situation such as this they will be in all kinds of debt before they can even consider returning to work, and this is going to impact significantly on their recovery. I am thinking mainly of patient on no hours contracts.
In the US, where I have lived and worked for most of my life, more than likely you would find yourself out of a job!
Surely, a diagnosis of severe arthritis should be enough to justify surgery, without compelling patients to suffer unendurable pain, for weeks/months on end, jeopardise their livelihoods, and then at almost the last minute, in many cases, cancel surgery the day before!
This is inhuman. The RSPCA would not stand for this, if in the case of an animal....! Would they...?
Is this common in the UK, now?
Best,
2 likes, 42 replies
vanessa88276 susie74530
Posted
maggie93798 susie74530
Posted
In my case I had very very bad knee pain, luckily the GP asked for X-ray of both knee and hip. Hip was bone on bone so op agreed by consultant. The knee pain was referred pain from the hip.
Seen in November, op in April
susie74530 maggie93798
Posted
Went through the physio two years ago, almost to the day, after 2nd set of xrays showed moderaate to severe arthritis. Physio gave me several exercises that involved some stretches, which I feel are important as the leg muscles have atrophied. Due for third set of xrays on Thursday, as I have some days of crippling pain and have to get into bed.
Main concern is that I have read posts where patients are left for months on end with unendurable pain. Bath Circle quoted me 6 - 8 weeks after referral, as an NHS patient. I am now doubting this as your op was 5 months after referral. Of course, Christmas causes massive delays, which in all likelihood, is going to be the very situation that I am likely to be faced with.
Op in March/April, would not be too bad as the weather will be better, and not as challenging and depressing as going through all of this in the Wintermonths - to look on the positive side....
However by that time, I should be on the verge of jumping into the canal......!
alice85142 susie74530
Posted
Are you an american lady now living here?
Ali 2.
susie74530 alice85142
Posted
REally sorry that you have had such a rough time of it. I think with THRs, high impact sports should be avoided, that will prolong the life of the new hip. In 15 years, should you need a replacement, you will be in a good position to know what to expect, but science progresses all the time, and you may find that you are looking at an entirely new and less troublesome procedure!
The pain you are in now, is a positive pain, as you will continue to improve day to day. It is not negative in terms of what you were experiencing pre op, as this was your body telling you that it needed attention.
No, I am not American. I was born and educated here, but left at a relatively young age to take up a job offer in New York, met my former partner, and we moved to San Francisco when both our jobs came to an end. We split up, and I married my former husband, who was from the Netherlands, in San Francisco.
All the best,
Susie
alice85142 susie74530
Posted
I am improving each day. Went to see a wonderdful film 'The Lady in the Van' this afternooon and sitting for 2 hours made walking a problem but not for too long.
Keep reading your posts .
Kind ERgards,
Ali 2
susie74530 alice85142
Posted
No my former husband, Dutch, is still in San Francisco with his now, third wife.
I have been wanting to see Dame Maggie. Anything she is in, is well worth the visit. However, I will wait until it comes out in DVD. Interesting that she should take a part that is the exact opposite of Downton. I watched the re run of "Tea with Mussolini" over the weekend. She is more of a "character" actor, and never was never a glamour queen, for which I am thankful. There are so few parts for older women, but those that are still active in their profession are there because of their enduring excellence. My daughter's father, Frank Marcus, was one of the few playwrights who wrote leading parts for women.
All the best,
Susie
alice85142 susie74530
Posted
How is Westbury? I think you live there? I am in Wilton nr Salisbury. I used to go to convent in bath many years ago!
Re hippie news..seeing GP tomorrow to make sure all well at the 11 week stage.
Kind REgards,
Alice (Ali 2)
susie74530 alice85142
Posted
No, I am not in Westbury. Trowbridge and area, is enough of a cultural/social void. After London, New york, San Francisco, and a little time in Los Angeles, I really miss the access to all things cultural, and certainly the wonderful restaurants. I am very much a round peg in a square hoke here. Biggest mistake I ever made. Only positive is the canal and wildlife. Single women are not appreciated in these village environments, so difficult to penetrate socially, presuming that I had anything in common. I have always, until returning to the UK followed a career. Was married, and had a partner in New York and San Franciso. An old friend of mine, went to that convent during the war. His father was attached to the Admiralty - WW2.
Frank Marcus was a big factor in my life for a very long time, and I was his "muse" for one or two of his plays. He was very controversial, for a time. Also a drama critic for the Sunday Telegraph. His family fled the Nazis from Berlin in 1938. They had to buy their way out, losing everything. I became a member of the family, so to speak!
I will watch anything with Maggie Smith, and there are one or two of the older actresses, like Judi Dench that I follow, also. Did you see "Room with a View?" Wonderful aria in that, can't bring the opera to mind right now, but I did buy a copy from Amazon that turned out to be a very bad copy.
All the best, for now,
Susie
maggie93798 susie74530
Posted
I think that there is some culture if you look, on a minor scale the BOA music centre, theatres in Bath ! Bristol and Salisbury all just a train ride away.
rose0000 maggie93798
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I go to the rheumatology hospital there and always try and stay for longer. The children's theatre the egg, is incredible. We are very fortunate in the UK to have real history and culture almost on every square patch of our country.
susie74530 maggie93798
Posted
I wasn't speaking about Bath/Bristol, etc. I am referring to Trowbridge, my nearest center. Although they have built a new cinema, I very much doubt they will be showing films that I would wish to see. I am more interested in less gratuitous sex and violence and more intellectual content. There is no jazz, opera or symphony, other than the Music Center. Some of these venues are a little difficult to attend unacompanied, as I have discovered!
Post op, I shall be driving into Bath on a regular basis. Bristol is another matter, as I don't know it too well, wont be driving it, though - spaghetti junction!
Having said the above, I have been throughly spoilt in New York and San Francisco, not to mention London. So much more available, and mostly within walking distance.
alice85142 susie74530
Posted
Re That Convent.was is La Sainte Union? I think it must have been ..My father too was RN and atttac hed to the admiralty all his working life not just war time. Small world!
How is the hip situation? I see my GP this afternoon as feel at 11 weeks perhaps I should not be inb the slight difficulties I am getting out of a chair and bed. I am fine with a crutch but have given it up! Look at it longinly!
Lovely to be able to speak to you about all things as well as hips!
Oh I love opera too.They always have one on at the Festival..perhaps you will be well enough walking by then and can come to Salisbury.
Keep in touch
Alice
rose0000 susie74530
Posted
It is a beautiful city, with so many gorgeous restaurants and theatres and festivals. If you are a city girl you could barely ask for more in terms of culture and history, but it is still very personal and gentle in my experience. Gorgeous blend of beauty and history, and spotlessly clean too! Excellent shopping - and if you can manage a Christmas market that is definitely worth a visit.
susie74530 alice85142
Posted
I did join U3A, but in Bradford on Avon, the only interest was the photographic group, but had to stop due to walking difficulties. I am a former Interior Designer and Fashion and Image Consultant, but was Was recruited originally, for a job in Public Relations in New York, through my daughter's father.
My mother was wise enough to teach me to touch type and take shorthand. Unfotunately, shorthand is designed for right handers, and I am left handed, so not much benefit to me. Those skills came in very handy during the "dry" periods, when I worked for the large law firms in San Francisco. Extremely well paid, but shorthand gave way to the dictaphone, word processing and eventually, the computer.
Before I left for New York, I had a short spell working for Charles Clore. Interesting story to all that, but not printable here.
Most of my interests are around the arts and cultural. My mother was a very accompliahsed pianist, as was my former partner in San Francisco. I bought myself a digital piano and have been self teaching. I have since been told that I have an aptitude for it, and have persevered. Problem right now is the use of the pedals, right leg, where the hip is the problem. So, have not been able to do too much lately, particularly with the concerns about my daughter and my own health re the hip. These "dramas" do squeeze all the creative out of me.
Have always been an urban dweller, so something of a duck out of water out here. Used to drive into Bath on a regular basis, but that had to stop because of the hip. Also belonged to the Gym at the University of Bath, and that too, came to a halt.
I am not sure which convent Peter went to, but I do know it was in Bath. It's possible that the two men knew each other, if they were both in Bath during WW2.
Yes, single women solo, are not welcome, you literally see the women putting "taken" signs around their husbands necks. Assumption being that I would want these men, in the first instance, which I most likely would not! Speaks volumes about the self confidence of those women, though! Not to mention their trust of their husbands and the strength of the marriage itself! These are the women whose husbands will stray!
I learned to drive in San Francisco when I was offered a job that meant that I would be covering a very large territory, and frequently driving down to Los Angeles, about 800 miles round trip. I had ordered a semi automatic convertible VW in bright yellow. When it arrived, it was a conventional stick shift. So I had to learn how to change gear very quickly. SF is built on seven hills, so you can imagine how difficult it was. However, I very quickly learned how to balance the car at the top of hill at the lights, balancing the clutch and accelerator, for a speedy getaway. San Franciscans do not appreciate a slow or hesitant driver anymore than they do here. Although, it is a million times worse here. California Highway Patrol will pull over any driver who violates the rules, as will the local police.
I just hope that my GP will refer me on, and that surgery can take place. My activities are severely restricted, right now, and it is made worse by the Winter months. I really do tend to hibernate as I am used to the California climate.
Enough for now, I think.
All the best to you,
Susie
susie74530 rose0000
Posted
All the best,
Susie
All the best,
Susie
maggie93798 susie74530
Posted
susie74530 maggie93798
Posted
Writing to you about my latest post on "Referral." I have just had a third set of exrays taken today, and will probably se the GP the week after next. I hae posted regarding what to expect at the referral and have reeived a ost from someone who advised that yet a further set of exrays would be taken, thus upping the radiation, a questionnaire, andn on and on and on. I shoudl alow an entire day because the referral may not run to schedule. I would be very reluctant to spend an entire day waiting for a consutant who is running almost eight hours late in their schedules and then be put through all of the above.
I have other responses stating that the referral was brief, the op descdribed, etc., and the consultant charming, and then they were put on the list for surgery.
How can these appointments run so differently? This is so confusing, I have no idea what the actual situation is and what to expect.
I should have thought that the information that this person gave me, was more true of the pre op preparations and not the intitial consultation, and then being referred on to the various departments to have tests taken with the potential of an 18 week wait for surgery,during which time an individual's health can either improve or deteriorate during the waiting time!
maggie93798 susie74530
Posted
most hospitals do it in a similar fashion
consultant consultation
written agreement to op, form in my case also asked for measurements of bed height, leg measurements etc for OT dept, so AIDS could be ordered
pre op lots of tests including an X-ray, this is needed so that the surgeon can calculate the type and size of the prosthesis he will use
op
there is also an X-ray post op, to check that the prosthesis is positioned correctly
put on waiting list
Rocketman_SG6UK maggie93798
Posted
Just a shame they didn't check to see that my acetabular cup ceramic insert was not correctly positioned
Graham