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is Arthritis classed as an emergency?

Posted , 11 users are following.

laura333
laura333

Hey,

I really need some help so would be grateful for any advice! I'm having a really bad flare up and it's probably the worst it's ever been!! My knee is actually swollen to look at and I have only ever had one swollen joint before and that was my thumb. I'm 22 years old and have been diagnosed with arthritis almost two years ago, I think. I have been on methotrexate around 8 months, which I am really struggling with as it makes me really really ill, even just the thought of it makes me want to throw up! Methotrexate is my second medication I have tried as the first option didn't help, but I fear methotrexate isn't working now too!! I've struggled to do anything this week and I'm desperately trying to get an emergency appointment at the hospital for a steriod injection but I am unable to speak with anyone over the phone.

Does anyone know if I just went to hospital like to A and E, would they be able to give me a steriod injection? Or is this not acceptable and would I be wasting their time as 'not an emergency'? I'm really desperate and in so much pain please does anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance!

1 like, 49 replies

49 Replies

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  • laura333
    laura333

    Posted

    Thanks for all your replies guys!

    I am in the UK yes. I have tried to call my GP who said they cannot give me an emergency appointment for a steroid injection because the doctor that is doing the emergency appointments cannot do the injection (how helpful). I have spoken with my rheumatology doctors secretary who has advised my doctor has been passed my message but the doctor is really busy. I have asked if I went to A and E what would they do and the secretary said she's not 100% sure. The Secretary has advised that I wait to see if my doctor calls from rheumatology and if my pain is really bad then to go to A and E.

    The only problem I have is I don't want to be sat there for hours waiting for something I might not even get. The hospital unfortunately do not have a helpline. I am really worried about my knee as I already have a deformed joint being my thumb and at my age it is really embarrassing and I struggle to talk to people about how bad it really is hense me joining this group. My partner who I live with is really good and helps me like to get in and out of the bath etc but people at work and things don't see how I really am with it because I try and hide it and I won't be able to hide deformity very well.

    I have looked into Lyme disease a while back but I have only ever been camping once around 3 and half years ago and I've never done any of the things listed above but I did strongly think Lyme could be what is wrong and I haven't ruled it out. Saying that however, I do have two male friends same age as me that have arthritis but luckily for them the treatment works where as for me, unfortunately I don't feel it is.

    I think the best thing for me to do is ring the nhs helpline and see if theu can advise what to do as I am really worried here.

    Thanks for your help.

    • anne04253
      anne04253 laura333

      Posted

      I would ring the 111 helpline and they will advise you. If you have a walk in clinic attached to your Accidentand Emergency Dept, I would go there. It's not an emergency but given you can't get a GP appointment,they would see you eventually. It could be a long wait, but worth it. I've been to the walki in clinic at my hospital once, nothing to do with RA, I just had a really sore blood shot eye and couldn't get a GP appointment, I waited about 4 hours but they were good and in fact sent me somewhere else, to Moorfield's Eye Hospital, so eventually I got sorted out.  Probably took about 10 hours though!! In your case, if you are waiting and in severe pain, someone will at least speak to you Andre assure you.
  • Emis_Moderator
    Emis_Moderator laura333

    Posted

    I have deleted several comments that are taking this discussion off topic. Please do not use these forums to "campaign" about topics like Lyme etc. There is a separate group for Lyme Disease. It is fine to post in other discussions to say "Have you ruled out Lyme disease" but we do not allow repeated posting in other topics trying to tell or convince users that they may have Lyme or other conditions despite their history, symptoms location etc.

    Regards,

    Alan

    Emis Moderator

  • Guest
    Guest laura333

    Posted

    Laura, I would go to the ER and try it. I have the same problem and I have decided that is what I am going to do on my next flare if I can't get in to see the doctor. I just quit my specialist because he doesn't do anything for me except charge 670 for a 5 minute office call and $2000 for a blood test and I have to travel 100 miles to see him every 3 months. I had a flare and called his nurse. You don't talk to the doctor and he rarely says anything to me. Last time I questioned him about my meds he told me to get with my other doctor! I thought right then why am I even coming to you? But anyway the last flare I called his nurse and left a message. Hours later he calls back and said to go get a "mextro" pack and no pain pills at all. They don't care how much pain you are in. I am getting bolder and bolder because of this. It makes me mad when you are in 10+ pain and they act like you are a sissy. By the time I go into a full flare I have been up for days and I am pretty cranky so it's not hard to be demanding and not care what they think.
    • cheria
      cheria Guest

      Posted

      Hi River, it is the metro pac, or also known as prednisone (steroid) pack that fights RA inflammation, which is the cause of RA tendon and joint pain. If it is not helping, it is mist likely fibromyalga pain you may be cimfusing with RA pain, as they often go hand in hand together...as fibromyalga pain is triggered by stress, sleep loss, nutritional deficiency and malabsorption, RA medications (methotrexate and biologics) and hugely, an induced magnesium deficiency (supplement with magnesium glycinate not magnesium oxide, which is not absorbed well). Are you saying the metro pack (steroid pack) is not helping you ( despite the awful short term side effects which i myself must reduce the dosage due to high cognitive/mental effects..
    • Guest
      Guest cheria

      Posted

      No Cheria, the specialist has confirmed RA
    • cheria
      cheria Guest

      Posted

      If the specialist is accurate rhat it is RA only and not RA with Fibromyalga, and you are in a flare, a med pack is a prednisone pack, usually 5 0r 10 days, and is the correct treatment for an RA flare. If it is muscle pain in multiple places all over your body, this would be fibromyalga. I could not tell the difference between joint pain and muscle pain and kept thinking i was in an RA flair. This is when the med pack..or prednisone pack does not take care of the pain.
    • laura333
      laura333 cheria

      Posted

      Hi Cheria,

      I haven't had my steriod injection as yet, I have had them in the past but this time I am still waiting. Doctor has confirmed it is Arthritis and have never had fibromyalga. I have been in this flare for over a week now and still no contact from my RA doctor.

      I went to my GP Friday and they said they do not have the right steriod injection so i could not have it there and then. Another doctor from arthritis department at the hospital called me and said my RA doctor was not in until this week and advised to wait for her call as she could not fit me in last week. Nhs line said A and E would not be able to do anything as they are not rheumatoid specialists. Nhs line said I need to speak with my GP again as they cannot just leave me. Called GP and they never called me back so now awaiting another appointment this morning in hope they will give me injection to ease the pain and swelling.

    • anne04253
      anne04253 laura333

      Posted

      Hi, I have just had a quick read through your posts as I did wonder whether you are in the UK or not.  But apparently you are....I am in London and 10 minutes away from a large hospital with a walk in clinic. Just  wondering how you manage 
    • Rowbirdie
      Rowbirdie laura333

      Posted

      Hi Laura

      do hope your GP could help you today.

      it might be worth asking GP and consultant when you see him what they suggest you do if this situation happens again. I ,m in a large town and was given a 2 day wait for appointment inthe flare clinic at the hospital when this happened to me. They added me in as an extra patient and feel they dealt with me well.

    • anne04253
      anne04253 Rowbirdie

      Posted

      The flare clinic at your hospital sounds like an excellent arrangement, even with a  2 day wait and I am glad it helped you.  Good luck!
    • cheria
      cheria laura333

      Posted

      Oh my gosh Laura,  why is this so hard to get treatment??!!! is this because you are in the UK?  I have never ever heard of such difficulty getting care, except for at clinics here in the US..  which are very incomplete, and with referrals that had taken up to 3 months to receive.. as well as doctors that would have no one covering for them on vacations, and after leaving several messages, 2 1/2 weeks later, being called, and told she was on vacation!  I had not even thought about going to the ER back then.  The ER would have given a shot, as you are trying so desperately to get for some relief.  Have you gotten your steriod shot yet?  If it were me,  I would definitely as what course of action you need to take if this ever happens again.  I hope you have had some relief Laura..  please let me know!!
  • anne04253
    anne04253 laura333

    Posted

    Have you been to the A & E yet?
    • laura333
      laura333 anne04253

      Posted

      Hi Anne

      I rang 111 nhs helpline and they advised not to go to A and E as no one there would be able to do anything so I had to sit and wait for my nurse to call me today. Although she didn't and I had to call her, I did eventually speak with someone and I have an appointment but unfortunately they could not book me in until Friday this week so I still have a long painful week ahead of me and how ever much longer after that before the injection kicks in.

    • bronwyn97278
      bronwyn97278 laura333

      Posted

      Oh Laura;  I'm sooo sorry that you are having to go through this "severe pain" with what seems like "no-one/nowhere" to turn to....I know I got a pounding for suggesting answers before, but this is really too much for anyone, who is in so much pain, and nowhere to turn for help.....do you think even another type of pain relief would help (I don't suffer from RA), but wondering if even an IM injection of a Narcotic would help to ease the pain until you can get your correct medication???   Would it be worth calling an ambulance, and use that method to get seen in ED, and "just ask for anything for The Pain"......you certainly do need a backup plan, for if this has happened once, it could very well happen again,,,,,am really feeling for you............Bron
    • Guest
      Guest bronwyn97278

      Posted

      I think you are correct. It seems no one takes this pain seriously. I tried to tell people how excruciating it is and they just look at me. I am to the point that the next flare I have I will go to the emergency room and get a shot of something and beg them out of a few pills to last until the doctor wants to see me which maybe 2 wks. It makes me so mad.
    • Guest
      Guest laura333

      Posted

      Laura, every shot I have had, it takes about 3 days before the pain is tolerable and then the pain stays at about 5. They act like this shot will work immediately but it never does for me
    • EileenH
      EileenH bronwyn97278

      Posted

      This isn't a pounding Bronwyn - I'm explaining a situation. In the UK (it may be different in other countries) calling an ambulance won't make any difference to whether she is seen in A&E or how long it takes. I know a lot of people think it jumps the queues at A&E but once you are there you are put in the waiting area as appropriate for the condition you have arrived with: life-threatening overrides serious overrides needs treatment and so on. All calling an ambulance for this sort of need achieves is to take an ambulance and paramedic off the road until you are accepted at A&E and unable to respond to someone with a heart attack or stroke or an RTA. Unless the patient is needing emergency treatment, when the paramedic radios ahead to be able to bypass the queue, even the ambulances have to stand in line to be unloaded and the patient's care handed over from the paramedic to a nurse/doctor as appropriate.

      While a visit to A&E/ER may possibly be appropriate for Laura, calling an ambulance to get there isn't. I'm only explaining not criticising the suggestion.

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