Needing diagnosis, doctor won't help
Posted , 6 users are following.
HI people I'm writing this for my girlfriend, after being in constant pain for the past three years after some extensive research I find myself here so I'll give you a brief history.
Girlfriend is 18, 4 years ago, she fell down stairs breaking a few ribs, ever since then she has been in constant pain with constant throbbing pain in hips back and sides of body. This is a daily pain that doesn't really ease with pain killers.
Over the past 2 years she has had a CT scan X-rays which showed nothing, has been given different prescription drugs again with little results and now is under the care of a foot specialist because she has one leg longer than the other. This specialist has said this isn't the cause of the problems she faces and has recommended an MRI.
The doctor has said himself he doesn't know whats wrong with her.
After reading various threads on here it would seem like the most likely cause is PMR but how do i go about getting a diagnosis and trying to convince my girlfriend and her doctor this is what is wrong with her or even get testing for this.
My girlfriend is in her final year of a-levels and this has had a daily impact on education but shes struggled through and managed to get a place at UNI to study diagnostic radiographer but shes so down at the minute she doesn't want to go to uni because she knows she wont cope, so I'm desperate to try to get her the treatement she deserves so any advice anyone can give me I would be greatful to hear.
Many thanks in advance
Jon
1 like, 5 replies
pat38625 lordsommet
Posted
The only relief I got was from taking (steroids) Pred at 20mg and it was like a magic pill within hours and then after a few days it was like a miracle.
If you stick around here someone will get back to you and there are lots of people who will support and advise you on what to do next. I would be lost without this place and the people on here. Good luck Pat
MrsO-UK_Surrey lordsommet
Posted
tina-uk_cwall lordsommet
Posted
However, I have to say, and I'm not medically qualified, that I do not think she has PMR. PMR to some degree is age related and tends to hit the over 70s although it does hit people in their 50s, I am 54, and I did read on another website of a female of 36 being diagnosed, but I do believe that is very very rare.
pmr is an auto immune condition this manifests itself by attacking the joints and large muscles, causing inflamation and in turn the inflamation causes great pain. The condition is self limiting and lasts a couple or so years but unfortunately for some suffers it can fizzle away for many many years meaning that the patient could be on medication, albeit a low dose forever. It is treated, because it cannot be cured, by taking steriods that reduce the inflamation that I turn reduces the pain. The drug us called prednisone. Patients are tapered off the drug as the auto immune condition burns itself out, but it's important that we all take just enough of the drug yo cover the level of inflamation otherwise we end out with a flare up and in those instances we are forced to increase the medication again to temporarily cover the flare up.
it sounds as if she's had many tests that have ruled this and that out, which to a degree is good because at least she has nothing seriously wrong with her, but that is I am sure of no help because if the continuing pain. I'm so sorry but all I can suggest is that she keeps bugging her gp until a solution is found, which for her sake I do hope is very soon.
good on you for caring for her so much, I know that she will appreciate that. Look after her and I do hope this situation is resolved very soon. All the best, Christina
tavidu lordsommet
Posted
EileenH lordsommet
Posted
I have had similar problems as a result of whiplash injury (not in a car accident which is where you usually hear it talked about). In the absence of doctors having any ideas, I personally would suggest you seek out a Bowen practitioner and try a few sessions of Bowen therapy. Google it to find a lot of information. There are physios who have trained in it and use the techniques. It looks very simple and as if they are doing nothing but believe me, there are a lot of people on this and 2 other forums who have had similar pain problems improved dramatically. The pain management service in a northeast of England hospital is doing a year long study using Bowen therapy to see if it can help patients for whom they have no other answers, in much the same way as acupuncture is offered on the NHS. Wherever you are, you will have to pay for the sessions of course - but if it will help you will know in 3 sessions at the most according to my practitioner who lectured and taught the technique. Prices vary, but shouldn't be as much as a concert ticket ;-)
I have to say - I'm a bit surprised the foot specialist says the leg-length problem isn't the cause of the back problem because that is a common cause of back pain but sometimes it can be the result of back problems affecting your posture as well.