NHS won't help me, need to find a specialist but don't now what sort.
Posted , 8 users are following.
Apologies in advance for the length!
I work at an ice cream parlour, needless to say I do a lot of ice cream scooping and end up doing A LOT of heavy lifting. About 8 weeks ago my wrist, elbow and shoulder really started hurting. It was a dull ache when not moving and whenever I lifted or twisted my arm it would be a terrible shooting pain.
I found a knot in my wrist which I massaged out and helped with the wrist area. As most of the pain hadn't gone I went to my GP and he gave me Naproxen and CoCodamol.
I then took and week off and relaxed it, in which time the strain led to both sides of my neck and my glands went up. I had a sports therapist come and massage several other knots out of my back and shoulder blades. Which helped some areas of pain but my elbow persisted.
I went back to the GP and he then gave me more Naproxen and Tramadol.
I had another two weeks off doing stretching excercies, light yoga and plenty of baths. I also did hot/cold treatment recommended by the sports therapist. Most of the pain remained in that period if I did not take the Tramodol.
I feel as though I needed more time off of work but I would not have been able to pay my rent on the sick pay provided by my employer so had to return to work.
I have been back at work for about 5 weeks now and have had mutiple appointments with the sports therapist. I haven't been back to the GP and he did not even touch my arm so I haven't a clue how he knows what's wrong with it. I have however been taking the drugs to help me get through the painbut I do not want to be dependant on them forever and still do not have a diagnosis on what is actually wrong.
A few things have been suggested as being the problem, RSI, Tennis Elbow and Nerve damage.
Really what I'd ike, is for someone to be able to assess me properly and to be able to actually tell me what the problem is so I can take measures to fix it. I feel as though it is getting worse again and do not want to cause myself any permanent damage.
Can anyone thing of a type of specialist I would need to see to help me?
0 likes, 6 replies
escot kayleywalker87
Posted
Different diagnosis and now beeing treated correctly
debbie27473 kayleywalker87
Posted
Xxxxxtttttttttt kayleywalker87
Posted
Bababoyd kayleywalker87
Posted
EileenH kayleywalker87
Posted
If you have injured your shoulder then you need to see an orthopaedic specialist - and whether you see them through the NHS or privately I think you will need a referral from your GP. I would try a different GP in the practice and tell them you don't want to be fobbed off with pain killers, you want the cause of the pain identified and treated if that is possible.
It is your right to have a referral if the GP is out of their depth. What you describe doesn't sound at all like PMR and I don't think a rheumatologist is the right person - it sounds more like an injury, and that is supported by the suggestions you have had put forward.
blodwyn kayleywalker87
Posted
I don't believe your symptoms are PMR.I'ts more likely to be a RPI or Tennis Elbow.I agree that I may be something to do with your job.I've also suffered with this sort of thing in the past always due to the job I was doing at the time and it's extremely difficult to deal with.
I suggest you harass your GP to do more than just give you strong painkillers.
Why have you not gone back to him?
I don't think a Rheumatologist is the answer but a Physiotherapist or Orthopaedic might be, but in the end you may have to look for another job.
I suspect that if you've been trained properly,the lifting may not be the main problem but the wrist and arm twisting could be.Why not try looking for another forum which deals with joint problems and you may find more help there.