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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 59
Location: North Bucks
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Feeling very sorry for myself and a little angry!!
Last week after several days of pain & swelling l phoned the hospital who reccommended a steroid jab but no appointments! Spoke to GP who wanted to put me on oral steroids but unhappy with this l phoned the hospital again for advice. Suddenly an appointment was available and l had the big jab in the backside. I went home to rest.....some hope!!
My family have been a little less than co-operative so tried to do the minimum and by last night the swelling was a little less but l was horrified at the state of my right ankle, deformed and painful to touch on the inner aspect going up into my calf. The joint is slanting inwards while the foot is rolling outwards so that l am walking on the inner edge of that foot and its really painful. Anyhow, l had a physio appointment this morning and when l spoke to them they have stopped me doing all exercises, incluing Tai-Chi, and referred me back to podiatry. They said that the RA is quite bad in that ankle and must always use a stick to walk so as to minimise weight on the ankle. Rats!!
Don't know what to do, its really painful and l feel that whilst people have been sympathetic l get the feeling that its just something that happens and l should just get on with it. None of my friends understand and l am feeling quite low, Hubby is engrossed in his work 24/7 and l am not usually this despondent but feel life is just passing me by.
Thank you for reading.
Christine xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/21/2010 Posts: 32 Location: west midlands
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Hi Christine Sorry to read you are feeling so low, it does get to us all at some time, I had a bad time of it last year and thought I would never buck up .... but you do in the end.  My family have all left home now but being on your own has it's own problems. I know when my daughter's were small it was hard going. Although they are very good to me, there are times when they think I can do more than I can. Try to rest as much as possible. I really hope you feel better soon. Take care Gill x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
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I know what you mean by feeling that life is passing you by. I'm sorry but I don't anything your family support wise or ages etc. but are they old enough for you not to have to run round after them at all? I think I would be tempted to get an appointment with your rheumatoogist by the sound of that ankle Christine. YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 59
Location: North Bucks
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Hello
Don't know how that title bit went all dotty!!
My situation is that l have 2 grown up sons, one married but living up the road, one living at home since leaving uni last year and my Daughter is at uni in her last year training to be a paramedic, she is 40 minutes away. Hubby was devastatingly made redundant 3 and a half years ago with the result that he works constantly, spedning most evenings and weekends attached to his laptop and mobile. I do not work, took early retirement nearly 2 years ago but often look after my grandchildren who are 18 months and 3 and a half, l do various things with my time but as of last week l am to do no exercise and rest. I have a cleaner who keeps my house in good order and a dog walker, l have 2 dogs and l have a nice new car so am mobile, l live in very rural buckinghamshire, its a 17 mile trek accross country to the Hospital (Stoke Mandeville) which is very overstretched with little resources.
The first consultant appointment available is not until Feb, l have an appointment in Feb so nothing to gain there! I am feeling a little better but frustrated that l am unable to get a podiatry appointment because no-one will answer the phone! My ankle is very hurty and am not sleeping well due to this, on the up side l have a pain clinic appt on thursday.
Hopefully things will look better tomorrow!!
Christine xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Christine,
Sorry to hear you are feeling so low. I can identify with the feeling of life passing you by! My daughter has just finished uni and is living at home, her and my husband are both working and I sometimes feel my sole role in life is to cook, clean and wash and iron for them! They do help, but everything is about their timetable, not mine
Hope you can get a podiatry appointment soon and get your foot sorted out.
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello Christine,
So sorry to read your post and that you feel so down. Pain certainly makes us feel sorry for ourselves
and we do have the right to moan. Glad you have an appointment at a pain clinic(I don't have one)
they hopefully will 'sort' you out, and hoepfully the podiatry will asnwer your call soon.
Take care. Treat yourself perhaps a new CD, DVD nice flowers, or a manicure(I love that when
I can afford to have a manicure and I always feel better)
Take care
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
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Hi Christine, So sorry to read you are feeling so low at the moment. It's probably down to the weather, my hand are giving me jip just now and getting me down. Things can only get better so try warm baths to ease the pain in your ankle, and rest as much as possible. Hope you get an appointment soon, it appalling you have to wait so long to get that ankle seen to. Thinking about you Lorna x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hi Christine, Sorry that you are feeling so low at present,and that you have such a problem with your ankle. I don`t know if you have a rheumy nurse? She maybe able to help hurry things along with podiatry. I had a similar problem to you with my right ankle, and they gave me a stick as well, which did help. But as my foot was turning inwards like yours, the thing which helped most was my insoles, so you really do need to see an orthotist, who can help.I wonder if your GP could hurry things along, if you get no joy from the rheumy dept.? It may be worth a try. Take care, Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Hi Christine
Really sad to hear things are so bad at present. It does seem as though you need an urgent appointment with that foot. I know this isn't the right way to go, but have you thought about seeing someone privately as a one off, just to get some relief from the present problem? Sometimes it's the only way to go. As for being chief cook and bottle washer - I feel for you. Even though Lucy is married and living 30 miles away we are STILL chief baby sitters, shoppers, going to the launderetters etc. etc. so I do wonder if it ever gets any better.
Hoping to be down in Quainton in Feb so will get in touch beforehand and we can meet up.
Lots of love
Jeanxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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Hi christine. sorry you are feeling low- but Im not really surprised. I wonder if you could ask for an air thing to support your ankle if it would be suitable? http://www.aircast.com/i...cts.detail/cat/1/id/102
my physio got me one. I cant manage sticks and really its chair full time here but I do know what you mean- it is another loss and should be respected and treated as such. Be VERY kind to yourself Jenni how to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/1/2010
Posts: 255
Location: hampshire
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Hi Christine I'm sorry you are feeling so low. I'm Sue, 58, a teacher with 3 grownup children. My youngest is away at uni and my oldest lives just around the corner. (Son is in London) My plan was to help with grandchildren(when they finally arrive  However I suspect I'm going to be less useful than I hoped. The trouble with family is they get so used to being able to rely on us and we pride ourselves on coping. But it is important to say when enough is enough. You need support now - it is your turn. Perhaps you should get them to read what has been said on here -make them really understand . Take care of yourself Sue 
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/19/2010
Posts: 88
Location: Saddleworth, UK
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Hi Christine,
Sorry you are not feeling your usual self - the only advise I can give you would be to get the walking stick and hit your family with it! Joking! but I do think that because we get up we must be well! Never mind the dignity aspect but we do get up and dressed and even apply makeup to make ourselves feel better - even though we are in so much pain we cant pick a mug of hot tea up or blow our nose without pain.
If you are like me you want to please everyone all of the time and with RA its just not possible, somethings have to give and if running around after grown up kids and letting hubby make his own tea then so be it!!
Thats my advise but I dont stick to it!! Its what other people tell me to do! I should practise what I preach!
Take extra care
Lxx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Christine Some really god advise here. Definitely the orthotist should be a first port of call and worth jumping the podiatrist if you can as they will likely refer you on any way. Get your GP on board and explain that you feel the need for urgent attention as it is causing so much difficulty for you. In the meantime get the stick; I got a cheap fold up one to take on holiday and boy it was the best £4.99 I ever spent. Hit a bad spot with a major flare, not the thing to thousands of miles away in Cyprus, but the stick was invaluable and certainly helped get me from my bed to the sunny terrace where I didn't mind staying put!! Also try strapping it up with crepe or similar bandages to give it some support. Change them regularly to maintain the strength and don't keep on in bed as they can be very restrictive. Hope you get some relief soon. Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 59
Location: North Bucks
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Hello
Thank you for all the really helpful advice, since l originally posted things have moved on and are definitely much, much better.
l managed to contact the hospital, finally!!! and was got in the next day to see the Registrar. When she examined me she said that it was my tendons that were the problem and it was the cause of the ankle being such a strange shape and all the pain, l had assumed it was the other way around!
Unfortunately it was part of the same flare up as all the joint problems and as it was primarily my Achilles tendon they would not be able to inject into the tendon. She injected into my ankle joint (ow ow ow!!!) and told me to rest for 48 hours. Since then l have noticed some improvement but any even mild activity aggravates it and causes pain and swelling so not much christmas shopping done!
I have now been given an urgent podiatry appointment for 13th January, pinning hopes on this that they will be able to help with the ankle slipping out of alignment as its very painful to walk, the end of the shin bones have shunted inwards causing the foot to go out like a flipper, very attractive!
My local cottage hospital do relaxation therapy on wednesdays which l find very helpful and l recently visited the pain specialist who is changing my pain meds regime so hoping christmas will be better than l had envisiged.
Thank you all for your replies and kind concern.
Christine xx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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So pleased things are better, Christine. Take carexxx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello Christine
So pleased things are going a little better for you. Relaxation sounds good
Hope Christmas will good for you
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/5/2010 Posts: 364 Location: mid glamorgan
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Hi Christine
So pleased things are a bit more positive for you and good luck with your appt in Jan xx
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