Hi all,

I felt I had to post about my experience today, it was my first visit to the physiotherapist at the hospital.

For the past two and a half years I have been seeing my consultant, working on finding the right medication to get the RA under control and into remission. At my last appointment I was due to see the Nurse, but advised that she had now left and I would see the sort of locom doctor. I told him that the Cimzia I have been on for about three and half months was beginning to work but still having problems as ever with painful shoulders, arms and wrists. For the first time, he offered me physiotherapy which I thought was a good idea. Well I went along today and was told that I had lost all my shoulders muscles ! I was really surprised as I have tried to carry on doing things even with the pain but obviously the RA has done its own thing. I have lots of exercises to do daily and going back in three weeks to see if there is improvement.

Perhaps others might enlighten me, but I think I should have been offered this right at the beginning just to try and control the muscles wastage, as my shoulders are still painful when I do anything and I have no strength in them at all. This new doctor was so thorough and helpful I hope he is taken on permanently, fingers crossed.

I hope my story may be of help to others in a similar position.

Julia x

Hi Rich

Its Darent Valley, while I was waiting to be seen in the clinic, another nurse told me the RA nurse had left and someone else was doing her clinic, I wasn t very happy as I actually thought I was seeing Dr Elmeidany to tell him how I was getting on with the CImzia which I had recently started on. When I went in I saw a Dr. Kitko, who I had briefly seen in the infusion clinic some months earlier and thought he was pretty on the ball then. I was so impressed with him that I put a posting on the hospital web site singing his praises ! Like you Rich I have never been offered anything at all by the hospital before, which really is just not good enough to say the least.

Julia x

Hi Julia

I'm sorry you haven't been referred to physio long before now, but so pleased the new doctor was thorough.

Rheumatology is now supposed to comprise a multi-discipline team, but I fear it isn't always so. Sadly, many people have to ask for a physio appointment, which is all wrong as it should be offered as a matter of course. I was offered physio at the beginning of my illness and it helped me to get through my replacement ops without too much trouble.

It's important for you to do the exercises as often as prescribed and things WILL get better.

Take care, Julia,

Much love
Jeanxxxxx

oooo same Hospital as me then Julia .. i thought it might be.. i am under Jilani ..so to speak (hehe) .. didn't know the nurse had left though :O
Not due to go back for another 3 months :(.. was on the verge of changing hospitals when a strong complaint got attitudes changed ... we will see ..:)
and where are all these Hospitals that have a multi disciplinary team as "advertised" ?

Hope all of it goes well :)

Rich X

Hi all

I agree about physio - I think it should be offered on diagnosis - to help us keep as much movement and muscle as we can while suffering the effects of the RA. I had to ask for it - and when I got to see the physio he said 'you have too many joints affected for me to treat' and that was that(apart from a couple of hand out sheets with excercises!) I have kept swimming when I have been able.
Although my rheumy dept are quite good, I have had to ask for some things rather than them being offered automatically. Again - I suppose it's all down to funding and there's only so much in the pot!

Thanks Sheila, it is painful to do these exercises but its painful doing most things so I really have nothing to lose and I m sure with time my shoulders will improve. I go back to the physio in three weeks so I hope she can see a difference in my shoulders.

Love Julia x

Hi Agnes

Thank you for posting, and for your best wishes. It really is quite amazing that for those of us on anti-tnf and similar drugs, which costs a huge amount of money that they let you down with the physiotherapy side which really just doesn t make any sense really. During my examination I asked for exercises for my knees as they are very stiff and can t bend them much, she explained that this was not on the referral from the consultant, so now I will contact him so hopefully he can add this area for my next visit. I hope you get the referral to the gym

Take care, Julia x

Hi Dorothy

Thank you for your message, wonderful to hear that you receive such good treatment just how it should be !

Best wishes Julia x

Hi Jenni

I think you are absolutely right, when I first sat with her she seemed very dismissive about my RA and to be honest I wasn t very impressed by her approach and almost wondered why I was there. When she saw me trying to take my dress off ( wouldn t have worn it if I realised it had to come off - should have plugged my brain in ! ) and saw the pain on my face she took a lot more interest, the things you have to do

Love Julia x

Hi Lyn

Thank you for you thoughts, although difficult I will continue with the exercise. I hope my post has highlighted to others the great importance of physio when being diagnosed, and funnily enough although my hospital is struggling financially due to PFI 's there were a whole army of physio's in the department and my appointment was speedily arranged - it makes no sense to me

With love and best wishes Julia xx