Hi all, I have been a little absent lately due to being unwell. I caught a virus that affected my chest and sinuses, have never felt so ill. Anyway, I started to get weakness, leg buckling, then other leg, then arm, then hands. I couldn't use any fingers at all. After 3 days of this, I went to gp who promptly admitted me to hospital. So, am in hospital feeling rather silly as not really ill, feel a total fraud. A very nice doc comes to talk to me. Who after examining me concludes I am having a severe flare, had I not noticed my joints were on fire and severely inflamed??????? Errrmmmm, no actually, I felt that rotten with the virus actually I hadn't . Did I notice the pain? Errmmm, no, but my sinuses are killing me!!

So, turns out the weakness was extreme stiffness and inflammation in joints. Also turns out that the absolutely excruciating pain I have had for a few months now, in my back, is actually my hip. how am I supposed to know??? Boy do I feel a idiot!!!! The doc was very nice and agreed to discharge me as long as I doubled steroids and saw rheumy this week. ( Which is proving to be a challenge as his sec is being a dragon, despite copy of discharge letter, and I don't have rheumy nurses number!)

So that is my tale!! I am resting by the fire, with my horrid virus and painful joints!!!!

Anyone any tips or advice for hip joint pain? I can hardly bear weight with it, can't stand due to pain. Is that normal, also does it always cause weakness?

Thanks

Deb x

Hi Deb

Poor you, you must be feeling rotten, no wonder you didn't notice the flare. I get hip and back pain, I think it's best if you try to rest and take your painkillers.

I hope you feel better soon.

Lyn

Oh Deb, poor you!
I hope the flare starts to pass soon and you can get relief from the pain.

Love and hugs, Doreen xx

Oh Debbie you sound in a poorly way- and you're NOT stupid! i also don't seem to experience the same symtoms as other people when I'm having a flare.

Hi Deb,

Agree with Julie you are not stupid. I'm sorry to hear this it sounds like you've been having an awful time and are currently having to put up with a lot of pain. Not everyone can describe symptoms in the way doctors would like and we are not all the same in the way that we manage or tolerate pain.

I experienced weakness in my leg which was caused by a slipped disc, but my leg did become stronger once my back got better.

Hope you get better,

Love,


Barbara
XXXXXX

It's not stupid that you didn't realise it was a flare Debbie. I think a lot of us have a lot to think about and are used to feeling pain and feeling rubbish but still carrying on anyway, we don't look at all the symptoms individually. I'm glad someone was on the ball though and got you the diagnosis you needed. I agree with others that you could ask your GP to chase the rheumy for you. You shouldn't have to do it when you are feeling ill with the virus on top of the flare. Take care and stay warm.

Julie

Hi Deb,

Oh my goodness, you poor love! Are you home then??

I really really empathise with your hip pain. When we first called the emergency Dr out in May, he actually made me stand up to check it wasn't my back.

It can affect the back more though than the actual hip. Mine was always right inside my hip which sort of came round into my groin (arrgh!) and down my leg. It was so severe I couldn't move the entire leg, even the toes. Then it would disappear and I'd be stiff, achy and in pain but not debilitating.

As Eleanor saud, I had a steroid via ultra sound in October and it has worked wonders! I know it is masking the real problem (subsnatial erosion in 5months- aggressive or what?!LOL) but has helped SO much.

Hoping you'll be given the same treatment. I'm afraid for pain relief nothing touched it at all. Tramadol and diazepam I took all the time and it didn't alleviate the really excruciating pain but reduced the spasms ...

MANY prayers, will remember you tomorrow at the Epiphany Mass, that is if we can get there!
Amanda

So sorry to hear this Debbie and hope you have started to feel better.

As for being stupid - forget it! You're lovely!

Love
Jeanxxxx

Thank you all for your kind words, it has given me a real lift!! Am feeling rather low today. Snowed in so had a nice lie in!!!! Hoping for the same tomorrow!! I have got conjuctivitis now as well, so am looking extremely attractive!! Oh the joy!! I had a gp appt today that I have waited weeks for, but had to cancel as couldn't get there due to snow!! So will have to wait mfor snow to clear!!

Keep warm everyone!

Deb x