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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 177
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I got a phone call from the hospital last Wednesday asking me to come to the hospital on Saturday. I thought it was a wind up to be honest as it was my birthday on that day!
Anyway it wasn't as i got a letter in the post confirming it. Apparently the hospital is trying to catch up with appointments.
I mentioned that i had been getting awful pain in my hip and he examined me and prodded around the hip and i nearly took off as the pain was so bad. He then said i had bursitis which i a fluid filled sac of inflammation between the hip joint and muscle. Rest and pain killers should ease it and i could have a steroid jab directly in to that area. I gather that would be painful as he whinced and said he wouldn't reccomend the jab!
Has anyone else got this problem?
Love Shirley x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Shirley Saturday appointments eh, that's a step in the right direction for the good old NHS ... even if they are catching up! Bursitis (inflammation of the fluid sac which acts as a cushion between the muscle and the joint) is a common problem in people with Rheumatoid. I think trochanteric bursitis is possibly one of the worst because it can virtually paralyse you. I spent many evenings not wanting to go to bed knowing that within a very short time the pain in the hip would appear and I would be stuck in one position unable to move. Unfortunately it isn't something that will go away on it's own and needs probably both a steroid injection into the bursa sac and some exercises to strengthen the hip muscles and stretch the iliotibial band. I have had a few periods of bursitis in my right hip and on the last occasion received a steroid injection via ultrasound directly into the bursa. This ensures the right area is treated, often difficult to acheive when a large area is involved. For me that did the trick and it must be 3/4 years ago now and I've had no further problems with it. I would definitely recommend the steroid, yes hurts a bit but not that much and significantly less than the pain you are probably already putting up with! Go for it, it really will improve the condition. Lyn x Belated Happy Birthday Shirley 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Hi Shirley YES!!!! I've had it for a good few months now and it hasn't gone away. I pleaded for an injection into the bursa but because my hip is replaced they won't do it. Grrr..... I hate to say it, but these injections are often fine. Most joint injections hurt a bit, but the blessed relief afterwards is well worth it. I'd say go for it - but it has to be your decisdion at the end of the day. Yours in complete sympathy  Jeanxxxxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 177
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Thank you Lyn & Jean for your replies. It really is very painful and you are right when you say it virtually parlysis you as that is exactly the feeling.
I will consider ringing the rheumy and arranging the jab. I don't know why but i feel really nervous about it.
I also have really bad pains in my ribs today and no doubt that is probably the RA too! Bloody illness this is to put up!
Love Shirley x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/20/2010 Posts: 244 Location: Cornwall
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Hello Shirley,
Going for my jab into the left hip on 16th, can't wait! Totally fed up with the pain, especially at night, and the hobbling around, although quite entertaining for others is putting everything else out of kilter. No number of gluteal stretches or gentle swimming is doing the trick. I've had the trochanteric bursitis going on since January and have had to wait 11 weeks for the jab so just about ready to scream the house down. Maybe the NHS make you wait so that when you eventually get the appointment you're just so grateful?! I'll let you know how I get on but my advice is to get on the list as soon as you can, you'll probably have to wait a bit.
Take care
Sara
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 177
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Hi Sara
Thanks for reply. I'm sorry to hear that you have suffered so long with this. I hadn't realised that the wait can be so long for a jab. I have just left a message with the rheumy nurse so hopefully i will get a call back Monday.
Love Shirley x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/20/2010 Posts: 244 Location: Cornwall
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Well done you!
You might not have to wait as long as me but its because of having it done under ultrasound which caused the delay down here. My GP offered to do it blind but I'd much rather they hit the spot first time. The initial delay in mentioning it to my GP was my own fault really so can't complain about that too much. Just doing the usual get on with it, ignore it, it might go away stuff until it really gets on my nerves!
I'll let you know what it was like afterwards, you might change your mind! I'm at the point though where the needle could be 12" long and I'd still go for it, slept really badly all this week and having a wading through treacle day as a result. Everything crossed it does the trick, the statistics are good at any rate.
Sara
x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/1/2010
Posts: 255
Location: hampshire
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Hi Shirley
I had this a couple of months ago. I had been in pain for ages and just assumed it was the RA hitting my hip joint. When I finally mentioned it to my GP he examined my hip and said it was bursitis. He gave me a steroid injection at his injection clinic a couple of weeks later. It hardly hurt at all and within a couple of days the pain began to ease. 6 weeks on and I only have a bit of an ache if I really overdo it. It is well worth doing so good luck.
Sue
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/28/2012 Posts: 665 Location: Newton Abbot
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I didn't realise that the GP could do steroid injections. I had my knees injected last year (4 times) but that was by a surgeon. I'm having trouble with my elbow atm, and am wondering whether to ask for a jab because I respond really well to steroids (based on the knee experience!) Good luck with the hip jab - Sylvia xx Be kinder than is necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Hi Sylvia
Not all GP's do joint injections. I have a fab GP but jabs are not in his line of expertise
Love Jeanx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Sylvia Just to add, steroids are really wonderful drugs BUT be very wary of having too many! There are significant side effects from the use of steroids even within the acknowledged guidelines. They do make us feel better, no doubt about it, but should be used as a rare exception rather than a quick fix. I regularly have to have my knees aspirated and injected due to long term, problems, I have also taken oral steroids in various doses for over 24 years. The steroids damaged the sight in both my eyes which then required corrective surgery and I now have a severe heart problem which looks again as though it could well be down to steroids. The long term effect and outcomes of many of the drugs used in the treatment of Rheumatoid are not yet fully understood. Joint injections are great but need to be used sensibly. Sorry if I sound like a real damp squid but experience has shown the need for caution where Corticosteroids are concerned. Lyn x PS My GP specialises in joint injections but won't touch Rheumatoid joints because of the high risk of infection.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/28/2012 Posts: 665 Location: Newton Abbot
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Cheers Lyn - point taken. I'll wait for the MTX to do its job - I've only been taking it for 4 weeks, so early days. Best wishes - Sylvia xx Be kinder than is necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/20/2010 Posts: 244 Location: Cornwall
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Hi Shirley,
I went last Monday, I was very brave, oh no she wasn't! Anyway, its not very pleasant but short lived so I reckon you can put up with it for that amount of time, I am also a big baby so you may think its nothing!
Unfortunately I think some of the pain was down to something else and I was putting it all down to the bursitis so the jury is out on whether or not its done the trick. It can take a while to work through apparently and you may not feel the full benefit for anything up to 4 weeks. I was told to go back to the GP if it was still playing up after 6 weeks.
Hope you get yours sorted soon
Sara
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 336
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Hello Shirley, I know the bursitis is very painful but I haven't gone with the steroid jab because my Rhuemy said to me that if it,s not done properly you can end up with even more problems. I've been putting a cold pack on it helps a bit. Glenys.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 177
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Hi Everyone
I'm on the waiting list now for an appointment and also the cancellation list so i don't know how long i'll wait for jab.
Glad you got yours done Sara. I hope things will improve for you.
I've just been out to get a bit of shopping and the pain is awful again even though i take pain killers 24/7.
Love Shiley x
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