Arm again - You will get as tired of this as I am!!

[Scottietottie]

The physiotherapist phoned me at home this morning. This is unusual. She said she had been researching lupus/sjogren's and healing and that it can have a detrimental affect. (We could have told her that!)

She also asked me if I knew that I did have the right to a second opinion and that I could change consultants if I wanted to. I'll give the man one more chance and after that I think I'll change hospitals!

[aussie mum]

Hi Scottie,

It's great to know the Physio is on your side.

Hope I'm not speaking out of turn but .....

If it were me, I would think seriously about getting another opinion (maybe the Physio can suggest someone). Due to the way you've been treated over the past 9 months, I would have little faith in your current consultant's ability.

Take care and good luck
Aussie Mum

[Carolina]

oh Scottie you have been right all along.

It wasn't getting better.

Gotta put that behind you and find the RIGHT surgeon to get your arm on track.

Bad stuff happens.

Best to move on and get to the next stage.

sigh

Keep us posted.

HUGS

Elaine

[Nancy60]

Scottie,

I don't know that I would trust your current consultant to do surgery on my arm even if he does recommend it.  Get copies of your scans and go to another consultant.  Ask your physical therapist for some recommendations!

Its time for you to start feeling better!

Nancy

[Sleepy In Seattle]

Scottie I have been thinking about you and your arm a lot lately - it really bothers me what you have been through. I know you say there are really only one or two doctors you can see - I assume you are in a small town.

Is there any chance you could travel someplace for the surgery? A bigger city somewhere within a few hours drive? I really want somebody to fix you up CORRECTLY, and at this point I am sure it's not exactly a straightforward case.

You could do most of the up-front work on the phone, on the computer, sending records back and forth, etc. - possibly even a lot of the pre-surgical blood work, etc. Then hopefully just head in for a couple of days for the actual surgery, and have local follow-ups.

I dunno - but I share a lot of the concerns people here on the group are having about you using this same medical team. They really don't seem to know what the heck they're doing! 

Sounds like your physio knows what's going on...maybe she (he?) would be a good resource/ally?

[Nancy60]

I may be speaking out of my realm of knowledge now, I don't really know very much about the UK health system/NHS, but I know I have read of other members from the UK being able to file complaints and get to see a new consultant and even being able, at the time of filing, to request where they are seen at. (I also go the The Lupus Site to read and many of their members are from the UK, I think thaat may be where I heard this).   

Gather up your medical records and scans, write a record of what you have gone through and your current condition and how it is impairing you, and file a request to get services elsewhere/change consultants. 

The longer you go without getting your arm fixed, the more difficult it will be to get a full functional return.  I am a Physical Therapist and can attest to that much.

I don't mean to scare you, but this has gone on for a long time, you need appropriate care.  Please take care and I hope you get some answers soon.

Nancy

[gmomjuju]

Scottie,

When I went to my orthopedic doc about my pelvic fractures last week he said that all of my auto immune issues would effect my healing.  He also gave me 50,000 units of Vitamin D and a nasal spray as I have had osteoporis from the prednisone I have taken.

I think about you and your issue and I know and feel your pain and discouragement.  When you feel one of those little pangs please know that there is someone else here that is experiencing the same feelings!

Judy

[Scottietottie]

Thank you very much for your replies.

There are two other hospitals I could potentially go to but I am not sure that the hospital I am with just now would share scans or x-rays with them. The health service is not as straightforward as it used to be as successive governments have been changing things fairly radically.

I did contact an organisation called PALS today though. It's a patient/doctor liaison service. I said I didn't have a specific complaint but that things were taking an age and I was considering a second opinion. They are going to forward my email to a couple of relevant departments and hopefully things will move quicker. They will also look into whether any of the surgeons at that hospital specialise in arms and shoulders. I looked up my current specialist on line and his listed speciality is knees and hips.

Thanks again - Scottie 

[Bucky]

I looked up my current specialist on line and his listed speciality is knees and hips.

   

I hope they call back with some good news for you, Scottie.

Bucky