Moms got it. The Docs do work for us. You supervise employees to get the best out of them. Its amazing what you put up with from a competent employee.
I understand your frustration and I have had similar experiences. You could change your specialist and get better or you could get another one who is worse.
These are some things that I have tried and are my thoughts for you. Try different tactics until you strike one that works with your doctor. Dont be afraid to emphasise to your doctor that your current treatment is not working for you the way you had hoped and that you are far from satisfied with the results of your medication Tell your consultant in a way that is short concise and to the point as most don't want to have to listen to anymore than they have to as they hear it all day long or offer a point form list.
Do not be afraid to say I don't feel you understands the effect that my pain has on my life. In point form again list off how it affects your life rather than just complain about pain. Remind your specialist that you have read how common it is not to show up on the x-rays and ask if it could be the tendons or if it is planter faciites what steps can be taken to help you walk without so much pain and ask about a referral to a physio or a podiatrist. Never miss an opportunity in asking for what ever else could help or what other tests are available to proove or disprove their diagnoses or ask what did they base their conclusion on.
I try to use my appointment time to be as constructive as possible to get the most out of my appt time as I can. I am not there for a doctor to be nice and chatty to me I just want results as that is what I am pay for. My appointment time frame does not allow time for small talk as I am in and out in seven minutes. I do appreciate those very special doctors who can manage both the nice and are good at what they do.
I choose my appointment time very carefully as I hate it when they are late and playing catch up time and cutting my time short. Either the fist appt of the day or as close to or the first appointment or the first after lunch after the doctor has had a break and hope he feels refreshed. Never the last of the day. I know I can feel very vunerable when I rely on a doctors training to advise me with what they recommend, but unfortunately that often puts us in a situation where they have all the control. Educate yourself on your disease and don't be afraid to put your view point forward use a print out to show the doctor the information you have read. I do sometimes feel that they try and take advantage of us because we don't know and don't have the same training but in our world today I feel it can be an advantage to do our research and know what you are talking about with your doctor and to challenge their thinking.
I make my lists and I go over what I want to achieve and how I am going to try to get my points across at my next appointment. I know it shouldn't be this hard and we shouldn't have to work so hard at it. Sometimes this is our only option. So next appointment be ready and well prepared.
You dont need to toughen up, you need proper treatment. I have had the night pain you describe but after many years of trying different drug combinations and three consultants Enbrel and a small dose of prednisone are working for me.
I must apologize for my ignorance. I did not realize you were in UK. I dont know the difference in healthcare. I must broaden my horizon. Thanks for the awakening.
I forgot to add to my earlier post that my back x-rays came back normal despite intense pain in the SI joint area. I have previously had a lot of tendon and ligament involvement. When I discussed the pain at my last appointment and suggested it may well be ligament rather than bone, the Doctor said it didn’t matter which it was as far as the treatment went, the treatment is the same for both.
So the way I saw it was I was really lucky it was ligament not bone, yes the pain is often debilitating, but I’m not getting bone damage.
The plan is for increased MTX (25mg) and if still having problems in 5 months MRI’s to follow (tendon and ligament damage/problems usually don’t show up on x-ray but usually do under MRI investigation)
Hi there all of you, I saw my own doctor yesterday and I told him how my consultant had been with me and he said that he must have been having a bad day.I told him that I tried to talk to the consultant about my shoulder pain and that he didnt want to listen. He gave me a long consultation using information from the consultant and we went over everything, he told me that I have the psoriatic arthritis in my hands, wrists, feet, chest, and the pain I have in my lower back is either from damage to the tendons and ligaments or from mechanical back pain.I also have plantar fascitis in my left foot. I start the Avara 10mg after some blood test results come back, he is just checking that all my base levels are ok. He said that I probably have the psoriatic arthritis starting in my shoulder also. The psoriasis at the moment is really bad I have it over my scalp, in and over one ear, on both knees, and on my toes on one foot. I guess this is a flare up and Im hoping that getting this treatment going I may see some improvement. The constant pain, stiffness and tiredness is getting me down. Im used running around and in charge of 18 elderly people with dementia now Im stuck at home all day everyday. I miss my previous life so much.My GP did tell me that I probably wont be able to go back to lifting people around again but I just want to get back to being with them. Thanks again for all of your replies I am so glad to hear from others like me x