Update. Moving on from initial diagnosis tantrums

General
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Hi All,

Sorry I’ve not posted for so long. I got busy with work stuff (less said is best) and busy with my monster puppy Freddie a black labdrador now just over 9 months old. He’s full on energy and massively adorable - even if his energy is sometimes more than I can cope with at times. But he’s sweet and is trying very hard to understand.

So where did I leave off? I think I said I was trying an Irish homoepathic treatment called the Collins Treatment, using an 1950’s dental anaesthetic utterly diluted down. Had some success with that but it’s hit and miss, presently missing more than it’s hitting. But when it worked it was just perfect. No pain or swelling for near on 6 weeks. Can’t seem to get back to that presently and sadly. And of course it could just have been that my symptoms just decided to take a hike for 6 weeks too. We’ll never know.

So presently I’ve got severe bum pain as in buttock pain, mostly in my left side, cramps awfully at times too mostly in the back of my thigh. Obviously from my hips and sacral joints. I also get odd intense rib pain very similar in type on both sides which thankfully comes and goes. My foot rarely swells anymore but does occasionally just to make me remember. I now live in crocs and croc walking boots, the very best boots I’ve ever owned. And I’ve severe right tennis or golfer’s elbow along with Dupetryns nodules in my right hand. Three on the last count. No contractures yet thankfully.

I finally got off steroids. Manage everything with Naproxen and some Tramadol But I’ve asked my GP to refer me to Bath. It’s been a year now and it’s time I felt I was assessed by the centre of excellence in the UK and got some coherent overarching care going. It’s not going away, further symptoms keep occuring even if other sy:blush:mptoms disappear (and sometimes all disappears for that magic 6 weeks) but it’s time I was overhauled like a car!

So now I’ll catch up on everyone else’s posts and of course keep you posted on my progress.

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Poo, so great to hear from you! It sounds as if you’ve given the alternatives a good go. A referral to Bath is an excellent move: I think you will get a thorough and accurate assessment there, and realistic suggestions about what course of treatment would be best for you at this point.

Buttock pain. Tell me about it. I’ve got it too, on the right. It feels like piriformis pain (long story, look that up, it’s a muscle spasm) but when the doc tried to replicate it by twisting my leg around, no luck. A muscle relaxant, though, helps. Who knows.

Good for you, getting off steroids. Those drugs can have really scary side effects, but I’m sure you know all about that.

All the best to you in 2017! Let us know what happens to you and your adorable ball of canine energy.

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Aha! Found your update after replying to your response on my butt-pain post.

I’m jealous that you’re going to the Bath hospital. My new rheumy seems very good but the break-neck speed with which she conducted the appointment suggests that time is the one thing she does not have. I get the impression that Bath are able to spend a little more time on patients and therefore to give your condition more thought. Ideal! I hope you get an appointment soon and that it is very productive. Can’t wait to hear more, good luck!