To be annoyed at GP

[Maisemoo]

Did an online form to speak to Dr re terrible hip pain that has got worse over last 2 months. GP rang me and told me well it will be muscle pain, I explained I had had major hip surgery in the past (both thigh bones at neck joint cut in half and metal screwed and plated in place) and she yes that’s ok but it can’t be bone related as at 35 your too young for things like arthritis. I then explained how I have arthritis confirmed by a consultation and in March this year had an urgent operation on my face to help it and have since been referred to a hospital an hour away as the surgery didn’t help, arthritis has also been confirmed in fingers. GP said well I think it’s muscle so take ibuprofen and you don’t need to be seen.
AIBU to think this is a complete fob off and she given my history she should of at least booked me to actually assess my pain/ hip

That is awful.
Do you see a rheumatologist can you phone their secretary or someone you've seen previously

Were you not given a follow-up appointment with the hospital after the surgery or even referred for physio? Or were you discharged straight to GP. It sounds like she really couldn't be bothered.

Ask to see a different GP.

I had a follow appointment following operation and another scan which showed the operation was not successful so a referral was completed to another headline an hour away that is the specialist in this area- the letter confirming this can be seen on my NHS app I have so I know the GP has it. The didn’t refer to physio as not much can be done by them as it was my jaw joint (TMJ)

Following the hip operations I had extensive hydro and physio there it they were a few years ago and the hips have been good - which is why I was concerned they are suddenly playing up

GPs are rubbish at anything MSK related.
Are you able to see an osteopath? I know it's private, but they will assess/check you and can either provide treatment, or they can write a letter for your GP with their findings and suggestions (I.e a scan).
Most osteopaths refer direct to private MRI scanners, if people have the means.

This post is confusing OP.

Was the referral about your hip joints or your TM surgery?

That's dreadful. Is there another GP ag the practice?

Can you refer yourself directly back to the consultant or whoever treated you at the hospital last time?

of course she should be reviewing you but as an ex-physio GP's aren't always the best for musculo-skeletal stuff. do you have any direct access physio at your practise? ps. physios do also treat TMJ pain but it sounds like you have systematic problem affecting multiple joints...are you under a rheumatologist as you often can get easier access to physio etc ? age becomes irrelevant when you have certain diagnoses or medical history (i've had physio colleagues need hip replacements in their 40's/50's because of work related hip problems)

I doubt if another GP could do any more.

If OP has hip pain then it won't be from the hip joints as she doesn't have any! They have been removed and replaced by prosthetics which, obviously, don't have a nerve supply.

There are other reasons for pain in that area one of which is muscular. OP will have been given self-care exercises after the hip replacement, including exercises.
Being overweight also puts strain on the muscles in that area.

The GP has advised you to take ibuprofen. So take it for a week, see if the pain recedes and if it doesn’t, go back. That’s how medicine works - try the simplest solution first, if that doesn’t work try something else, if that still doesn’t work refer to a specialist or for X-rays / blood tests.

I’d be asking for a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon or at the very least an X-ray.

My son is younger than you but had major hip surgery, we were advised he is now at higher risk of arthritis.

I'm not in the UK but went to the Dr for hip pain without your history, I had blood tests taken, was sent for an mri and an xray, referred to rheumatology and physiotherapy and prescribed naproxen for the pain. I'm 37 so about your age. So with your history I would definitely expect more than take nurofen.

I think given your history it’s completely reasonable to be seen. I would be annoyed too.

@Inmybirthdaysuit do you, or insurance, have to pay for those things?

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you've written but I read it as you've been referred by the original surgeon to a tertiary centre because the hip surgery was unsuccessful. If this is the case, realistically there's not a lot else your GP can add until your seen by the specialist other than analgesia. I may have got the wrong end of the stick from your OP though and agree that her manner sounds quite dismissive even if the end result was the same.

I’d self-refer to the physio in the first instance, as they can then refer you to the appropriate specialist department - that way, you can skip the GP altogether. Generally, I don’t think GPs are great when it comes to bones (orthopaedics, arthritis etc).

This was why I was trying to find out what the referral was for, as the post was ambiguous.
As yet, OP hasn't returned, so we are none the wiser.

If OP is already under the care of a consultant it would be unethical of the GP to prescribe anything than simple painkillers.

People are too keen to go down the "GP is rubbish/uncaring/incompetent" road. GPs are constrained by Professional Ethics which means not "treading on another medical practitioner's toes".

Sorry my TMJ surgery this year was unsuccessful as the arthritis was more progressed than originally thought so have been referred on.
I also do have my hip joints it was the femoral neck that was literally cut in half and moved to create the correct angle and then plates and pins used to stabilise so not hip replacement as such.

I have also been taking regular pain relief and anti inflammatory since the pain started and it was only when it continued to get worse weeks later I contacted the GP

My hip operations were a good few years ago now so I was discharged from my orthopaedic surgeon but told if any further issues to be referred directly back to him

Then you ned to ask your GP for a referral then.

Too young for arthritis! Maybe this gp needs to be retrained as my dd has had it from the age of 9! The JIA group I am part of there are babies who've had it at pre one years old.

Out of interest, do you have medical insurance or is your healthcare free like the NHS?
I also went to the GP with hip pain about a month ago. He prescribed Naproxen and told me to come back if it was still there in 2 weeks. It went after a week. If he had referred me for all the tests your doctor did it would have been a complete waste of money / resources.