Arthritis

[VanilaPudding]

I've been struggling with my feet for a while. 6 6 months or so where I left it hoping it would get better.

Physio thought it was Achiles tendinopathy & I've been doing exercises & cut down my walking by 75% but nothing is getting any better.

This time when I saw the physio she said that it might actually be arthritis. So, no new exercises, nothing to help with the pain or anything, just suffer on & 'Hope that the GP accept the request to do blood tests'.

Has anybody had similar to this? I'm so fed up. I can't walk properly, I can't do things with my kids that we used to do, I can't manage the stairs properly & I suffer from incontinence so when I need to go, I need to go, but I'm not able to get up to the toilet quick enough.

I know this post is a pity party I'm just struggling big time with this. I'm hurting so much & it's been going on for a year now

Anybody?

I feel like the physio mislead me a bit. Last time she said 'You probably need the injections & that should stop the pain, but you have to of been seeing us for 6 months before I can refer you'.

It's now 6 months & she's changed it to... 'You can't have the injections until/unless we rule out arthritis

Why don't you see the GP to ask about getting an arthritis diagnosis?

You have been in pain for over a year. It's having a massive negative effect on your quality of life. Physio is clearly not enough.

Did the GP refer you to physio or was it a self referral/private?

I would speak to the GP & ask for X-rays & blood test.
I do have osteoarthritis (X-ray & ultrasound to diagnose & bloods to rule out rheumatoid) but when I saw physio for a non arthritis shoulder issue she wrote to my Dr requesting an X-ray to check the issue as exercises didn’t work for the longest time.

I suppose your physio thought it was one thing but, as the treatment isn’t working, now needs to rule out arthritis before saying injections are needed. I know it’s disheartening, pain is very wearing. I hope you get some answers & treatment soon

MrsGluck Yes it must be about a year as it started last summer, then I left it for about 6 months before doing anything. I went to the GP twice & they said pulled/sprained muscle.

I self referred to the physio TooHotTooGreedy because I didn't believe the GP had it right with a sprained muscle & it wasn't getting better.
My feet are very swollen across the back.
I hope you are getting some relief for yours now?

the physio sent the letter today asking for blood tests but kept saying that they rarely accept the referrals for some reason.

Ask your GP to send you for x rays to confirm arthritis. Have you been tested for rheumatoid factor? You should be.

vipersnest No, nothing yet. The physio only mentioned arthritis today.

Up until today I was struggling along with the exercises hoping for injections soon, I had made my peace with the fact that it was Achiles tendinopathy.

(The physio said that since I'm still doing the school run etc then it will take a while to heal)

Nothing has changed really, I just thought I'd post again.

Due to kids being sick, a 4 week wait on the blood tests & then no childcare in the holidays, I've only just got this blood test booked. I've spoken to the GP a few times over the phone since last post & they didn't really say anything apart from I can have blood tests, wait for that, so I insisted that I actually want somebody to look at my feet & saw them today.

She's referred me for an ultrasound scan & a referal to podiatry & Rheumatology but said they might all reject the referal if I don't have the blood test results.

She said physio have discharged me which I didn't realise & feel quite upset about that really! At least then I was vaguely under somebody's care, now I'm just kind of in limbo!

The holidays are hell in general, buses everywhere at £7 a day & then sitting down as much as I can when we get there. Panicking if there are stairs

@VanilaPudding, you can still ask for another referral to physio or do it yourself (here patients have for refer themselves).
The waiting for the blood tests is understandable (although frustrating for you I know), because they are a requirement to move on to the next stage. To give you an example, I have neurological symptoms (numbness, twitching, feeling like parts of me are on fire, pins and needles), but I can't go any further with a neurologist until I've had MRIs.
It's annoying, but part of how the NHS care pathways work.

Thanks vipersnest I know that's just how it is really, I'm just struggling

I hope you get some relief from your soon, that sounds really difficult. And thank you for answering

Just be aware that rheumatoid arthritis doesn't always show up in a blood test. It didn't in my case.

Froodledo I know, but I'm just doing what I'm being told to do really.

I've had an ultrasound in my feet & she said I have tears in both tendons.

Over-use & wearing the wrong shoes when exercising she said has probably caused it.
So where I walked my kids all over the place thinking the walking was good exercise, wearing cheap shoes because that's all I can afford, I've now damaged myself.

Feeling pretty shit

Do you take cod liver oil and celandrin.? I could also hardly walk with foot pain, and I find these really helpful. It might also be worth seeing whether some insoles could help you, as they support your feet into a better shape. You can get vivsole on eBay for a few quid.

I hope this helps, I was too lame to walk in 2008, and now I can get round the house/ shops though I will never be a long distance hiker

Thanks for answering Allthegoodnames.
I will have a look at those.
Did you ever get a diagnosis?

Has anybody else got any experience of Achilles tendon tears?

I was wondering if I might be able to get some pain relief from GP but I don't suppose it's worth asking.

My DD had pain relief from the GP for a similar problem - naproxen as an anti inflammatory worked well.