Stand up for yourself

julie62 · Post by **julie62** » 08 May 2013, 22:34

Now I dont think I'm particularly backwards at coming forwards but I just wanted to say if you are in pain and suffering stand up for yourself at your GPs surgery. I've been suffering with a bad knee for two to three years now and numerous visits to the GP had resulted in an xray which showed arthritis in my knee and loads of different painkillers from the GP and basically a message that I would need to put up with the discomfort.

It's really been affecting my life as I cant straighten the knee properly and therefore cant walk far.

Anyway I went back to the GP a couple of weeks ago and saw a locum who examined me (the first GP to examine me amazingly) and referred me for further tests. Today I've seen a specialist who has said the arthritis in my knee isn't that bad and that the problem is likely to be cartilage. I'm now having an operation to hopefully rectify this. The doctor seemed confident that with physio after the operation the chances are I will be hopefully back to near normal.

I'm upset that I've basically suffered with this for two to three years and been fobbed off with painkillers from my GP when it's a condition that hopefully is treatable.

So basically STAND UP FOR YOURSELF when you go to the doctors and dont let them fob you off with painkillers - I feel annoyed with myself for putting up with it for so long but the GP had basically said to me put up with it - you're too young for a knee replacment and its arthritis - the message from the specialist today was far more optimistic.

I know its good news and I'm pleased that hopefully it will be treatable but very angry with myself for putting my trust in my GP who has left me to suffer. }hairout{

mrs boodles · Post by **mrs boodles** » 09 May 2013, 06:01

Good for you, I think sometimes people are frightened to say anything to Drs for fear of being taken off their lists.

I am so lucky as have great GP practice and have had nothing but good from them.

albertajune · Post by **albertajune** » 09 May 2013, 14:42

I wholeheartedly agree with you, but for some people is easier said than done. Inititially we trust that our GP will do the best they can for us, but the easiest and cheapest route initially is the pain killer one.
I had the same problem with my first hip. I was eventually sent for X rays with the result being, my GP saying, 'no deteriation from last time'. Last time being 3yrs before. I did insist that I was in so much pain that something must be more wrong than was showing up and that I wanted a second opinion.
On seeing a consultant, he said that both hips were really bad and within 18mths both had been replaced.
If I hadn't insisted, I would eventually have been disabled with severe pain. Like you I am a strong person but sadly some people are in awe of medical people, so do put up with different things.