And the Hip Bone’s connected to the ……………….

I am not your standard kinda gal.
I cut myself on the box getting the knife out, I fell up a step, eating salads makes me put ON weight, and I have less hair on my legs where I didn’t shave that the areas where I did.
I’d already been told by a previous GP in the ’90s (who actually monitored me over a period of some 12  months) that if my hormone levels were ‘normal’ I was ill, yet if they were all over the place, I was healthy. This is why I refuse to be a part of the ‘Tick your Bits’ charts most GPs live by in their opinions, diagnosis and prescriptions (no disrespect to the medical profession intended but I am an individual, not a computer print out).

If my biology teacher was still alive, she would no doubt be smirking under her blue/pink/purple rinse (depending on what school term it was) saying she was right, I was thick and never paid attention in class.
Well, maybe she was, but then no I’m not, and yes I did. However, maybe not all on the same day.

Today I let the side down, or should I say, the pain in my side down.
Hands up those of you who remember Bruce Forsythe’s Generation Game TV show and the one about where certain parts of your anatomy were.

It is official that I have arthritis in my back, hands, feet, knee and both hips (my ears are OK though thanks). When the pain gets too bad, I take basic OTC (over the counter) medication, one dose of which is usually sufficient.
Except for the past two weeks or so.
Especially the last two days.

MOH has a nice comfy three piece suite in his lounge.
So comfy, my body didn’t want to get out of it.
Let’s rephrase that.
My body couldn’t get out of it.
I literally could not get up as the pain shooting through my right hip was excruciating to the extent of bringing tears to my eyes.
The guys were on hand to give me a pull up, but it hurt all the more, so I had to sit back and get my breath.

I tried rocking forward. Ouch.
I tried heaving myself upright. Ow!
In the end, I had to roll myself into the arm clockwise, twisting my feet in front of me as I did so, and lever myself up from a reverse position, arse first . Very elegant (not).
This didn’t work all the time either, and it didn’t matter if I’d been seated for five minutes or fifty, something in my hip would lock and it hurt to move.

I decided to see the doc, and it took nine attempts to get through to a recorded message saying my call would be handled shortly and to continue to hold.
‘Shortly’ ended up being over 20 minutes (and £5 in mobile fees) but I was pleased to get an appointment for 10.40 this morning.
Naturally, it doesn’t hurt so much today, but I’m not daft enough to think it’s going to go away.
MOH is worried.
Hubby is worried.
Hell, I’m worried! Something is going on, and much as I don’t like going to the doctor, I can’t go on like this.

“The ball and socket hip joint is working very well,” he said as he moved my leg up, down and round in all directions. He prodded me and I winced.
”From what you’ve described and where the pain actually is, it’s nothing to do with your hip, but more the nerves at the top of the pelvis. You are therefore more than likely pinching a nerve, which can be very painful.” (Tell me about it)
You can see from this picture (looks like really old bones) that the hip and my pain are some distance apart (oops, sorry Miss).

I told him that ibuprofen affected my kidneys (as per their diabetes nurse), paracetamol on a regular basis gave me diarrhea, I avoided aspirin as it was thought I had an ulcer several years ago and codeine made me puke.
”The nerves are very near the surface, so as you seem to be limited with the painkillers available, a topical application would probably suit you best.”
I was then given a choice of ibuprofen gel or a chilli pepper medication.
I said I just wanted something to take the pain away (thinking not eat it) so I came away with a prescription for a 10% ibuprofen gel, chances of which I could buy over the counter anyway as I had done in the past when my knee started playing up.

The interesting thing is that the painkilling cream Hubby was prescribed years ago that worked for my hands could well work for this. We have lots.
That’s plan A.
He was recently prescribed the chilli pepper stuff for the pain in his side (no relation to mine by the way), so that’s Plan B.
At over £8 per item to fill any prescription, we think it makes economic sense to try what we already have first.

Note:
Pain of any description should not be ignored.
I admit I am stubborn and will make jokes to hide my discomfort and self concern.
I am loathe to visit a GP mainly because of past frustrations in getting an answer to the call in the first place, the holding time, availability (or not) of appointments, being rushed by said GP when I do see one, then being prescribed something that either doesn’t work or I am allergic to because they didn’t listen or bother to read my notes.
GPs in my last surgery were little better than useless, with some diagnosis being given by their receptionist!
At least today I came away from the surgery feeling a little more positive.

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