thanks folks for the info and support on my first post.
In the small town I live (pop 1200) we have been with out a Doctor for the last 5 years, so the Walk In Clinic a 40 minute drive seems to be my only chance to meet with a doctor (most times it's a nurse practitioner)
I visited the Walk In last week and was able to see a doctor - who authorized Blood-Work and is to setup an appt with a Rheumatologist
it's been 3 days now and I still have not recieved a call back with an appt date, the evenings and mornings I suffer very intense pain in all joints, I was perscribed 500mg of Naproxen twice a day, but have recieved zero relief, I am now taking in addition to the Naproxen -Tylenol3 every 4 hours. this provides excellent relief for the fingers/wrists/elbows but only masks a bit of the knee pain.
My question is: should I just admit myself to the hospital period, and demand they have a Rheumatologist visit me - I am about 40% bed-ridden - so just phone 911 and complain/complain/complain to get some help,
thanks folks
I would call the doc back and tell him/her what you posted above. That you are not getting any relief. Sometimes it may take a little while for the meds to kick in or maybe you need something different. There are a lot of meds out there.
The pain meds don't always take care of the pain but there are stronger ones. I think calling them back is a good idea but there are times even on good pain meds that I am still in a lot of pain. I am housebound and in bed 6-8 hours a day as well. The rheumy will hopefully start you on RA meds that will in time help with all of this.
Hang in there.
That's a tough situation. If it wasn't the weekend, then you could try calling the doctor in the clinic. If you do a walk in appointment, they might prescribe something stronger for the pain. However, are you even able to drive? I guess that should be your deciding factor whether or not you can drive to the clinic or have someone take you.
Calling 911 does not necessarily mean you will get the help you need. It really depends on what kind of care is available. Again, they might give you something more for the pain but unless the Rheumy is on call, they just might make you go back home and wait for that appointment. Really it is your insurance that kind of decides whether or not you can get a hospital admittance. They might not tell you that upfront though.
Your knee pain still being much more than your other joints indicates that you might have a specific problem going on in the joint. If you do go, then demand an xray and possibly a MRI. It is a possibility that one joint needs PT or surgery.
Good luck with your decision. I love small towns but this is one reason that I still stay in the city.
Oh, also if you go in, see if they can give you a Cortisone shot in your knee. You want someone really experienced to do this. And, you want to make sure it is not a tendon problem.thanks folks
I will wait it out till monday, and call the clinic, I am in Ontario Canada so the Healthcare system here covers a good % of the costs, any perscribed meds will be out of pocket.
Will persist for the MRI
~ian
How about Predisone? Maybe that could get you through until you see an RD if you can get them to prescribe it.