the "our ailments" thread

[JohnM]

3 hours ago, Bedford Roughyed said:

After a few excruciating hours yesterday evening, it appears I may have a kidney stone (or stones).  I was close to calling for an ambulance but the constant thought in my head was that I hadn't showered or put on clean pants, so couldn't go to hospital.  

Real colic is SO f €£¥%#$× painful. Frightening. Feels like your kidney is about to explode. Doesn't respond to pain killers.  If it happens again,  get to A &E. That's what I was told by the people in Huddersfield when it happened to me 28 years ago!

[Red Willow]

On 21/01/2022 at 17:29, Gerrumonside ref said:

Sciatica or chronic lower back pain.

Been given some painkillers and exercises to do to help alleviate the issue - one of them can only be described as ‘bonking the air’ repeatedly.

The problem itself is rather annoying and pretty debilitating.

My plans for world domination definitely put on hold for now.

Awful back pain, can't sit, lie down or stand.

The creams are good if you pick the ones that relieve swelling as well.

[Pigeon Lofter]

I had both cartilages in my right knee removed forty years ago, the result of rugby collisions, and was doing really well until three years ago. X-ray showed "moderate to severe arthritis" but I've soldiered on, walking 10 km every night without difficulty- unless it's down a steep hill, which is usually unpleasant. Knee pain has significantly worsened in the last couple of weeks, so much so that my gait has be be modified if I want to continue on a walk and the pain becomes tremendous.

I know knee replacements aren't considered high priority  so even if I wanted a new one I expect the waiting list to be massive so I need a quick fix just to get around. I've heard about cortisone injections direct into the joint and done at short notice by a GP or clinician, which gives relief for a few months. That would do me, something to help resumption of an active lifestyle. Anyone had these injections and how did it go? Thanks!

[JohnM]

My (usually ignored) opinion and advice: Walking 10km every night on knackered knees will only make things work. See your GP, get referred to an orthopedic surgeon, get on his list asap, get the clock ticking.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

I'm sure I'm turning into a hypochondriac.

Over the last few months I've been worrying about so many minor little niggles that in the past I wouldn't have even thought about. I think it's since I went to the doctor at the back end of last year about something I thought was nothing to worry about and I ended up being referred to a specialist and told I will probably need an operation...

Latest thing is a red spot like thing at the top of my leg which I squeezed earlier with the thing excreting a load of puss and blood. Probably just a bite or something like that but here I am going on about it. It will be gone in the morning as well and I'll wonder what I was bothered about. 

I've been very stressed recently for other reasons and I guess it's just that that's making me fret more about these things. I just need to find some way to relax a bit more... 

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

On 31/01/2022 at 18:48, Pigeon Lofter said:

I had both cartilages in my right knee removed forty years ago, the result of rugby collisions, and was doing really well until three years ago. X-ray showed "moderate to severe arthritis" but I've soldiered on, walking 10 km every night without difficulty- unless it's down a steep hill, which is usually unpleasant. Knee pain has significantly worsened in the last couple of weeks, so much so that my gait has be be modified if I want to continue on a walk and the pain becomes tremendous.

I know knee replacements aren't considered high priority  so even if I wanted a new one I expect the waiting list to be massive so I need a quick fix just to get around. I've heard about cortisone injections direct into the joint and done at short notice by a GP or clinician, which gives relief for a few months. That would do me, something to help resumption of an active lifestyle. Anyone had these injections and how did it go? Thanks!

The injections are great - for about three months. Im in exactly same position as you. 

[Pigeon Lofter]

12 minutes ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

The injections are great - for about three months. Im in exactly same position as you. 

I had mine two months ago, immediately after posting on here, and it has worked amazingly well. Took a few days to notice any improvement, but then it worked it's magic and I haven't looked back. When it ceases to give any benefit, I'll book another.

The GP will only put someone on the waiting list for knee replacement surgery when the steroid injections no longer work, so that might be a while yet. I can't reserve a place in the queue. There's a limit too for how many injections a patient should have in a 12 month period...I think it is three?

As you say, steroid injections treat the symptoms and aren't a long term solution, but they have given me incredible relief from the pain and discomfort caused by the bones rubbing together, and I've got my exercise routine back on track.

[Exiled Townie]

On 31/01/2022 at 18:48, Pigeon Lofter said:

Anyone had these injections and how did it go? Thanks!

I have had the meniscus (cartilage) in both knees wear out. The doc recommended cortisone injections.  They worked great at first, but the longer I took them, (over about 3 years) the less time it lasted until I was getting the injections and seeing no pain relief.  The injection itself looks awful, big syringe with big needle  injected behind the knee cap from the side. However in was only slightly 'uncomfortable', not painful at all.  I have seen a specialist who says that in the case of meniscus tears, sometimes they will heal themselves and sometimes they won't heal without treatment.  In the case of the meniscus wearing away, there is no option but surgery, but because I can still walk, even in though it's quite painful, I am very, very low down the list. Hope it works for you.

[Pigeon Lofter]

2 minutes ago, Exiled Townie said:

 In the case of the meniscus wearing away, there is no option but surgery, but because I can still walk, even in though it's quite painful, I am very, very low down the list. Hope it works for you.

Thanks.

I had both right knee cartilages removed around 1980, so I've had forty years of free of knee pain, but not anymore. Now on the injections. The GP won't put me on a replacement list until all other options are exhausted so I have a longish wait ahead. An alternative would be to go private, but I think the cost is around £15,000. If it meant walking or not walking though, I think I would get the money somehow as the thought of being immobile is terrifying, and I would do whatever I could to prevent that from happening.

[graveyard johnny]

been testing positive for covid for a few days now and although i feel mostly ok on the whole it seems to have made my sinus problems 10 times worse 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

2 hours ago, graveyard johnny said:

been testing positive for covid for a few days now and although i feel mostly ok on the whole it seems to have made my sinus problems 10 times worse 

I had covid back in around November and I have never experienced such a horrendously blocked nose in my life though it did only last for a few days thankfully. It was the throat that felt like it was being cut by razor blades everytime I swallowed that was the worst bit and that lasted for about 3 weeks as well as coughing up mouthfuls of gunk every 5 minutes. 

[JohnM]

When people greet me with , " Hi, JohnM. How's things? " I've stopped replying, "Fine, thanks" because they don't really want to know, it's just a routine greeting. 

Instead, I say, " Ah, I'm glad you asked. In fact, I'm seldom free from pain these days. Let me tell you about it. It starts in my ankles...." For some unknown reason, they don't ask again....

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Ouch! You forget just how much a papercut stings until you get one. First one I've had in ages and funnily enough got it from the box of painkillers I've been necking all day due to the excruciating toothache I've had.... 

[graveyard johnny]

been on steroid sniffing squirter stuff the last 2 weeks for nasal polyps and post nasal drip - still no sense of smell but not as much coughing in the mornings -thats  ROCK N ROLL kids 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

All go in the Goose household. Within the space of 10 minutes I burnt my finger on a jacket potato and then stubbed my toe when chasing the neighbour's cat out of my living room.

[bobbruce]

25 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

All go in the Goose household. Within the space of 10 minutes I burnt my finger on a jacket potato and then stubbed my toe when chasing the neighbour's cat out of my living room.

Fingers??? Toes??? What kind of Goose are you?.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

3 minutes ago, bobbruce said:

Fingers??? Toes??? What kind of Goose are you?.

It's alright, when I put the jacket spuds in the oven i stabbed myself in the hand as well. 

[Bearman]

20 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

It's alright, when I put the jacket spuds in the oven i stabbed myself in the hand as well. 

Is it time to do a risk assessment?

[graveyard johnny]

21 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

It's alright, when I put the jacket spuds in the oven i stabbed myself in the hand as well. 

do you self harm when cooking any other meals or is it just the jacket spuds that drive you to the limit?

[The Hallucinating Goose]

4 hours ago, Bearman said:

Is it time to do a risk assessment?

 

4 hours ago, graveyard johnny said:

do you self harm when cooking any other meals or is it just the jacket spuds that drive you to the limit?

Right, well unbelievably after these injuries, I've just spent the last 4 hours in A&E cos after eating my jacket spud I went outside to do a couple of gardening jobs and almost cut my finger off with the loppers. They slipped out of my hands when reaching up high and as you do instinctively, I reached out to catch them and sliced a deep inch long gash into my finger. I've had 4 stitches. 

[amm]

 I'm so glad to see that you're all keeping well

I'll not start with my ailments since I was last here, obviously not had anything as bad as man flu 

[JohnM]

16 hours ago, amm said:

 I'm so glad to see that you're all keeping well

I'll not start with my ailments since I was last here, obviously not had anything as bad as man flu 

You're in the trade, though.

[amm]

4 minutes ago, JohnM said:

You're in the trade, though.

Not since I retired last November John x

[JohnM]

Retired? RETIRED? What nonsense is this? .............

[amm]

6 hours ago, JohnM said:

Retired? RETIRED? What nonsense is this? .............

Turned 60 and I'd always worked towards finishing then, I'm not waiting until I'm 67