I have an appointment with a nurse practitioner to get a referral for an osteoarthritis specialist

submitted by [deleted] from (self.whatever)

I was trying to tell them what was wrong and they're already laughing at me. Not a good sign.

This is the place that originally mucked up the diagnosis and gave me IBS I suspect from over prescribing antibiotics.

Gone full circle. Here's hoping they aren't useless!

8/15 update:

The nurse practitioner was confused, never heard of EDS or kratom. Got a referral to ortho not osteo... Couldn't get an appointment while I was already down there so going back tomorrow.

Was forced to get an x-ray even though I told them it was soft tissue and wouldn't show. It didn't show anything.

I have given them my cell phone number twice, they called my parent's land line then my mom's number instead. Must be old numbers they had from years ago.

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[–]Zapped 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

Have you tried doing an elimination diet to see how certain foods affect you?

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

No, although I have changed up my diet significantly in the recent past and have fasted for as long as two weeks and didn't see a benefit. I did notice a pain free period when I was eating almost nothing but meat.

[–]chadwickofwv 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I reccomend the almost all meat diet. I've suffered from very bad muscular pain since the early 2000's, and switched my diet to a general low carb diet about 6 months ago. I still have pain, but it has drastically reduced in severity and how often it happens. It did take several months before that happened though. So if you do try it, stick it out for at least 3 months or it will not have a chance of helping.

I wish you luck. Chronic pain is horrible.

[–]Zapped 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I would think if it were related to food, the 2 week fast would have helped.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Are you eating enough meat and animal fats?

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I eat a fair amount of meat but usually lean muscle and no connective tissue. I did up my jello game a while back to see if that helped. Also tried silica, didn't see an improvement with that either.

[–]usehername 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

Was forced to get an x-ray even though I told them it was soft tissue and wouldn't show. It didn't show anything.

Do you understand they can't just take every patient's word for it and they have to check if anything else is wrong

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I don't want to be lumped in with every other dumbass patient and have a family history of EDS ignored. Every dollar they waste of mine is money gone from trying to do actual useful things medically. I had already had an x-ray that was clear, it doesn't need to be redone every two years just in case.

[–]usehername 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

I don't want to be lumped in with every other dumbass patient

Be sure to inform them you're a mega genius next time.

Every dollar they waste of mine is money gone from trying to do actual useful things medically.

I understand your frustration, but this is just an argument for universal healthcare. They have to check, even if you think you know all there is to know.

[–]quantum-step 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

Don't ya love asking for permission from someone with a piece of paper to see another person with a different piece of paper? Thank God that system is in place, or you might accidental get the care you need in a timely fashion.
Freedom.
Murica.

Seriously, though. Good luck, and I hope you find some competent and compassionate people that will listen to and help you.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I know, it's frustrating. It took hours to get this all done and I'm going back tomorrow for the actual appointment. I hope! The nurse practitioner didn't seem to understand anything I told her. I have an appointment with an ortho specialist when I wanted an appointment for an osteoarthritis specialist all along.

They did an xray, which I told her was pointless because it's a soft tissue injury, but she said they'd want it anyways.

Good luck, and I hope you find some competent and compassionate people that will listen to and help you.

Thanks, me too.

[–]usehername 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

They did an xray, which I told her was pointless because it's a soft tissue injury, but she said they'd want it anyways.

They did it to rule out certain possibilities

[–]David_Allen_Cope1 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

Good luck, dude.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Thanks

[–]RACHEL_THECOW 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

95% of all people eventually die, with or without x-rays.

[–]Airbus320 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Rip u/humancorpse

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It was not hard getting an appointment either, they were wide open. I don't think anyone trusts doctors anymore.

[–]chottohen 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

I hope everything comes out OK.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

Thanks, nothing came of it besides getting a referral. Tomorrow I'll try again with an orthopedic specialist.

[–]chottohen 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

I missed the first part. I mean, what's the problem? I had scoliosis as a kid and it came back big time.It's twisted so bad, it looks like a DNA spiral. Break a leg.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (4 children)

I think overall it's osteoarthritis caused by Ehler Danlos syndrome, a disorder of the connective tissue. The acute issue is I believe the meniscus ligament is damaged, my knee keeps popping in and out of socket

[–]chottohen 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

If you're a veteran, make those a-holes pay. I was in a war zone for 18 months, worked twelve/seven the whole time, then they "lost my military records in a fire in St. Louis" and now communicate with me via snail mail by way of Estonia and treat me like a malingerer. Fuck the VA. I now have a specialist legal team after their stingy ass. If anyone reading this is a vet and needs legal help with VA, contact VetLaw online. They are in every state. They will either get you monthly payments or you pay nothing. FTA means Fuck the Army. Have you ever seen this anywhere? Use once and destroy.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

If you're a veteran

I'm a civilian. I do tend to get along well with military pukes and their wives and girlfriends and I love military sci-fi but I'm not a fan of our geopolitical conflicts.

[–]chottohen 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Sure they are good people and they think Uncle Sugar will take care of them. He takes care of you while you're in (because they spent a lot on your training) but when you get out they will do as little as possible. Check out the recent edition of Rolling Stone. In a long, poorly-written piece, they try to blame record deaths among troops at Ft. Bragg on the Fentanyl epidemic. The article says zilch about vax deaths. They lie to you before you get in, they lie while you're in, and they lie to your relatives when you're DEAD.

[–]Zapped 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

My father had this problem with his knee for 50 years. They finally tried to repair it but ended up removing it and telling him he'd have to have full replacement one day. Now, his hip needs to be redone and he's having problems with his back. He's 75, so they don't seem too rushed to help him.