Investigating pain

For many years, at least the past 10 I have suffered from joint pain and stiffness. Initially it was confined to my left knee over a period of time it has spread to affect other joints including my left hip, upper spine, ankles, wrists and right shoulder. In 2008 I had surgery on right shoulder during which my AC joint was removed. Over the past 3 years I have been backwards and forwards to my GP practice in an attempt to manage the pain. Currently I am taking 19 painkillers a day and 7 doses of other medication for the side effects of the painkillers. This is not good.

I went back again today because I am going through a flair up which is causing me severe pain and impacting negatively on my day to day life. I am tired and feel washed out, frequently I am not sleeping well owing to the fact that I find it hard to get comfortable once in bed this is in turn is having a further impact on my quality of life and it causing my asthma to play up as well.

I came away with more painkillers in addition my GP decided it was time to take further action and carry out further tests, he is particularly concerned that during flair ups more than one joint is affected. He taken a rack of bloods and being referred over to a specialist clinic at a local hospital.

I am nervous about this however, hope is that at long last I will know what is going on and come away with a painkiller regime that both suits me and works.