[Brambledog]

Well it just keeps getting better....

My hip pain gradually got worse and involved my whole lower back, and I had these palpitations, saw the nurse, ECG fine, she said it was due to the pain and got me in to see a doc. Doc didn't know about CRPS, manhandled me doing the examination, said it wasn't my hip but my SI joint. Gave me an anti-inflammatory cream and to take regular paracetemol. It would take about 3 weeks to settle, no bending short distances, move where possible.

Well. Since then it's just got worse. I've been doing as told, but I'm struggling even to get upright from bed. To start with walking about was ok once I was up, but only for 10-15 mins and then it would hurt too much, plus my cripsy leg and foot would play up. I couldn't sit anywhere, so it was back to bed and lay as flat as I could, sometimes with my shoulders propped up so I could read.

This morning I couldn't get up. Had to get my husband to help pull me upright. Made it to the loo, but sitting was really bad, and the whole thing was a compete nightmare. Just made it back to our room, sitting back on the bed was awful, and laying back down again horrific. I'm in despair. I've taken more paracetemol but I honestly don't know how I'm going to get up again.

I know it's stupid, my husband says we should call the doc, but I'm dreading another disbelieving, manhandling cold indifferent doc, who has to be explained to about the CRPS and then won't believe it or my pain level. I've had to cancel another day of work and we really needed that money. I feel such a burden and a nuisance.

I don't know what to do. I'm lying here typing on my iPad for now, but my neck will start to ache and I'll have to lie flat again. I'm going insane.

Any advice really really appreciated.

Bram.

[Brambledog]

Called doc, now hopped up on double traamdol, feel like have been hit by bus and bit giggly lol, pain still v high tho, funny thing...have managed to get up and walk about for a bit tho, vast improvement on earlier. Useless for anything tho. Poor family.

Bram.

[LIT LOVE]

I would try taking screaming hot baths with Epsom Salts. I'd make an appointment for a two hour massage with two follow up appointments three to four days later for each. --You have to a talented massage therapist that has worked with soft tissue injuries before.

A PT taught me how to stretch that area out by putting one foot up on something at least knee height, then stretching forward--repeat with other leg. Lidocaine patches or cream can help as well. Epsom salt cream or oil can reduce swelling. A course of steroids might help or an in office cortizone shot from your doc.

These are the things that have worked for me in that area.

[zookester]

Hi Bram,

I'm so sorry you are having such pain!

I was wondering if you wouldn't mind describing more about the type of pain you are having in your hip/SI area. I ask because I have much experience with all things hip/pelvis/SI and have endured 6 very complex surgeries to correct so I might be able to offer something if I only knew more about the type of pains you are experiencing.

Here is a xray of my hips.. I really feel for you right now especially because I know how difficult hip/pelvis/SI pain can be and is also where my CRPS began I do hope you find some relief soon!

If you aren't experiencing CRPS burning/sensitivity in your bum you could try rolling a tennis ball into your piriformis muscle and all around your bum to help loosen up any muscles or trigger points in that area that might be adding to the pain or SI dysfunction. What about a heating pad on your lower back?

[Vrae]

Nothing like an insensitive doctor to make you feel even worse than you arrived for help. Good grief, I’m so sorry Bram! I’m not sure that I can offer more than has been suggested already, but I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you and hoping this will ease real soon. I too have hip pain, and is sucks for sure when you also have lower back pain. It can feel impossible to find a comfortable position or to move at all. The prospect of going to the bathroom (loo) can feel cruel at best.

Hang in there Bram… surely it will start to pass soon. Your family loves you, and as much of a burden that we can feel we are to them from time to time, they are just happy to have us with them, no matter what shape we’re in. Try and take it easy and again, I really hope this will let up soon!

Zook, OMG girl! WOW! Okay… yes, that looks all kinds of PAINFUL without CRPS, holy sheep! Bram, perhaps she will be able to offer advice that will help. Good Lord, that’s intense! Amazing what you have endured!

Hi Bram. I can't think of anything to suggest other than the tramadol. I think I might be joining you on the tram in a little bit. I get pretty giggly too.

I know how easy it is to feel useless and feel sorry for your family but let's face, it is easier to be them than it is to be us. I know they feel for us. I know it is difficult for them to see us in pain and not be able to make it stop. And I know that it sucks for them that we can't do much around the house, run errands, etc. But still I would rather be doing housework than be feeling so sh*te.

Originally Posted by Brambledog

Called doc, now hopped up on double traamdol, feel like have been hit by bus and bit giggly lol, pain still v high tho, funny thing...have managed to get up and walk about for a bit tho, vast improvement on earlier. Useless for anything tho. Poor family.

Bram.

[AZ-Di]

Awww, Bram my heart goes out to you!
Hopefully you've had some rest & relief by the time you read this!
I like the advice given so far for you, the massage & epsom salt
sound best to me but I don't have your injury.
It seems like at the very least you should get some sort of injection
to get thru the worst of this.
I wish I could come & slap that rude Dr. for you!! I swear I just
don't understand the arrogant & dismissive attitude all while being CLUELESS!
You'd think it would humble them a little, but NO.
I know all too well what "feeling like such a burden" is like.
I would not wish anyone else to feel that way, I know it can be an
emotional "rabbit hole" (for me anyway).
Please take the help just for now and save that energy for calming
thoughts. I wish you the energy to seek relief no matter what the other
jerk Dr.s did to you.

[HeidiB]

Hi Bram, Im sorry your going thru hell right now & in so much pain Ive been laid up in bed for couple weeks now so I feel your pain I just hope yours passes quicker than mine. My heart, thoughts & prayers are w/u tonight

[Brambledog]

Thanks so much, am still in bed flat so typing awkward...

Well turns out tramadol is yet another med I just can't tolerate now. I was so sick yesterday...and what happens when you're sick? Yep, it wrenches your back. Over and over. I was in a right state, it was not pretty, my poor husband was in tears

He called out the duty doc who came after midnight. I was sick again while they were here (lady doc with hefty assistant chap) so they saw the worst of it. Very nice lady, we discussed everything and she thought injectable would b best for now so no risk of more sickness. She gave me morphine with an anti-emetic. I zonked out fairly quickly. Bless her.

I woke a few times overnight as my left leg v painful indeed. This morn, lower back not as bad but left leg just awful, deep pain right through it from heel through ankle,mashing and calf, knee joint, up right through front and back of thigh, into hip and buttocks. Wtf is going on there? I was imagining all sorts, DVTs etc. I've been getting up and walking/shuffling round a bit every hour or so to keep moving, but it's still really bad.

This afternoon I rang my surgery, and a GP rang back. Complete *****. I was a pain in the backside drug seeking waste of space...apparently. She said she'd never heard of an out of hours GP giving anyone a morphine injection, and when I asked for another today she laughed - yes actually laughed - and said she wouldn't be doing that, didn't I know it was dangerously addictive... I said I didn't want it long term just for today while waiting for things to settle a bit. Snippy and judgemental woman. Told her my pain specialist had offered me morphine over a year ago after other meds not worked and I'd been refusing because I work and need to be able to function. I just wanted something that actually worked for today when I can hardly get myself to the loo.... In the end she consented to give me oramorph (liquid morphine) with an anti-emetic drug. My husband went to pick it up, and she's given me enough to kill a herd of rhino! Ridiculous considering how jumpy she was about giving me one injection.

So I've had one lot, which didn't do much, sadly, and am waiting to take another later... I look and feel dreadful. My hair is a greasy state after sweating and being so sick yesterday, my eyes are sunken and flat, and my skin is dull. I look a fright. I'm hoping to try a shower in the morning...can't wait.

Zook, my pain has shifted today, it's all on the left from the top inner corner of my buttock down through all major bits of my leg. Particularly bad in upper left side of my thigh, inside knee joint, my behind knee calf to shin area and my ankle joint. My left knee is quite fat as well, but I havent been up on it much. When it was my lower back, it was right across the dimples area, with pain radiating down through both legs. Your X-ray looks horrible, must have been a nightmare having all that done.

Thanks so much for your support as ever. Great folk

Bram.

[AndreadePalma]

Oh dear. What an unwelcome experience! I'm so sorry you have to go through all the b---s--t in addition to the pain emergency.

Here are some thoughts I have for whatever they're worth.

If you feel your hips have shifted a little, see if you can tell which leg feels longer or which hip is sitting lower. Then take a book about 2cm thick and sit with that under the bum of your lowest hip for about as long as a it takes to drink a cup of coffee or tea. If you're hips have slipped out of alignment this is a gentle way to get them to settle back where they belong.

If your hips are out of alignment, not only could you present with many of the non-CRPS symptoms you reported, it also puts you at risk for herniating a disc. Medical doctors in the US don't check hip alignment and I've no idea if they do in the UK. It concerned me that your pain was worse when sitting. That's typical of a disc herniation. Herniations are similar to hemorrhoids in that they can bulge and go back where they belong over and over again. So even if you herniated a disc, you may already be recovering from it. Watch that sciatica closely and if you have another flare and have trouble keeping your bladder open when you finally get to the loo . . . get medical attention ASAP. With location across the "dimples" and all the pain you already had, it might be difficult to unscramble what in heck your body is trying to say.

Beyond that you have my prayers for a swift and gentle recovery and a refreshing bath or shower. A day brightener for sure!