Finally GP Appointment!!

Hi Nikki65 

Im glad you managed to see your GP and start getting things sorted. Keep doing those squats they will help strengthen your hips and thighs. Sending hugs. Xx

Hi Nikki,

Great that you managed to get an elusive gp appointment and well done for your tenacity.

At least you have been assessed, have a plan in place now and really hoping that the injections will help. It’s good that the appointment for those came through quickly too. 
I’m sorry that you’re back to balancing the codeine and laxatives again, having hoped to leave all that behind you. 

Hopefully the physio, strength exercises and injections combined will all help to get you to a better place. I’m sure you won’t become Arnie! 

Hoping you get some relief and that your pain reduces soon. Xx

Thanks Bungle1 

I’m hoping so too  PEB24 , I think the GP could see that I’m being proactive in trying to help myself.

Interesting when he mentioned codeine & I explained my previous experience with opiate based pain relief he said that he never prescribes even low dose opiates without a stool softener or laxative alongside. I wasn’t aware of the fact that they caused constipation prior to my surgery & treatment (although I’ve never had a need for them before then!) but my surgeon provided me with liquid morphine following the local resection & didn’t mention softeners & neither did my oncologist when I politely declined the codeine he offered me towards the end of my treatment!

The GP seemed particularly clued up on the GTPS too which was a relief. He’s also told me not to try pushing through the pain & I have to rest when it gets bad. All of his advice was greatly received as I wasn’t sure if I was right or wrong doing the things I have been doing! 

Hi Nicola

Thanks for sharing this and well done for persevering and getting the GP appointment, it’s good to see your GP is clued up on things and I’m sure you feel better having your actions validated. I really hope this treatment brings you some relief soon but I don’t envy you having to take the Codeine though that really would fill me with dread now.

After reading your story I’ve been doing some research as I have a very similar pain but just on the side I had the fracture 20 years ago following a crash on my MTB, it only flares up occasionally although when it does it it’s really painful and it matches those symptoms for GTPS and I’m reduced to hobbling about and quite slowly, but I’ve never had It properly assessed and I just tend to use Voltarol and rest it a lot and it usually resolves reasonably quickly. I think my reluctance to seek advice is probably due to being told I’d need a full joint replacement within 10 years but I’ve managed to dodge that so far and when it’s not being problematic it’s very much in the background. So now hoping the after effects of the radio don’t make the problem any worse.

When I had the fracture that was also my first experience of Codeine, they gave it to me in hospital and I can still remember being totally constipated for almost my whole stay, they didn’t offer softeners and eventually gave me lots of Senna, although I’m not sure if it was a good thing as I wasn’t able to move for most of the time so at least I avoided the bed pans. Only used it once since when I had another crash and smashed my shoulder, took one to test and instantly became constipated so threw them away as I didn’t even know what a stool softener was 3 years ago, anyway I hope the softeners do their job for you.

Also wish you all the best with the Steroid injections in the feet I’m guessing you’re not looking forward to that although if it works I’m sure you’ll feel the benefit, I had one once for a previous shoulder injury and it worked really well.

Monty xx

Hi TheMont , I had never heard of GTPS before being referred for intensive physio a couple of years ago I suspected that my pain was joint pain due to osteoarthritis (which I knew was affecting my left hip) & radiation damage but like with the GP the physio assessed my range of movement & said he doubted the pain was joint related. 

The steroid injections in my feet I’ve been having for a few years now so I’m used to them, having said that because my orthopaedic surgeon has to go right into the centre of my joint on both feet (the needle is terrifying even for someone that’s not needle phobic!) he sedates me & to be honest I know nothing about it until I’m in recovery! When I had them during the pandemic I was taken into a private hospital that was kept ‘clean’ of covid & I had a local anaesthetic as they weren’t giving any unnecessary anaesthetics at the time & I don’t know how he had any teeth left  even numbed  as soon as the needle went into the very small space in the joint my foot shot up in the air involuntarily & he had to duck out of the way! I was really embarrassed but like I say it was a reflex action. 

The GP has said yesterday he thinks the pain is stemming from where the muscle joins the bone at the very top of my thigh & into my hip & he pressed in several areas & it was really sensitive in the same place on both sides. The steroids that I have in my feet are aimed at pain relief where as he explained the ones I’ll be having for the GTPS are aiming at an anti inflammatory response so are slightly different, good job I don’t mind needles eh! 

Regarding the use of the codeine he also told me not to wait to get constipated, he said the key is to take a softener if I’m going to be using codeine at all on a particular day, I’m going to try & just use them on days I’m really going to need that extra kick of pain relief. 

Targeted exercises are often really effective for GTPS so I would give those a go, I still try & do these daily if not alternate days as strengthening that muscle can sometimes resolve the issue or at least make it less painful. 

Hi Nicola

Had to laugh about you nearly kicking his teeth out, yes it’s surprising how many levels of sedation there are sometimes it seems to do nothing and others knocks you right out as you say.

The steroid into my shoulder stopped the pain and it didn’t come back or not until I smashed it up proper and now it’s at varying degrees but there almost constant but they tell me it’s impinged now. My wife had the injection in her knee and that helped but didn’t last long, only a few weeks really but she needs a joint replacement so guess that’s why.

My hip also goes very tender when it flares up so I’m going to try some of those exercises as I think it may also help keep things stretched and supple and so maybe hold back the radiotherapy effects.

Let us know how you get on with the Codeine

Monty xx

Thanks for the information Nicola.

Had a little bit of hip pain in bed pre treatment, it's now every night if I lie on my side.

We have been doing hip and pelvic floor exercises, not aware of this specific condition. Other half has researched and we are introducing some new moves into our regime.

Hope you get some relief from the pain soon.

Ally xx

Hello Nikki65 

I answered you on these injections before I came to read this post, I am really interested in what he told you about the radiotherapy affecting the muscles and tendons which is what the physiotherapist told me (but my x-rays also showed degenerative osteoarthritis.  I didn't realise that your doctor will do these in the surgery, so 25 November isn't too long to wait.  I hope they give you some relief, it must be so difficult working when you are in so much pain.

Irene xx

I will let you know how the codeine goes Monty. 

I do knee rolls & pelvic tilts before I get out of bed in the morning then hip abduction exercises, squats & controlled sit to stand to sit from a chair when I’m up. I have a few other exercises & some simple but good & effective balance exercises from the class that I’m attending that I add in throughout the day.

Nicola