Tag: PAIN

It’s been a while…

but for very good reason! On January 17th I had a fall and truly buggered my knee! First trip to A & E was about two hours later when my knee had blown up like a balloon and started to bruise. The diagnosis? A huge haematoma and prescribed RICE…rest, ice, compression, elevation. Very odd blue splint put on, crutches in hand and off home to bed I went.

I had several trips back to the hospital as I got more worried at how it was progressing…I was reassured all was well and I needed an ultrasound. When this finally happened the haematoma was measured at 11.5 cm long by 1.5 cm wide….and 4.5 cm deep! Huge! Truly explained the colour of my leg, foot, knee, ankle etc etc…I could barely move my leg let alone stand.

It’s slowly getting better, movement is getting better but pain is horrific…never known anything like it. I’m hoping to get back to work after half term and continue improving.

On a sad note, I’ve not been able to climb IN my van never mind drive it. My hopes for half term have been well and truly squashed…fingers crossed it won’t be long coming.

EDS


I have a disorder called EDS…I wish I didn’t!

Many people have never heard of EDS..or to give it its technical name, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. EDS is a condition that affects connective tissue which provides support in skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, internal organs and bones. There are several types of EDS that may share some symptoms which include:an increased range of joint movement (often referred to as joint hyper mobility), stretchy skin and fragile skin that breaks or bruises easily.

EDS can affect people in different ways; for some, the condition is relatively mild, while for others their symptoms can be disabling.

I have what is known as hEDS, or hyperEDS. People with hEDS may have: joint hypermobility, loose unstable joints that dislocate easily, joint pain and clicking joints, extreme tiredness or fatigue, digestive problems, dizziness and increased heart rate after standing up and even problems with internal organs.

In short, it’s an illness that can affect your whole body. For me it means I live with pain daily…I dislocate joints regularly…by that I mean daily. Life has become very difficult and everything is hard..simple things like making a cup of tea (essential) can make me exhausted or cause a dislocation when I pick up my cup. Thankfully I now have a lively special kettle that sits on a special stand so my kettle tilts and I d9nt have to life it…it’s a godsend!

Today’s problem is my left elbow..well..to be honest it’s not just today. In October last year I woke up with a subluxed elbow..(subluxed is a joint that hasn’t fully dislocated …just a partial one and can often be pushed back in quite easily). This was the first time for this joint and it was very painful. After a check up at hospital I was reassured it had gone back where it should be and would just need some time for it to feel better. Four months and daily physio later…the pain has never gone. I can barely straighten my arm, have no grip and constantly drop things. It’s swollen, very painful and I woke this morning to it being even more swollen and very hot!

One trip to hospital later and I have antibiotics for possible infection and I have to see a specialist..at least someone is going to, finally, look at it. If I’m honest I’m a bit cross. I’ve been told by different doctors what they think it is..been referred to physio..(by video call)..and eventually, when it wasn’t improving..referred to face to face physio. No matter how many times I mentioned how painful it is..even with the large amount of pain relief I take daily, no ne seems to listen. Today I cried…not just because it hurt when I was examined, but with relief that someone was taking note…someone agreed there is something not right that needs investigating.

It’s amazing how important it is to be listened to..and also to be heard. They sound like the same thing but they aren’t. Anyway…hopefully I’ll have an appointment by next week and I might get some answers…I just want to be able to use my arm and hand! Not much to ask.