Swollen area on upper thigh

dangermouse said:
My lovely lady GP just rang me.

She thinks it sounds like bursitis but needs to see it.

She asked if I could possibly attend surgery, I can’t at the moment as my ME is bad and I’m not well enough. I told her the waiting room noise etc would not be great for me.

She’s arranging a visit for today or tomorrow. I’ll let you know.

She wanted to arrange pain relief but I can’t tolerate it.

She arrived! That was quick!

It is bursitis. As I cannot take pain killers she will refer for an injection but if I’m not up to attending I won’t be able to get it done.
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Wow! You are lucky that you get phone consults and home visits by a doctor. Here where I live doctors haven't done home visits for years. If you can't make it into the doctor's office then you have to go to the ER. And they don't do phone consults either. Even for test results you have to make an appointment and go into the office.
 
TigerLilea said:
Wow! You are lucky that you get phone consults and home visits by a doctor. Here where I live doctors haven't done home visits for years. If you can't make it into the doctor's office then you have to go to the ER. And they don't do phone consults either. Even for test results you have to make an appointment and go into the office.
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Yes, I was really lucky. My practice manager allows me to be in touch with them and my GP by email as well - when I can't attend an appointment, that is very helpful too as sometimes my mind doesn't work quick enough for speaking on a phone - or it's too loud etc. It's not really heard of for our Dr's to do home visits either, I was really surprised.
 
Had the phone call with Orthopaedic appointments. I’ve got an appointment in August to see a specialist who will assess, take history and examine the hips. Then decide on what treatment is required.

I’m relieved to be being seen (again) about this issue with my hips. I’ve previously been under care of Rheumatology who went as far as they could and then I was back under care of GP.

Obviously, it’s worsened to the point where swelling is now evident and pain is always there to some degree - worsened when standing up from sitting, going up stairs, bending and especially walking. Increased pain can last days/weeks and then (with rest) reduce to a more bearable level.

I know I have ME and all that entails and I have Adenomyosis which can cause hip pain when it flares - but it’s different, that’ll be there no matter what I’m doing whereas this pain is definitely worsened by weight bearing/impact on hips - it’s a raw nasty acute pain, horrible.
 
Trish said:
Good to know it's being taken seriously, @dangermouse. It's a long wait when you are in so much pain.
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It’s a long wait, but to be honest I was relieved as there’s no way I’d make an appointment at the moment - this is the big problem with me, I find it incredibly difficult to access care as I need to be “well” enough to do so, then I get PEM afterwards.

Something that @PhysiosforME may be interested in as it’s a big issue for PwME.

Mum’s physio said that if my GP did a referral and requested a home visit by physio he could come to me, I’m not sure how knowledgeable he is of ME though. My GP said I’d be waiting a long time as waiting list is months.
 
That access to care thing is bugging me too. I have a dental checkup appointment next week. I have arranged for a friend to take me plus wheelchair. I really need to go, as I noticed a chip off a tooth yesterday. He's a very good dentist, but I've often had to wait over an hour before I'm seen. That means sitting upright in the wheelchair in the waiting room. Right now that's not feasible without feeling very nauseous and faint. Can't decide what to do.
 
I’m in a similar situation Trish, I’m very overdue a dental appointment so have made on provisional for a months time, but I’ll likely have to change it. Last time I had a bad reaction to local anaesthetic and had to be treated in a quiet room, tipped back in a chair with dextrose and way too much fuss.

I’m thinking of explaining my need for a quiet room to wait in, or be seen on time. I tend to book the last morning appointment, that way the waiting room is emptier.

I’ve not booked for cervical smear either as I’m waiting for the nurse at my surgery to train, I know it’s not ideal - a newly trained, but the alternative is the very busy (full of excitable youngsters) family planning clinic!
 
dangermouse said:
It’s a long wait, but to be honest I was relieved as there’s no way I’d make an appointment at the moment - this is the big problem with me, I find it incredibly difficult to access care as I need to be “well” enough to do so, then I get PEM afterwards.

Something that @PhysiosforME may be interested in as it’s a big issue for PwME.

Mum’s physio said that if my GP did a referral and requested a home visit by physio he could come to me, I’m not sure how knowledgeable he is of ME though. My GP said I’d be waiting a long time as waiting list is months.
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Thanks for flagging this - we will add it to the ever growing list! Really useful to get this type of information to help us
 
When this flare of pain in both hips began I had a low grade fever, significant fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite.

The fatigue and weakness are not as severe but still bad enough and my appetite is a bit improved - but not great.

Both hips are painful. I’m stiffer in morning, making it even more difficult to get out of bed and move around. Standing up, going up stairs worsens the pain - a lot! Gentle movement for a short time helps to ease it a bit.

It’s bloody horrible!
 
I'm sure that ye will have thought of this yourselves but Ill mention anyway. Try to get first appointment morning or after lunch. Explain The situation and ask secretary to ask the dentist if this is possible. My dentist has once done an 8.30 am appointment for me. I have found my doc and dentist very reasonable about this once they understood the situation clearly. Sorry if ye have already tried this. Going at all is brutal but waiting is impossible.
 
I’m still having pain in both hips - worsened if going upstairs etc. Swelling is still on upper outer thigh. On my other thigh I have a smaller swollen area around mid way down thigh (outer thigh) - that’s been there a few weeks too.

I now have a small pea sized hard lump on/in the muscle midway down outer thigh?

It’s another 6 weeks till my Musculoskeletal clinic appointment.

@Jonathan Edwards I’m not asking for advice medically as I know that’s not appropriate but is it normal for bursitis to take weeks to ease up? The swelling is about 2” below hip joint on right leg, around 4” wide by 2” deep. On other leg swelling is about half way down outer thigh - with pea sized hard nodule below it.

I’m just wondering if I need to see someone sooner, or if this is normal for bursitis?

The swelling was warm to touch and red and I had fever - that’s now resolved. I had significant fatigue when it first happened a few weeks ago. Both hips are still painful.

Sorry to ask, but I’m not really up to seeing a Dr and don’t want to arrange appointment unnecessarily.
 
dangermouse said:
@Jonathan Edwards I’m not asking for advice medically as I know that’s not appropriate but is it normal for bursitis to take weeks to ease up? The swelling is about 2” below hip joint on right leg, around 4” wide by 2” deep. On other leg swelling is about half way down outer thigh - with pea sized hard nodule below it.

I’m just wondering if I need to see someone sooner, or if this is normal for bursitis?
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It does not sound like a typical bursitis. I would agree that it would be worth getting further advice.
 
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