32. Another New Joint Joins In

Today (30/06/2023) I paid a visit to the ED at the Conquest as my right wrist has got so painful, I couldn’t wait any longer for my appointment about my left arm. I know I haven’t had an accident but it is so painful if they told me I had fractured it I wouldn’t have been surprised.

As it happens there was no break but the doctor said it was a bit swollen, therefore, inflamed so probably my latest area of arthritis so she has made me an appointment for the Fracture Clinic on the 21/07/2023. When I checked it, this appointment is with the consultant who did my elbow last year i.e., the one I’m waiting for an appointment with for my left arm so maybe I’ve short-circuited the system for a change!

On 10/07/2023 I received 6 messages from ‘Patients Know Best’, which is a site that lets people know when their appointments are and what medication they should be taking etc.

2 of the messages said my appointment for the 21st had been cancelled, 1 message said my appointment had been rearranged for the 17th and the remaining 3 messages said my appointment for the 17th had been cancelled. I think their system had a hissy-fit probably due to the heat so I had to ring to confirm my appointment and also the junior doctors will be on strike but they said it should be ok.

Straight after the appointment I was very upset but 24 hours later I don’t think it’s all bad. The fact that he said he couldn’t deal with both arms at the same time is annoying but at least I know what is wrong with my wrist even though as with all my other problems there’s not much that can be done apart from ‘keep taking the tablets’.

My wrist has a form of gout I’ve never heard of before as gout is usually a build-up of uric acid crystals in a joint, well it seems I have calcium crystals in my wrist. The doctor pointed the lumps out to us so they must be quite large as they were very obvious. This type of gout is known as Pseudo-Gout or Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPPD).

I believe I also have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, in my right hand, in fact the woman told me I had the start of it when I was having my nerve conductivity tests, in my right hand that is steadily getting worse so when/if I ever get an appointment for my left elbow, I’ll mention it then than I seem the have the full set of tunnel syndromes, unless there are any others I haven’t heard about yet!