Author Topic: Health issues preventing walking  (Read 1924 times)

woldsweather

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Health issues preventing walking
« on: 18:27:54, 03/09/18 »

OK this might be a bit long winded but if there's anyone there who recognises these symptoms I would love to hear from you.


I am 65 years old and retired 5 years ago.


I have been a lifelong member of the ramblers until a few years when for some reason my membership didn't renew. I was a member DESPITE being a local authority Public Rights of Way Officer. I regularly pestered the RA that they should be seeking open access to ALL countryside in England as in Scotland, but that's a side issue now to my current situation
.
In my 20's 30's and 40's I walked the South West Way twice, coast to coast across England and Scotland, Pennine Way, Cleveland Way Wolds Way etc etc


I have 3 separate medical conditions (well probably half a dozen others as well) related to walking, feet and legs and they are:


1. Numb feet which started in 2005 (partially numb)
2. This started about 2010. Right leg going numb after 15 mins standing or walking - but only on the flay - I could walk all day in the Pyrenees but come home to East Yorkshire and struggle with the numb leg. To 'release' the numbness I discovered I had to pull my right knee towards my chest or the equivalent move on a farm gate.
3. From 2015 pain in the joint where my right leg attaches to my hip. 1 year ago I could manage 7 miles now I struggle at more than 1 or 2 miles.


Any walking Gp's reading this might see some clues.


I am especially interested in whether all the conditions are related or separate things. I have been told its 'probably' Reynauds Disease in my feet but also that it is Peripheral Neuropathy. (I have been checked for Diabetes at least twice a year for ten years as I also get low blood sugar episodes.


I have had an MRI scan for the numb leg which shows some wear but no sign of a trapped nerve (would it show I have no idea).


I have had X Rays for the more recent  pain in right leg/hip joint and that shows some Arthritis. Bizarrely it shows just as much Arthritis in the left leg that gives me no trouble as in the right that is the problem.


I am even wondering whether to look into going privately for a hip replacement as at the rate it is going I'll be past hill walking by the time it warrants an NHS hip replacement.


I look forward to comments!


Mel

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #1 on: 18:43:47, 03/09/18 »
Welcome to the forum from a fellow East Yorksher-ite.


Sorry to hear about your troubles and the only sensible course of action is to speak to your GP and get an actual medical diagnosis so you can have the correct treatment prescribed to you.


Get your spine checked - MRI/XRay if you haven't already done so.  Might be a weak/partially ruptured disc pressing on a nerve.


... or it might not be.


Please, the only way you will find out for definite and get the correct medical treatment/advice/guidance is to visit your own GP.


We are only random strangers on the internet.

woldsweather

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #2 on: 18:51:24, 03/09/18 »

I have visited GP's over this probably 3 times per year since 2005 as the medical conditions arose and had an MRI scan as I described. The only thing my GP can suggest is paracetamol (I have been hardened to co-codamol for 30 years as paracetamol never did a thing 35 years ago.)
I am thinking a walking GP with some of these conditions may have suggestions. I am even considering looking into a private hip treatment if that is an option. At the moment my only countryside experience is on my electric bike which gets me up into the hills, cycling doesn't have any detrimental effect whatsoever on the hip/leg.

Mel

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #3 on: 19:03:18, 03/09/18 »
But someone on an internet forum can't look at you.  Can't poke and prod at you.  Can't see your medical history.  They can only second-guess and potentially (mis)diagnose you.  And off you'd trot self-treating on the strength of that and possibly do yourself more harm than good.


Get a second opinion from your GP surgery and ask them to look at your back (if you haven't already done so).  Yes, the problem might be manifesting in your hip and leg but a trapped nerve in your back might be the culprit so you could potentially fork out to get a (private) hip replacement for absolutely no reason whatsoever and still have the same problems post-op.


I don't mean to sound harsh but anyone on the internet could say they were a GP and tell you what they think the cause is.

MichaelUK

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #4 on: 19:28:02, 03/09/18 »
A sports physiotherapist may be able to help and suggest appropriate exercises and the like.

Ronin83

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #5 on: 19:33:57, 03/09/18 »
For god's sake, they already said theyvet been to the doc countless times, had scans etc etc.
Believe it or not, GPs are just people who studied. They can't fix everything and people come to places like this to ask because they're not getting anywhere with the doc.
There may be someone who has been through the same thing.


Personally I have no idea as it all sounds quite specific. Numbness is often sciatica?
I'd definitely give some gentle yoga a go in the mean time tho

April

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #6 on: 19:53:32, 03/09/18 »
You mention peripheral neuropathy was diagnosed? Are you on medication for this? I'm with Mel on this one. You should go back to your GP, or another one at the practise.
Hate will never win

jimbob

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #7 on: 20:08:19, 03/09/18 »
Get to a qualified Doctor and keep going until you get an answer. Now you may not like the answer but keep on until you get one.

Mates and the Internet are of absolutely no use to you.


Too little, too late, too bad......

NeilC

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #8 on: 21:23:12, 03/09/18 »
Keep going back every other week and demanding to be referred to new people. Someone out there must be able to tell you what's wrong and the best way of managing it.


I've been dealing with quite serious back problems for decades and yet even though I've been down loads of avenues, seen various specialists in various fields, only just this month my doc found a new service to send me to. You just need to tell them it's having major effects on everyday life and don't take no for an answer.


Some of them are quite clueless. I went to see a physio who said to get referred to the National Backpain Pathway. My own doc hadn't even heard of it and dismissed it out of hand. I said it was the NICE recommended pathway for doctors and he should look it up.


There is very likely a medical expert out there that can tell you what is wrong with you, or at least tell you how best to handle it. You have to find them. Being told to go away and take paracetamol is not a proper answer IMO.


I cannot think of anything specific to walking that would be of any use so that is the best advice I can think of.
« Last Edit: 21:33:46, 03/09/18 by NeilC »

Mel

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #9 on: 22:01:28, 03/09/18 »
NeilC- your unedited post was better  ;)

woldsweather

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #10 on: 09:46:04, 04/09/18 »
A sports physiotherapist may be able to help and suggest appropriate exercises and the like.



Believe me this is a last resort having seen all the medical practitioners  available through the NHS.


NeilC

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #11 on: 10:43:17, 04/09/18 »
NeilC- your unedited post was better  ;)


Which one? I edited it about 3 times!




barewirewalker

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #12 on: 11:38:25, 04/09/18 »
I hope you do not give up on walking because of your health problems, your professional experience may be invaluable here. The inadequacies of the access network would make me weep, except my personal skills in the art of trespass give me the knowledge of how the freedom of our countryside is sadly curtailed for the more timid.
Your opening post hints at a dissatisfaction, with the RA's lobbying, which has failed so often. The CLA run rings around them with policies that are so weak in intellect that they are probably thought up in the manor's playroom, no that may be too generous, nanny's creche.

Sadly our county councils cannot grasp the fact that the access network is a national asset, which could be creating far more wealth for the nation and all citizens both financially and socially, but it is treated as a liability on the nation's balance sheet.

Anyway I hope you find the true cause of your health issues and can start to enjoy your retirement, freely in our 'Oh so' interesting countryside, be it on the top of mountains or our so often obstructed rights of way. A criticism that is not directed at your past employment, nor even public spending, but driven as accurately as an Alastair Cook on drive at large freeholders, who think the own our countryside.



BWW
Their Land is in Our Country.

pauldawes

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #13 on: 15:48:11, 04/09/18 »
For god's sake, they already said theyvet been to the doc countless times, had scans etc etc.
Believe it or not, GPs are just people who studied. They can't fix everything and people come to places like this to ask because they're not getting anywhere with the doc.
There may be someone who has been through the same thing.


Personally I have no idea as it all sounds quite specific. Numbness is often sciatica?
I'd definitely give some gentle yoga a go in the mean time tho


I can (obviously) see that prime route is via seeing doctors, and getting appropriate advice and treatment.


But once anybody has seen two or three doctors over a period of months...I think it's actually pretty sensible to do a bit of "internet fishing" to see if anybody has had similar symptoms, and what helped them.


Quite often it helps..with things that haven't cleared up after several GP visits..to do a bit of low key fact finding for oneself....just to be sure obvious possibilities haven't been missed. GP's...and even specialists...aren't infallible.


A challenge along lines of "Doctor..because this problem has gone on so long I've done some research myself...and on surface..."  has helped me get better treatment a couple of times.
« Last Edit: 15:52:15, 04/09/18 by pauldawes »

Ronin83

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Re: Health issues preventing walking
« Reply #14 on: 16:20:02, 04/09/18 »

I can (obviously) see that prime route is via seeing doctors, and getting appropriate advice and treatment.


But once anybody has seen two or three doctors over a period of months...I think it's actually pretty sensible to do a bit of "internet fishing" to see if anybody has had similar symptoms, and what helped them.


Quite often it helps..with things that haven't cleared up after several GP visits..to do a bit of low key fact finding for oneself....just to be sure obvious possibilities haven't been missed. GP's...and even specialists...aren't infallible.


A challenge along lines of "Doctor..because this problem has gone on so long I've done some research myself...and on surface..."  has helped me get better treatment a couple of times.


Exactly.
You do realise im arguing the same point as you?

 

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