A new face

Wednesday 19^th January 2011

In October, having seen one of my GP’s Dr Blake, I started taking a new painkiller called Gabapentin. A week into taking it I noticed my left wrist was going numb and going into pins and needles, especially when I’m in bed. The blurb literature that came with the Gabapentin stated that some of the side effects included numbness and pins and needles. Could it be the same thing….

When I saw Dr Blake in December I mentioned the problem I’d been having with my wrist, and that it had began shortly after I’d started taking the Gabapentin.

She wasn’t convinced that it was the side effects causing the problem so asked if I could continue taking it, monitor my wrist and go back to see her in January.

I have a very limited time slot when I can arrange an appointment to see my GP due to having to rely on John to take me there. I can go early mornings from 8am – 8.30am and from 6.15pm – 7.pm Monday and Wednesday when they have their evening appointments.

All Dr Blake’s early morning appointments in our time slot had been taken and she wasn’t doing evening surgery for the next month. The receptionist asked if I would like to see a Dr Chapman, one of the new doctors.

“She’s very nice”, assured the receptionist.

With the exception of two GP’s, the head man Dr Rutherford and Dr Wallace (who wasn’t there very long), all the doctors are lovely. Dr Rutherford is of the old school – a good doctor but no bedside manner. Dr Wallace, well he was just horrible. I always made a point of refusing to see him if Dr Blake wasn’t available. Given the short period of time that he was there, could other patients have thought the same…..

When my name came up on the display board to see Dr Chapman, John pushed Wizzy along the corridor towards her office. I knocked on the door then slowly pushed it open with my feet.

Dr Chapman who had been sitting at her desk, sprang off her chair and opened the door.

“Hello”, she said, in a lovely Yorkshire accent, “come in, come in”.

“So how can I help”, she asked, getting herself comfortable in her chair again.

I gave her a very brief background history as to what had happened, then explained about the Gabapentin and my wrist.

“Can I have a look at your wrist”, she asked.

“I think you may have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”, she said, after poking and prodding my wrist, “this is where the median nerve, which relays sensation from the palm of the hand and fingers, becomes pinched, often by swelling of the tendons. This leads to numbness and pins and needles. I’ll refer you to see a specialist to confirm this”.

“I think it might be a good idea to reduce your Gabapentin”, she continued, “just in case it’s making things worse. I think it also might be a good idea if I referred you to see a pain consultant. They are specialists in pain management”.

Yet more consultants to add to the list…..