Father Suffering With Arthritis

TheClubMan · 09-04-2021 1:32am #1

Hi folks,

So for the last number of years my father (late 50's) has been suffering with rheumatoid arthritis in both knees but it is getting progressively worse. Two years ago he got a steroid injection into both knees but the relief only lasted a week before the pain returned. He was seeing a specialist to have physio sessions and the like in our local hospital but that has ceased since Covid.

He struggles to get around everyday with the pain and stiffness in his joints. He limps off both legs but his left is worse. It breaks my heart to see the physical demise of a once fit man. He's a farmer and has an off farm job part time too so he's on his feet doing physical work everyday but myself and my family chip in when we can.

With waiting lists in the country for surgeries like knee replacement getting longer due to Covid, we are looking at the option of going private as our Dad's quality of life is most important. He doesn't have health insurance at the moment. I was doing some research online and it's looking like one surgery alone will cost up to €15000 which I'm not sure we can afford.

Can anyone offer advice having been in a similar position or offer information on how to go about getting health insurance with arthritis, companies you'd recommend, possible schemes to avail of, private hospitals etc.

Any information would be much appreciated.

con747 · 09-04-2021 3:19am

TheClubMan wrote: »

Hi folks,

So for the last number of years my father (late 50's) has been suffering with rheumatoid arthritis in both knees but it is getting progressively worse. Two years ago he got a steroid injection into both knees but the relief only lasted a week before the pain returned. He was seeing a specialist to have physio sessions and the like in our local hospital but that has ceased since Covid.

He struggles to get around everyday with the pain and stiffness in his joints. He limps off both legs but his left is worse. It breaks my heart to see the physical demise of a once fit man. He's a farmer and has an off farm job part time too so he's on his feet doing physical work everyday but myself and my family chip in when we can.

With waiting lists in the country for surgeries like knee replacement getting longer due to Covid, we are looking at the option of going private as our Dad's quality of life is most important. He doesn't have health insurance at the moment. I was doing some research online and it's looking like one surgery alone will cost up to €15000 which I'm not sure we can afford.

Can anyone offer advice having been in a similar position or offer information on how to go about getting health insurance with arthritis, companies you'd recommend, possible schemes to avail of, private hospitals etc.

Any information would be much appreciated.

Does your dad qualify for a medical card? I doubt any health insurance companies will cover any pre existing illnesses but someone here might have a better insight on that.

markmoto · 09-04-2021 3:24am

con747 wrote: »

Does your dad qualify for a medical card? I doubt any health insurance companies will cover any pre existing illnesses but someone here might have a better insight on that.

Medical surgeries is not the only option. And having no insurance is not end of life.

Gremlinertia · 09-04-2021 3:44am

Keep to topic, ask OP questions but anymore random suppositions will be carded

Gremlinertia · 09-04-2021 4:01am

TheClubMan, is knee replacement surgery something that has been advised? Seems a big jump from the physio and injections you have mentioned. Covid has messed things up in a big way however consultation with gp, referral onwards plus [erhaps a private physio may help while things are backlogged

Government buildings · 09-04-2021 4:23am

Did he try Udo's Oil to help with the arthritis pains?

Wesser · 10-04-2021 12:53pm

What about methotrexate?

jellybear · 13-04-2021 10:40pm

First thing you need to do is see a rheumatologist, I'd highly recommend Dr Conor McCarthy in the Mater Private. I know you've said he doesn't have insurance but personally, I would make an appointment as it will get the ball rolling on treatment.

There are so many options for treatment such as methotrexate, as mentioned above, NSAIDs and biopharmaceutical injections, to name but a few. You haven't mentioned if your dad has been prescribed any of these before so there may be something there that can help him.

Wishing him all the best and well done for looking out for him

148multi · 13-04-2021 10:50pm

Have a few dogey knees in the family, injections helped but can go terribly wrong too.
I can't see them doing a knee replacement at your dad's age.

nibtrix · 13-04-2021 11:32pm

I agree with what some of the other posters have said, there are several steps between physio and surgery that could be effective for your father.

There’s a lot of information out there about possible treatments, one place to start for the basics is:
https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/r/rheumatoid-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment.html

It’s vital that your father gets under the care of a rheumatologist, if the specialist in the local hospital that you mentioned isn’t willing to provide any treatment options then it could be well worth the money to see a private consultant for a few sessions to see what they say, your father can always be referred back to the public system later.

SteelyDanJalapeno · 13-04-2021 11:37pm

Also,

If any of you have an existing policy, it would be a worth a call to see if he can be added to yours.

I've recently added my mam to mine with Laya, she's 62 and never had health insurance.
Laya will wave the 5 year wait list since I already have a policy, so anything pre existing is covered.
Not sure if other companies are the same, I presume they are.
Cost was about 1700 for the year

0lddog · 14-04-2021 2:19pm

nibtrix wrote: »

....It’s vital that your father gets under the care of a rheumatologist,....

This a million times over !

Especially so for RA which is a systemic disease and not 'just arthritis'

Public Vs Private ?

I have RA

I started out private, meh

A lucky break got me into the public system in one of the Dublin teaching hospitals. Thats when things got under control

There are a some very effective medications for controlling RA

[Deleted User] · 14-04-2021 2:34pm

Sounds like he will need a knee replacment at some point, but should be able to get a few more years before going down that route.

He should take out health insurance now which would cover this procedure (or at least the bulk of it) as there will be a five year waiting period before he can claim. His premium may be hiked due to his age (Lifetime Community Rating) but if he had health insurance at any stage he can get credit for those years to reduce the LCR loading.

As for the cost, a knee replacement can usually be negotiated down to about 12k.

Shazamm · 13-05-2021 11:26pm

SteelyDanJalapeno wrote: »

Also,

If any of you have an existing policy, it would be a worth a call to see if he can be added to yours.

I've recently added my mam to mine with Laya, she's 62 and never had health insurance.
Laya will wave the 5 year wait list since I already have a policy, so anything pre existing is covered.
Not sure if other companies are the same, I presume they are.
Cost was about 1700 for the year

I've never heard of this happening before
Did they say they would wave the 5 year waiting and give a reason why?
I inquired before and was told the 5 year wait would apply

TheClubMan · 30-05-2021 11:31pm

So my Dad still can't get an appointment with his specialist in our local hospital and he hasn't responded to our email or calls regarding Dads worsening condition. I appreciate the last year or so has been a very difficult time for everyone especially in the healthcare system but this is disgraceful. The healthcare system was already a joke before Covid with long waiting lists. It seemed convenient for the government to use Covid as an excuse to cover up the many problems and the organised chaos. Dad's knees are in an awful state with the right knee just as bad as the left now and his hips are beginning to suffer now too. Analgesia basically has no effect anymore. It's all very frustrating. I think I read before about a scheme where if you are on the waiting list for an operation for a certain amount of time in Ireland you can have the operation abroad if you can get one and have the cost of the reimbursed through the HSE afterwards? Does anyone know anything about that?

TheClubMan · 30-05-2021 11:41pm

Wesser wrote: »

What about methotrexate?

He was given a steroid injection two years ago but that had no effect. Is methotrexate a drug that you would take on a regular basis or is it like a one off similar to a steroid injection? It could be a temporary option until surgery but we can't get in touch with the specialist to find out...

TheClubMan · 30-05-2021 11:43pm

jellybear wrote: »

First thing you need to do is see a rheumatologist, I'd highly recommend Dr Conor McCarthy in the Mater Private. I know you've said he doesn't have insurance but personally, I would make an appointment as it will get the ball rolling on treatment.

There are so many options for treatment such as methotrexate, as mentioned above, NSAIDs and biopharmaceutical injections, to name but a few. You haven't mentioned if your dad has been prescribed any of these before so there may be something there that can help him.

Wishing him all the best and well done for looking out for him

Thanks for your very informative reply. I'll see if I can get in contact with Dr. McCarthy tomorrow.

jellybear · 31-05-2021 7:10am

TheClubMan wrote: »

He was given a steroid injection two years ago but that had no effect. Is methotrexate a drug that you would take on a regular basis or is it like a one off similar to a steroid injection? It could be a temporary option until surgery but we can't get in touch with the specialist to find out...

Methotrexate is a regular drug. When I was on it, it was weekly and I had to take folic acid aswell.
I'm now on enbrel, weekly injections, and find them much more effective than methotrexate but a good rheumatologist should be able to help your dad find the best course of treatment for him. Hope he gets seen soon

PMBC · 31-05-2021 7:36am

TheClubMan wrote: »

So my Dad still can't get an appointment with his specialist d
I think I read before about a scheme where if you are on the waiting list for an operation for a certain amount of time in Ireland you can have the operation abroad if you can get one and have the cost of the reimbursed through the HSE afterwards? Does anyone know anything about that?

Thats true as my eldest sister did - went to N.I. There is some input from HSE and some people get a loan from their CU to pay. The HSE then re-imburse everything except stuff like travel costs.
I rem also a company being set up in Dublin - called ? ( it was an Irish word for ?travel or health or now). Ill see if I can find out that exact name. I think they do all the liaison work for you and Im sure either they or HSE wil tell you how its done.
Best of luck - from a dad.

PMBC · 31-05-2021 7:40am

'Trasna' is the name of that company

nibtrix · 31-05-2021 8:01am

TheClubMan wrote: »

I think I read before about a scheme where if you are on the waiting list for an operation for a certain amount of time in Ireland you can have the operation abroad if you can get one and have the cost of the reimbursed through the HSE afterwards? Does anyone know anything about that?

Is your Dad actually on a waiting list for a knee replacement surgery though? From your opening post it seemed he was doing physio etc. But it’s not actually clear if surgery was ever advised or if it’s just what you think the next logical step is.

Is the specialist your father was seeing a rheumatologist? If not you should go back to his GP and ask for a referral to a rheumatologist, and get the GPs opinion on whether it’s worth it to go private. I know someone recommended a particular consultant here and you are planning to contact them, but I don’t know if they’ll take a self-referral.

jellybear · 31-05-2021 8:09am

nibtrix wrote: »

Is the specialist your father was seeing a rheumatologist? If not you should go back to his GP and ask for a referral to a rheumatologist, and get the GPs opinion on whether it’s worth it to go private. I know someone recommended a particular consultant here and you are planning to contact them, but I don’t know if they’ll take a self-referral.

Yes, not sure they'll take a self referral, so definitely worth a call to your dad's GP.

AnRothar · 31-05-2021 8:23am

my father (late 50's)

and

TheClubMan wrote: »

So my Dad still can't get an appointment with his specialist in our local hospital and he hasn't responded to our email or calls regarding Dads worsening condition.

Normally due to GDPR they can only talk to/communicate with your father.

There is a mechanism where someone can be nominated as able to speak/communicate on behalf of the patient where the patient is well capable of doing so for themselves.
My sister in law can do so for my father in law but I do not know the process.

enfant terrible · 31-05-2021 8:25am

If your dad does need surgery urgently he can pay to have the surgery in Northern Ireland and then be reimbursed by the HSE under the Cross Border Directive, if he qualifies for it

https://www2.hse.ie/services/cross-border-directive/about-the-cross-border-directive.html

realdanbreen · 31-05-2021 11:43am

TheClubMan wrote: »

Hi folks,

So for the last number of years my father (late 50's) has been suffering with rheumatoid arthritis in both knees but it is getting progressively worse. Two years ago he got a steroid injection into both knees but the relief only lasted a week before the pain returned. He was seeing a specialist to have physio sessions and the like in our local hospital but that has ceased since Covid.

He struggles to get around everyday with the pain and stiffness in his joints. He limps off both legs but his left is worse. It breaks my heart to see the physical demise of a once fit man. He's a farmer and has an off farm job part time too so he's on his feet doing physical work everyday but myself and my family chip in when we can.

With waiting lists in the country for surgeries like knee replacement getting longer due to Covid, we are looking at the option of going private as our Dad's quality of life is most important. He doesn't have health insurance at the moment. I was doing some research online and it's looking like one surgery alone will cost up to €15000 which I'm not sure we can afford.

Can anyone offer advice having been in a similar position or offer information on how to go about getting health insurance with arthritis, companies you'd recommend, possible schemes to avail of, private hospitals etc.

Any information would be much appreciated.

A relative of mine had/has something similar. He would be shuffling around with pain in both legs. He was diagnosed as having, forgive spelling, polymiagila rheumatica. He was put on a course of steroids and is now grand.

0lddog · 31-05-2021 4:07pm

OP, if you havnt already, then it might be worth taking a trip through :

https://www.arthritisireland.ie/

munstergirl · 31-05-2021 4:19pm

Hope your dad gets appointment with rheumatologist soon. There is plenty of great medicines available.

In the mean time get him to watch his diet & read the ingredients of food he is eating.He should notice a difference. If he tries an anti inflammatory diet.

Foods that may help manage inflammation include:

oily fish, such as tuna and salmon
fruits, such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and cherries
vegetables, including kale, spinach, and broccoli
beans, nuts and seeds,olives and olive oil

Foods that can help
https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/treatment-plan/tracking-your-health/foods-that-can-help-ra-symptoms

Avoid sugar, processed foods, fructose glucose (hidden sugars) tomatoes, red meat.

This is worth a read.
https://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/features/sugar-ra-link

Google autoimmune diet, or plenty of books on Amazon rheumathoid arthritis diet. Basically an autoimmune diet not a lose weight diet.

Eat plenty of Tumeric, ginger, garlic. Good for pain. Natural food, healthy fats.

Some supplements worth trying vit D, tumeric, Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate with rosehip, omega 3 foods, like salmon.

https://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/top-4-supplements-treat-arthritis-pain

I have 2 aunt's who got new knees in Croom Limerick they didn't have rheumathoid arthritis but they had health insurance..

Good luck to your dad, I know a few people on a very long waiting list to see a consultant.

Father Suffering With Arthritis

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