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Help Getting the Right Treatment - Physical Condition

neil

Hello,

I'm a 46 year old man in the UK and was diagnosed with Aspergers 2 years ago.


Unrelated to that I have an issue with long term pain and stiffness in my feet, which I am trying to get some help for. Ordinary physiotherapy and orthotics provided by the hospital have n't helped at all. I am trying to get my local hospital to do a gait analysis and an MRI to discover why I am getting this pain, but the consultants have so far either said there's nothing they can do, or sent me for irrelevant tests.

I am wondering whether I should mention to the hospital I have Aspergers. There is the Patient Advisory Liaison Service (PALS) which is supposed to help people with queries about their treatment and intercede on patient's behalf (although I don't think its a complaints service). 

Could the fact I have Aspergers mean I'm just not communicating my problem well enough? And could mentioning to PALS that I have Aspergers get me some more help?

Thanks

  • After contacting PALS I was directed to the Learning Disability Liaison Team . However, I spoke to them and they said they don't deal with people with autism (odd, I thought autism was a learning disability). The guy with the team is going to phone me back when he has found out some information. 

    So, not very helpful so far. I await developments.

  • Hi Neil, welcome to the forum.

    Bringing up Asperger's with the health professionals is possibly worthwhile, but doing it through a group such as PALS or a disability advice service may be the best way, as I have found that very few healthcare professionals are aware of the specific difficulties of dealing with an autistic patient.

    My experience suggests that you could be right about Asperger's hindering your communication with doctors.  This is not necessarily because you don't explain yourself well, but can be because autistic traits can sometimes be perceived as being hypochondria, psycho-somatic illness or just being an "awkward patient".

    I think you are also right to suggest exploring possible problems with your gait.  I am a similar age to you, and now have regular issues with cramp and tendonitis in my feet and calves.  A podiatrist has suggested that this may be linked to putting too much weight on my toes and the outside edge of my feet, rather than the ball of the foot (I have the fairly common autistic trait of being a toe-walker).