High Wycombe IT trainer says hip treatment was MuSIC to her ears

Company news

Jan 23, 2015

Council worker Elaine Davis felt like she could have “run a marathon” after receiving treatment for a hip injury at The Merlin Centre NHS Clinic in Buckinghamshire.

The 54-year-old mother of three suffers from osteoarthritis but found her symptoms were greatly relieved after a single treatment at Care UK’s NHS Buckinghamshire Musculoskeletal Integrated Care service (MuSIC) in High Wycombe.

Elaine, an IT trainer at Hillingdon Council, said: “Having seen a physiotherapist twice and the pain not really diminishing, I was told by the clinician at the Merlin Centre I could have a steroid injection into the hip which would have to be guided by an ultrasound.

“After I had the injection, I was immediately better. I felt like a new person, like I could have run a marathon after having the treatment! Until then I hadn't realised how down the pain was making me feel.”

Before the treatment Elaine found engaging in her favourite hobbies, including long walks and fitness classes, increasingly difficult. She said: “Previously, there was quite a lot of pain involved and that stopped me from walking.

“Since I had the injection, I’m able to walk without pain and generally my mobility’s better. I also couldn’t do most things in my keep fit class before the treatment. I could raise one leg but not the other. Now I can do both.”

Elaine was so pleased with her treatment that when she suffered pain in her knee, also caused by osteoarthritis, she went back to the same clinic to have a scan.

She said: “I’ve been back to have another treatment there. It was about the same waiting time as the hospital but it’s more efficient. If I had gone to hospital I would probably have had to make another appointment to go back and have an X-ray.

“I think The Merlin Centre is more of an intimate setting, it also specialises in certain treatments, which makes it easier to be treated for specific conditions.”

As well as the standard of service, another plus for her about the Care UK NHS clinic was the convenience. She said: “I didn't have to wait many weeks before I could make an appointment for my hip treatment and was delighted to be able to attend on a Saturday. Working full-time, it is difficult to get time off so having this service available is brilliant.”

Care UK local medical director Dinesh Sirisena from the Merlin Centre said: “Even in a small joint, osteoarthritis can have a big impact on your life. Getting a steroid shot directly in a sore joint can often ease the pain quickly. Often we will guide the injection in with an ultrasound, which helps us to better target the area for treatment.

“On the day after the procedure, patients may return to their regular activities. When the pain has improved, it is advisable to start regular exercise and activities in moderation. Even if the pain relief is significant, it is still important to increase activities gradually over one to two weeks to avoid recurrence of pain.”

Elaine added: “The doctor administering the injection was very effective and had a good sense of humour. I always find the staff in general so friendly at the Merlin Centre and appointments seem to run to schedule. It is so easy to get to and having free parking is another bonus.”