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"Chronic pain and GP understanding "

About: GPs in the Sydney Electoral District

(as the patient),

I have sought the services of several GP's related to my Osteoarthritis and I am currently receiving a Centrelink benefit. I am also currently not working, however, I am educated and I am well versed in chronic pain. I understand my condition does not have a cure and that self-management with exercise, not pain medication, has been the best treatment for me so far. I get frustrated with the GP who firstly doesn't communicate very well and secondly seems to assume that I am ignorant about my own arthritis, that I don't know what I'm talking about and that I am trying to rip off the government with benefits.

I have a lot of arthritis but not all of it is severe, so the GP doesn't seem to understand why I can't work. I require medical certificates for the government.

I feel I have done everything the GP's, and physio's have asked me to do, but slowly my arthritis gets worse. I do not believe this is not my fault and I am not to blame. I am not asking for medication from them and I do not think I have unrealistic expectations from my GP. I am unable to exercise at the rate I used to, and I need hydro-therapy exercises and manipulation from a physio, which need to be government sponsored.

I believe the GP could do a lot better than talking to me as if I know nothing about my pain condition and am not doing what I was asked to do.

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