Hi there,
My mother has had arthritis in her knees for a number of years and is in need of knee replacements. However she has also suffered with some upper back pain over the last year. However within the last three/four months, she has gone from being a carer for my gran to herself barely being able to stand or walk to the bathroom, even with the aid of a frame. It takes her 20 minutes to get to the bathroom as she has to sit down every few steps.

She used to be able to climb the stairs but now has to sleep downstairs, she can not turn on her side in bed without aid and has to move her legs with her hands beneath her to stand up. Last Monday she went to hospital for her knee replacement but we raised concerns on her being able to do the rehabilitation exercises. The surgeon examined her and got the physiotherapist to do so too. He advised for her to sort her back out before she can have knee surgery. To put it in perspective we are more worried about her mobility in regards to her back rather than her knees that need to be replaced at the moment.

Blood tests revealed that she is vitamin D deficient, so her GP has put her on vitamin D3, 50,000 iu once a week for the past 8 weeks with no improvement, rather a massive incline in mobility.

Her symptoms are:
- Severe exhaustion and fatigue, especially after and physical exertion
- lack of strength
- tightness of back muscles
- muscle spasms, shaking
- having to bend back when trying to walk

Could you please give a desperate family some advice on what we should be asking from the GP/ specialists etc.. what you think might be wrong?

We can see a deterioration in her condition on a daily basis, she has her first physio appointment on Monday, I have no idea how we will get her in and out of the house, as no ambulance service is available.

Many Thanks,

Bobby