9 weeks and still (sadly) counting

Well I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm at a complete loss. Did the epidural injection work? It might have helped a little with the inflammation in the nerve in my spine, but I still have pain in my shoulder and down my arm, as well as pins and needles. My trapezius muscles are v. v. tight. I asked Dr. P what to do and he said I could try at home traction (don't have one), muscle relaxers, or dry needling. So I tried the muscle relaxers. Of course the next day when he got back to me he said which ones to try, and the one I used was left over from my hip surgery. All it did was give me restless leg syndrome and I was up all night from it, dry as a bone, eyes hurting from being so dry and dehydrated. Must remember to toss out any remaining pills. It was something w/ at T. Anyway then I rang my acupuncturist. He said that he could try some treatment that wouldn't increase the inflammation. I went last night, and felt a little better after, even though the needles hurt like hell - surprising because they don't really normally hurt. But today my neck /spine hurts and the shoulder hurts and the pins and needles are still the same. I'm am going to lose what is left of my mind. Mark did notice last night that my right side seemed weaker - I told him I'm not surprised b/c I've been guarding it and using my left side - which explained why when he touched my left trapezius muscle I screamed - it's been working overtime. Thank goodness it is Friday and I don't have to sit for two days at a computer. I am getting very worried though because time is running out to sort this before October and Italy. There is no way I'll survive that trip like this. Something must be done! Two weeks until I see the anesthesiologist again, perhaps I should see if I can get an appointment sooner. He might have to do another epidural. I also definitely need an MRI of my shoulder, so wondering if I should have that arranged because perhaps this is coming from there as well and a shot in there would be good? I don't mean the one Dr. P. did a month ago, I mean like they did with my hip where they really get into the joint. I have to ask someone and hopefully get some information because I am so worn out I could just give up at this point - and I'm sadly not even trying to be dramatic.

consultations

After speaking to Dr. A yesterday, I tried ringing my internist Dr. Rosen. She was out so I sent her an email. I love technology. She rang me back this morning. It's good to have a doctor you know for so long and knows all your intricacies. She doesn't feel I should necessarily have the colonoscopy before since there is an infection to begin with, so that was good news and I'm happy to go with that theory. I really wasn't in the mood to have to go through that right now as well.
I also had asked her about my previous colonoscopy. I couldn't remember when it was, but it was way back in 1994! Another good thing about keeping the same doctor, they have all your records! It showed a little inflammation (colitis) but was non-specific and not something anyone was concerned with. I had been going through a lot then and having tons of tests so she wasn't thinking it meant much, even in hindsight. That' a relief. I am totally stressing about going to Dr. A's later though.

On a hip note, I've done a lot of walking the last four days and today my right hip is telling me to stop it. But still, it's a lot more then I've done in a long time, so I'm looking at it as progress. :-)

PS- I've just decided I'm throwing on a lido patch on the right hip - I can't deal with anymore pain!!!

Compromising

It's so much fun going to doctors and baffling them with a multitude of issues. Well, not really. In fact it's quite dull at this point. Nevertheless this is what I did today. I brought a huge envelope containing copies of all my reports (blood tests, surgery reports, MRI results, etc). They all seemed so impressed at the office - but I've just learned it's easier to have it ready ahead of time.

After giving the Dr. Meng's assistant all the forms that they had sent me in advance and my envelope, I sat waiting for her to review all of it. She couldn't have read too much as that would have taken her a long time. But at least she was briefed in advance. When I met her she asked me all the same questions again that I had filled out, and more about different treatments I have tried, and more specific questions about certain aspects of my "aches". Then she gave me a physical.

She decided that I should try Mobic 7.5mg 1x/day with Protonix (so my acid reflux doesn't get started again) for the fibromyalgia/general body inflammation. Bit upset about this as I weaned myself off the Protonix and was quite happy not paying for it or taking it. Now I have to ring my internist to make yet another appointment so she can give me another script for that. I'll hit her up for some more Clonazapam as well since I have to go in and that seems to help me sleep occasionally when I'm having a rough patch of insomnia. Dr. Meng also wants me to take about 500mg of Tylenol in the afternoon. She thinks this will help with the pain, and says it supposedly works well with the Mobic. I'm willing to give it a shot, but I just looked up Mobic on the Internet and came across a page with comments from people taking it and their side-effects. Oh how I hate drugs. Still, if this is going to get me through rehabbing my hip, then I guess I will have to suck it up for now. She wants to see me in a month, but I am to ring her in two weeks if there's no difference.

update

Arianna, Dr. Kelly's PA rang me on Tuesday evening and we reviewed a bit of what was done in surgery. I wrote down as much as I could. I will add the post-op report when I receive it, hopefully at my appointment with him next week.

Arianna stated the following:
Impingement was bad. Acetabulum had too much bone and was shaved down. The femur was also shaved down.
Labral tear was not as big as thought and the frayed portion was debrided. The rest of the labrum was intact so no sutures were needed.
There was a lot of inflammation and very red inside the joint, he debrided what he could.
Psoas release - area was very red, 10% was cut. Because of this I will be a bit weaker for the first 3 months but should eventually get back to "normal" strength.

I was also told that I should be on crutches 2-3 weeks depending on how my strength is and if I am able to walk without limping. But as with everything else, it's a 'wait and see' thing.

I also checked with my genetic doctors office and was told that my biopsied tissue is growing and when they have enough it will be sent to the research lab in Seattle. Still no word on my Echo, but they were following up and hopefully will have that by tomorrow.

So that's the medical bit of the update.

Yesterday I went to PT for the first time. I have to say it definitely helps that I know the guys I am working with there as it made me much more comfortable. We did some small movements with the green band which wasn't too bad. I was not able to do bridges, too painful for me. I went on the bike for a bit but at first could not to a full rotation as it was too painful, so after doing a semi back and forth for a few minutes was finally able to do a full rotation for about 5 more minutes, which was a huge accomplishment. As my little nephew says "I did it!". All in all they thought I did pretty well.

After PT was when the nightmare started though. We left the office, which is on 56th, about 5 pm. We were not able to get a cab on that street, it was the worst time as most were off duty, and the others all taken. I was told not to walk more than a block for a week or so, but my mum and I thought perhaps we could find a cab on 3rd Avenue. After crossing the avenue and waiting for a while, we realised this was not going to happen either. We walked up to 57th, and thought the other side looked more promising. This was not to be either. Eventually we crossed back to the other side of 57th and were going to ring my dad to come down with the car, but there was a bus that had arrived which goes up York near my apartment. I did not have my metrocard which is why we hadn't tried this sooner. I was desperate so sent my mum over to ask the man if he would kindly let me on sans metrocard. Bless his heart as he took pity on poor gimpy me and let us on. I thought I was going to pass out at this point. After 2 hours of PT and then standing for at least an half hour on the pavement was just too much. I still had to walk from York to First Avenue when we got off the bus, and that was very slow going. Every part of my body was killing me at this point. Thankfully we finally made it to my flat and I put the GameReady on immediately, took another pain pill and put on my ipod to try to rest.

Today I wanted to take it easy, but we had to come out to the island, so there was a lot of packing to do. Unfortunately this fell mostly to my poor exhausted mother, who needs an holiday after this for sure! Thankfully the drive was only an hour as I was so nauseous from the pain meds. As soon as we got home I went straight to bed for a bit, and when I woke up was in a lot of pain. I used the GameReady for about an hour and took (reluctantly) another pain pill. I am now wonky again. The less I move when I'm on the drugs the better as even walking makes me queasy. I know this doesn't sound promising but I am foregoing my PT exercises today as I just couldn't do it for all the money in the world. I promise tomorrow I will do it!