Tuesday I went to a knee surgeon because of the knee pain and the pain specialist's findings of avascular necrosis in the subpatellar bones. She saw the MRIs and said that she sees a lot of this from steroid use, but that it does not hurt unless the knee is collapsing, which mine is not. When I showed her where the pain is, and described it to her, she said that I was pointing to exactly where one of the main nerves runs through and the type of pain was definitely from a nerve. She did say that she would inject the joint with cortisone if I wanted to try it just to see if I could get some relief. I told her that that sounded pointless, and she agreed. I asked her if she could inject the same stuff into the nerve. She explained that she wouldn't begin to know how since that was the neurologist's job. So the ping pong ball is back to square one again. I have been trying to contact the pain specialist since Wednesday to no avail. I explained that I was in in agony and really needed to speak with him as I was going to plead with him for a shot of something, anything into that nerve, but I am being ignored even by his medical assistant, who, says his office, "mediates" calls before they can get to the doctor. (What is the difference between God and a doctor? God doesn't think he's a doctor). To make matters worse, I had lain down yesterday for 1/2 hour, and when I got up the burning razors shot through my upper thigh and knee so fast and so hard that I immediately fell like a rag doll. As I did, I felt my thumb bend back and heard it snap, and so it was off to the ER again, and yes, I fractured it. Now I have to go see the hand doc again. I have an appointment with a new neurologist but they couldn't get me in until August 28. I am going to see another orthopod recommended by the pain mgt. specialist (only so that maybe he will call me back--I think the knee surgeon put that issue to bed). We are ending our travel season with our annual trip to Orlando for our granddaughter's 5th birthday and our other son's annual summer bash, and I am going to try and get back to South Florida to see my former neuro because I know I can depend on him for a nerve block. I am seeing my current neurologist on Aug. 10 and I have a choice kiss-off plan for him. In the meantime, I am trying to keep to 1-2 Tylenol 3s per day, but now with my broken thumb it's getting harder. I swear, I want to just kill somebody...I've already been crying in frustration and pain since Tuesday and none of them seem to care at all.
WHY I HATE THE MEDICAL PROFESSION - My MSAA Community
WHY I HATE THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
Oh, Suki I empathise with you. Pain is so exhausting, it zaps the energy sheer out of you. I don’t swear but the other day I shocked my hubby for using profanities that he had never heard come out of my mouth. It’s bad enough having ms without the added extras. I too am experiencing pain in my right knee. I had X-rays because the doc was sure it was arthritis, but after a long wait for the results it showed no arthritis. Then I ended up seeing a nurse practitioner who listened to me and put me forward for a MRI, after an 8 week wait I finally had one , only to be told it would be 6 weeks before my doc got the report. Then I have to wait for the doc to process it. So here I am, 6 months on and still in pain. My knee seems to hyper extend and snaps, you would swear it breaks every time, it is just so painful, but the nhs don’t seem to care and it is no quicker to go private.
I am so sorry about your thumb as well, I hope that you can still manage to have a ride every now and again. Sending you a big pain free hug, 🤗 keep us informed as to how you get on with the pain doc, blessings Jimeka 🍫 💐 🐾
Oh, Jimeka, I am so sorry for you too! Those waiting times are absolutely intolerable. And they're talking about socializing medicine here, as I am sure you know. It's bad enough already....wishing you a speedy answer and an end to your pain! Hugs, Sukie
Jimecka, I,too, have a right knee problem. Occasionally it goes "out of joint". I have no idea why. Once I have endured the pain of putting it back in, I immediately start to wear my knee appliance. It is simply a rubberized large almost "X"-shaped piece of thick Lycra which when wrapped around the knee disallows it to subluxate. I have to wear it 24-10 until the ligament stops hurting. Needless to say, I have several.
I hope you are doing better now. Hugs.
What is the name of the knee brace please? 🦋
Jimeka, I am so sorry I am so late to answer.
My favorite for minor knee aches is Homedics Thera::P.. It is held by two very nice wide velcro wraps with each end over the top and bottom of the knee. It creates a warm wrap firmly and I need mine for only about 2-3 days. It is really great to wear to bed as it prevents the ligament from slipping over some bone or another. It only provides support for minor slips of tendons. It is excellent if no hyperextension of your knee occurred. The trouble with hyperextension you may not remember it occurring. If the pain is very strong and your knee barely supports your weight (or it doesn't at all) then I use the following:
For a full blown horrible knee where hyperextension may have occurred, I use a Mueller adjustable hinged knee brace from Mueller Sports Medicine, INC, Their phone number is 800 356 9522. muellersportsmed.com. It is not complicated at all and does a super job. Your knee should be back to"normal" within5-10 days. If it isn't then go to your doc. That is what works for my knee. Your knee may be different. You'll just have to see.
Another thing I do is have a pillow in bed that I can sling a leg over when I am side lying. I think the angle of my hip bone to the knee when my knee is on the mattress encourages that ligament slippage. So instead I sling my leg over the pillow and no slippage occurs.
Let me know how they work for you.
Wow, you certainly have the medical profession analysised. This is definitely food for thought 🤔
Actually, i start on Mondays usually, but this time I had to wait until I saw the knee surgeon on Tuesday.
I understand what you must be going through. A dear friend never has a week without doctors' appointments and gets bounced from one to another trying to discover the cause of her erratic blood pressure, among her many other problems, including chronic, often severe pain. I think it's more difficult because, in general, medicine claims to have answers to everything, or we hope and think they do. But it is merely science, and sometimes it seems that what we think we know is a mere drop in the bucket of real understanding, especially in medical science. It is so frustrating to get so many differing opinions.
You're in my thoughts and prayers to find an answer quickly to resolve this pain. Let us know how you're getting along and what answers you find.
Pain causes your blood pressure to rise. When I went to the ER a couple of years ago for extreme pain in my leg that I woke up with, my bp was sky high! They did an EKG to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack. That was the only time my bp has EVER been raised. Later I found out after seeing my doc and finally getting an MRI, my sciatica nerve was pinched where I have a bulging disc in my lower back! Once everything went back to 'normal' a month later, my bp was back to normal as well.
I am so sorry for your pain and frustration. I can totally relate. I hope you can get some relief soon.
What a mess! Is it just possible a chiropractor could help - maybe a pinched nerve? At this stage, I would give anything a try.
🐎Oh Sukie, so sorry bout your pain & the Pain-in-the-neck Medical teamz whom really seem like they don't care, & sorry bout ur thumb.Ouch! I sure hope u can get a ride in still!💐Blessings & Prayers🙏yor way! Always L💗VE YA! Jazzy🌹💜
Has the pain specialist tried one of the medications for nerve pain like Gabapentin?
We care, Sukie427. I would bet every single person on this post and similar posts cares. And, like you, we are frustrated by the pain which is not mitigated by absent from doctors care by distant, often far distant, appointments. Here in the states we have CBD oil as no more opiates are being prescribed at this time--or so I am told. CBD oil from hemp does actually decrease preceptions of pain. I just wish I had NO pain to look forward to.
Then there is this: if we go to a large facility that treats the poor and homeless, our wait times might actually signal our demise. It is very frustrating.
This may be exactly what socialized medicine is and actually the best example of that in the USA is the VA. I have to admit that the VA ERs I have been to are prompt but the docs not necessarily accurate in their diagnoses. I have never read a comparison between ERs from mediocre to out standing institutions with high customer satisfaction. The chronic long term care is sometimes very questionable but, in general, long term care is generally quite good.
I no longer think paying more for care is the solution. MDs, etc make much money compared to people like me on SS. I do think hewing to basic religious principles might be a better motivator if people have understand and use basic beliefs in their religion.** At least the Ten Commandments does state the minimum for decent and good behaviors towards others.
**Be sure and read whether or not the Quran has such for all sexes and ages of people.
I will be thinking of you, Sukie427!
My husband's brother-in-law uses the VA healthcare system and his care is worse than anything that I have ever witnessed. None of his treating doctors seem to know what is wrong with him and he has so many conflicting diagnoses it's just criminal. The way this country treats its veterans is a disgrace.
Sorry for your pain Sukie427 . I think you and me had a discussion about the drs being afraid to prescribe meds that will address the pain.
I get so frustrated with my pain management. All they want to do is give point injections or epidurals and neither have ever helped me. Ive taken opioids for years but they really don’t do it anymore but I can’t get them to do anything different. I’ve been with the same dr since 2007 so they know the situation I’m in but they can’t or won’t give anything better to help my pain. So I can surely relate to your situation.
Hope you feel better soon
Donnie
Sorry to hear you are having so much pain & trouble with the Drs. Sounds like they really re giving you the run around cuz they don't want to take responsibility. I have been fortunate that I have friends in the medical field that help me & point me in the right direction. They have also told me to take the lead with my Drs from the start. I dont ask them what to do. I tell them what I would like to have done & speak to them as if I know what I'm talking about, most of the time I do. I usually get on the internet & research my problem before going to the Dr.It really helps from getting the run around from the Drs like you have been getting. Prayers for you that you can get some relief.
Hi, hairbrain4 . When we lived in Florida, I had a great network of docs, some of whom were my clients, and my care did work like yours. We were all on a first-name basis and my calls were taken immediately, and I could get in to see them whenever I wanted. When we moved to AZ we were strangers here, but I am still my own best advocate. I know what needs to be done but I just can't find anyone to listen to me! Who knows you better than yourself????
Exactly!
oh sukie im so sorry, frustrating, braces can work.My doc hisself had a bum knee, (when a doc feels pain something gets done!) and he spent a year in ice and a brace but the good news is..no surgery and knee is fine.so sending HOPE....
You know who I dislike more than doctors? PAs (Physician Assistants). They think they are equal to doctors. So they have the “know-it-all” attitude without the same education!
Anyway, I have the same thing. I had an MRI and then saw the orthopedist. He told me I had AVN (avascular necrosis?). I said “evian”? and he said no I had AVN and kept talking. I had to ask again I said “avian, like bird?” he said no, AVN.
Not knowing anything about this condition I made another attempt to pronounce it.
It was then he looked at me quizzically and spelled out the letters, A-V-N. It was an acronym!
How was I supposed to know that?
This was my experience.
He basically let me know that normal people would have a knee replacement, but c’mon why waste a procedure like that on someone who won’t be walking for long anyway?
232323 , you are so right about PAs. I had one actually "punish" me for being 6 minutes late by actually making me sit in the waiting room past my appt. time while seeing everyone else who had later appts!. The receptionist saw that 5 of those 6 minutes were spent by my husband, who had a stroke and can only use one hand, getting my walker out of the trunk. I called the office and complained to the office manager. The PA never even called to apologize! As a former lawyer, I would never do that myself let alone allow a paralegal do that to a client. Now I am letting my PCP care for my osteoperosis...like I am going to take that from a PA, or even a dr! No professional should ever act like that.
And you pay the doctor’s office the same amount when you see them.
If you are paying that amount why would you want to interact with the second-rate clinician.
I have MS, not a cold. I need the clinician that really knows that field.
I used to think I had no choice until one day the nurse told me I’d have to see the doctor because the PA wasn’t there. I confided that I was happy because she had said things that had conflicted with things I know to be true.
For example I told the PA maybe I should try a procedure I had previously undergone (although she must’ve skipped that in my file), The PA said that was for patients in much worse shape than I was in.
My aunt came with me to the appointment and as we were walking out my aunt said weren’t you way better off then when you had that procedure? In fact I had been. So why not have the procedure I had since I’m worse off than when I received it in the first place.
PAs should be relegated to General Practitioners, not specialized fields. And even when working for GPs, relegated to minor issues.
In the process of diagnosis.
It’s good to be old…sometimes
Orphaned M.S. Patient
