Almost a year ago to the day I was given some medication that changed my life drastically...
After taking these medications for a couple of days I woke up with leg pain. A week later I was diagnosed with some tendon problems by Dr. A. The pain persisted and got much worse after I was diagnosed. Dr. A ordered an MRI and told me to see another doctor. About a week after that I was told there was something wrong with my talus bone in my left ankle. Dr. B ordered a whole body bone scan. When you have a whole body bone scan they inject you with radiation to help the scan see your bones. When I received the results I was told I had Avascular Necrosis (dying bones) in my ankles, knees, shoulders, and big toes. To be honest I thought it would all just go away eventually. I thought my legs would heal and I would continue with my life like nothing happened. How could I have been so wrong?
When I was diagnosed with AVN by Dr. B, he told me that he could not treat me anymore and sent me to Dr. C. Dr. C was a bit of an ass and told me he could not help me because I was not to the point of needing surgery and he sent me to Dr. D. The first time I met Dr. D I was impressed and I liked him for the most part. He ordered some more MRIs for me. The next time I saw him which was probably 3 to 4 months after taking the medication. I was in an area with lots of computers and doctors and students. Dr. D showed me the scans of my ankles and knees. He said I was lucky for where my AVN is was located in my knees. (As he said that I held in every piece of my body that wanted to scream, "LUCKY?" as sarcastically as I could.) He then proceeded to tell me that it probably would never leave my knees. He told me this just matter as fact like. Dr. D in those moments scared me more than anything. Then Dr. D said hey I cannot help you any further you should go see Dr. Ankle.
So, the following week I sat down in Dr. Ankle's room. My mother came with me since after the last Doctor's appointment I ended up crying for hours. Dr. Ankle made my mother's day by what he said but changed my mind on how I saw my condition. He said, "you do not need surgery yet and let's just wait and see what happens to your bones. Maybe it will get better on its own." When I got to the car I cried because I knew then I would have to leave my job. I would loose everything that I had worked so hard for. My mother say this as good news that I wouldn't have to have surgery right then. My mom didn't want me to have surgery. She doesn't like the idea of it. But now about 7 months later she has come to terms with the fact I will probably have to have surgery eventually I mean I do have AVN in most of my major joints.
After seeing Dr. Ankle a few times he told me I needed to get a doctor for my knees since he only treats ankles. I did just that I started seeing Dr. Knee. Dr. Knee told me pretty much up front that he had never seen AVN like this before. At this point I thought in my head "Why the hell am I here then?". He then went on to tell me that he agreed with Dr. Ankle to just continue with my wheelchair, and crutches and wait and see... Really wait and see? I have been waiting and seeing at this point for around 6 to 7 months.
I finally decided I wanted a second opinion. I did some research and I found a doctor who was listed on the osteonecrosis (another name for AVN) website. We will call him Dr. Too Smart. Dr. Too Smart said well yes you do have AVN in multiple joints. You should keep your weight off of it like you are doing with your crutches and wheelchair. Then he went on to say that if I didn't do something soon about my AVN I would probably be looking at my joints becoming disfigured and it being too far progressed for any type of treatment other than joint replacement. He then went on to tell my mother and I about a bunch of doctors up north and on the west coast that may be able to help me. Yes, we are looking into this. Also, while I was there he asked me if I had ever had an MRI of my hips done. I said no but I had a full body scan done and they had said my hips were fine. Dr. Too Smart told me that I needed to get an MRI of my hips because the Full Body Bone Scan doesn't show the hips very well.
About a month later my hips started to hurt really bad. I went and say my regular doctor, Dr. Time. Dr. Time always spends a lot of time in the room with me and makes me feel very comfortable with who she recommends for me to see. She recommended my pain doctor, ENT, and a physiotrist. The last one Dr. Idiot the physiotrist had no idea about AVN and he was suppose to see me for my hips. He sent me for an MRI and would you know it I had AVN in my hips the whole time I just didn't feel the pain of it right away.
So in a nut shell I have seen tons of doctors who have told me things I didn't want to hear. I didn't even tell you about some of the doctors I saw because to be honest it would have taken months to right this is I told you about everyone. I am just trying to get you guys to where I am now. I am not complaining about this, I just need to get it out. I need to release everything I have built up inside of me. I have all these thoughts about everything going on with me and now I am letting them all out.
I hope everyone was a wonderful day!
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