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I know we have a lot of bad luck going on lately. I hate to add to the list, but I need some good luck wishes, on Monday I am having a MRI in to ongoing process of trying to find out why I have serve back pain. This has been going on for almost 4 years, in which I have had X-Rays and MRI on my back and it showed nothing (The spine and nerves was fine). They also did a lumbar puncture which was clear. So now they are moving to my neck, and if nothing shows there then they are going to MRI my hip area. Ive been to the surgeon, Neurologist, arthritis specialist, and now back to the Neurologist 🙁
I went to the arthritis clinic last week and the good news is its not rheumatoid, bad news is I’m back at square 1.
Being a graphic artist and working for myself has been very difficult as I count on how much work I do to how much I make. Sitting at my desk has become very painful and reflects in how much work I get done. Its also very frustrating having this go on so long with no answers. I love Finland, but at times it takes so long to get to see the doctors it gets me down at times. I just want some answers 🙁
I also worry about being on the pain medications(Tramadol also called Tramal, Panadol, and Panacod a type of codeine) for such a long time.
Please wish me luck in finishing some answers soon
😕Fellow Graphic Designer, I do wish you luck. That also comes from a fellow pain sufferer. Couldnt hurt to ask them to look into Fibromyalgia. It is more often times than not, missed altogether or, misdiagnosed as it overlaps many symptons with rheumatism and CFS (Chronic Fatigue). If it’s a shrewd doctor, they will know exactly what to look for by doing touch tests and hearing the answers to questions… it doesnt show up on any xrays or MRIs etc. Just a thought to keep in the back of your mind and perhaps, something YOU can bring up to your doctor. They are not Gods and are not infallible. As a patient and someone suffering, you have A LOT to offer to help you get the right treatment that will either lead to a cure or, at least treatment (FMS= Fibromyalgia and is a widespread throughout the body, constant pain disorder; it is treatable but has not cure and has lots of spin offs. Google it if you want to know more for I could go on forever and bore you).
Im here for any support regardless of what comes of your MRI. For now, all I can say is while you endure this loud as hell test (hopefully theyll give you special headphones with music like they did for my last one), try to get into some form of meditative trance state, and dream of Windstones leaping from cloud to cloud!
Thank you, I will look that up now.
They have done some type of touch test and other odd tests. They run things down my legs and ask if the feeling is the same on both. Though I noticed that the left side has less feeling then the right one. They also had me close my eyes and touch my nose, but I couldn’t get. Then had me stand and close my eyes with my head back arms out. My husband was in the room with me, since I don’t speak Finnish. He said I was swaying all over, I could not tell I was moving. All of this was when I went to the Neurologist.I really am not looking forward to the MRI as I am a bit claustrophobic.[/list]
Ravnheart wrote:Thank you, I will look that up now.
They have done some type of touch test and other odd tests. They run things down my legs and ask if the feeling is the same on both. Though I noticed that the left side has less feeling then the right one. They also had me close my eyes and touch my nose, but I couldn’t get. Then had me stand and close my eyes with my head back arms out. My husband was in the room with me, since I don’t speak Finnish. He said I was swaying all over, I could not tell I was moving. All of this was when I went to the Neurologist.I really am not looking forward to the MRI as I am a bit claustrophobic.[/list]
heh, I went to sleep in the MRI tube when I had one for my back… Can’t tell if it was the humming or the warm.
Your condition sounds a heck of a lot worse than mine. I’ve got a sacroiliac joint (the joint that connects your pelvis to your spine) problem that makes it incredibly painful to move sometimes when it flares up. The joint slips and pinches and the pain is the blinding kind of pain that tastes like metal in your mouth, but it only lasts a split second.
It probably came from lifting dogs and shouldering horses as a tech. It seems to flare up the worst after a lot of physical activity.
I wish you lots of luck in your diagnostic endeavors. Back problems are painful and scary!
Ok my jaw just hit the floor! I went to look that up and OMG!!! Not only does that explain the pains, but also the heavy menstrual and why after I eat I have intestinal pains. Along with a few other things that I thought odd but never though it was part of the same thing.
So how do they diagnose this? When i see the doctor I will ask them to do the tests for this. I am just floored that this sounds identical so most of the things I have been going through.
Once I was putting a pillow case on my pillow and my muscles on my left side completely contracted. My cell phone was in the living room and I half crawled there to call my husband. It took about 2 days to get over that. Things like that happen from time to time.
I even made a chart for the doctor I went to last time to help her understand.
http://www.ravnheart.com/photo/body.jpgHoly crap! Well, I hope that they figure out what you have, if the forum didnt just do it for you. Im sorry about your pain. Dont worry about the MRI, though. Just close your eyes and relax. 😉 Good luck!!
skigod377 wrote:Holy crap! Well, I hope that they figure out what you have, if the forum didnt just do it for you. Im sorry about your pain. Dont worry about the MRI, though. Just close your eyes and relax. 😉 Good luck!!
Thank you hon, it would be wild if they just helped me find out what it is! 🙂
I dont know if I will relax, but the eyes closed is for sure 😛Yeah, MRIs are nothing to worry about. I had to get a few because of all the joint problems I developed shortly after being on such high doses of chemo. I actually fell asleep one time too. It was comfy cause they gave me a pillow and blanket!
Good luck. I hope everything goes smoothly for you. 🙂
A rheumatologist is usually the one to confirm diagnosis on FMS- tho other docs may suspect. Since it’s so tricky, youll find lots of docs like to pass the buck. Youll have to have a bit of luck that a doctor will stick with you and you might have to do some form of phyusical therapy. In which, they will teach you how todo certain stretches and such, that act as their own medicine if you keep it up. FMS comes with a TON of other problems and since it affects your uimmune system directly, you can fall prey to a bunch of other things out there. It’s usually genetic and can lay dormant (and go back to being dormant which you hope), but theresd arguments for it just showing up for no reason.
The key in this situation is being the leaky wheel to get the grease. Talk, talk and talk about it so that someone pays attention to you and doesnt brush youoff because they hadnt thought of it first. Be prepared for statements like, “just because your friend has it and you Googled it doesnt mean you suddenly have it, (to which I would say “thank you for your insult for I am not a hypochondriac” 🙄
There is no quick fix for FMS; just things you can do on your own and likely the rest of your life. If its whjat you have, we can chat more later when Im done moving and back here full time. There are FMS support groups too, so see if any are in your area just as a premptive strike.
I get claustro in an MRI too, but if you have any kind of sedative, taek it before hand. Many times the doctors there will have something you can take if you explain your claustro, I had my own meds and tho it was a tight fit (and I had to have an IV inthe last time for contrast), when I went to see what was up with my back pain years ago, they did an OPEN MRI (wehich you might request). If it is a neurological MRI, that is the one that had to be enclosed. But, if you open your eyes, you look right into a mirror that is special tilted so you can see directly into the face of the nurse in the other room. And, you have your “panic button” device in your hand so if you feel too uncomfortable, press it and they get you out of there in a hot second. I was also allowed to talk to the nurse during my closed one and her answers came back through the speakers in my ears.
Go in with a plan of distraction. Take some topics from here and come back with answers such as what should the next production color be? What was the order Windstone released colors and what order of scultps… do Windstone trivia to take your mind off of the moment. It does help. I have my own method but am just using Windstones as an example here since we have that in common.
Good luck and my heart, thoughts and prayers are with you. Last resort- be a raven and shaoe shift your consciousness outta there 😀 *warm fuzzies*
HUGS XXX
PT
ps: sorry for wicked typos but Im so tired and typing in pitch dark. Time for bed as it’s time to clean the new house top to bottom before furniture move in on Monday. Personally, Id rather the MRI! Love and huggles xoxoxoFirst I really want to thank you for all the information! I read the info to my husband this morning when he got up and he was shocked as well. He said 90% of that fits all that I have been going through.
The rheumatologist was very interested during the exam and she gave me a very good and complete exam. Though after all that she went back to the X-rays and told me that I didn’t have rheumatoid arthritis and then is referring me back to the neurologist with the MRI. Though she is also sending me to do a scope for my left knee. So she was pretty much passing me off on someone else. I think a lot of the problem is I speak English and they Speak it pretty well but I think there is something lost at times.
I will really push the next one I see about this, there is also a fantastic doctor locally that is very interested in my case I may get in to see him and see what he can do as well.The problem with Finland is they don’t have all the little extra things here like in the US. Like when getting the x-rays they don’t give you the little gown, lol. So you cant be too modest here 😛 The last MRI I had done was in a huge truck that travels, so they didn’t have the little mirror or music or anything. So I don’t think they will have any other options for open MRI’s. This time though its at the hospital and they said I could bring my own CD to listen to though. So I am taking the new Nightwish, hehe.
I will let them know I am claustrophobic so they will be aware. I usually try to focus on something else, last time wasn’t too bad but it wasn’t fun either 😛
I hope that the doctors apt wont take as long to get into as the last one. Last time I had to wait 6 months 🙁Though if this is what I may have its not a great outlook, but to at least know what is wrong would give me hope and some future.
PT my heart goes out to you to know what you are going through 🙁 MY prayers and thoughts are with you and your family! I hope the move goes well and you settle in with ease. Thank you again for your time and all the information! *Huge hugs*!
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