Quote:
Originally Posted by tatertim
Well in my case, Workers Comp rushed to settle my claim, but refused anything that wasn't a full release...almost like they knew that something major was wrong with me and wanted to get out before I realized it. But I digress... 
Getting back to my health, I had my initial visit with my new Ortho today. He was a total jerk, no bedside manner at all, but I'm not seeing him for a friendship after all. After jerking my knee around and grilling me interrogation-style (with the help of two interns) he proceeds to tell me, as every other doctor initially says, that he finds it hard to believe that I've been diagnosed with Post Thrombotic Syndrome, Patellar Femoral Syndrome, Grade III Chondromalacia, and then tells me that it's (the PTS) an old person's disease, and I'm too young and fit to have it. I had a fresh set of X rays done today too, and after inspecting them he says that they "support an RSD diagnosis"...crap. I mean how does an x ray help diagnose RSD?
I have an MRI and bone scan pending sometime in the next 2 weeks. I'm kinda iffy on the bone scan, I mean it can't be good to pump you full of radioactive isotopes, can it? (FEEL FREE TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT THIS!!!)
Will keep you guys posted, ALL OF YOU ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST!!
God bless,
Tim |
Hi Tim,
I never went through any of these test for RSD i.e bone scans, MRI's, e-rays etc to dx. my RSD. I feel I got RSD right after my first surgery I did have a lot of those test for the inquiry. I was fighting saving my arm and trying to get the rsd under control, it was a real balance for my doctors. When I finally found doctors who would work with me, I went around for about 3 weeks without any doctor and none that we even see me due to the difficulty of my case. Finally I found a pain doctor first and just by the look and symtoms of the arm he told me I had RSD after just sitting there for 5 minutes. Then he introduced me to a surgeon and both worked together for like 3-4 years to get me put back together without making the RSD worse. Sorry to ramble. Anyway I would ask my pain doctor how can you just tell my looking. He explained the over grown nails on the one hand, the extreme growth of hair on the one arm, discoloration of the arm oh let's not forget the pain and at that time you couldn't even touch me. He also explained that the way to really tell is to start with a procedure and see if it works. The first procedure I had was a Stellate Gaglion Block and yes it did work. But we all know that only last for a couple of weeks or month. I had to have many surgeries which ofcourse made me worse but they told me that. They just went through this balance routine for a while as I said. I truly believe it was the PM doctor who was able to get me to as normal as I am going to get and ofcourse my surgeon was incredible also. But each surgery was a major production because of the blocks I had to have just prior, they always used ketamine as part of the anesthetic cocktail. Once my surgeon came out while I was waiting to go into the OR and said we are running late because DR....... wants you to have ketamine while having this surgery, he joked "it's like killing a fly with a sledge hammer" but he new what he was doing.
Maybe question some of these test and what they are suppose to determine. I have learned that the medical industry is no different from any other business it all about dollars. Even the best of the best yes they do a incredible job but they want to make money. Good luck....Keep the faith..
Gabbycakes