On sat. I passed out and fell on the hardwood floor in the kitchen. I have been in excruciating mid back pain ever since. Already taking anti - infl. and motrin for TMJ and fibro. I have both RSD and fibro - full body.
I always have chronic pain in my lower back from an epidural inj. Now it is in my middle back from the fall.
Just came from the local, new MD (Not my reg. Dr.) She just gave me a scrip for skelaxin. I asked about an MRI or x rays. She said MRI's are expensive. Can you believe that? Then I told her the other meds I was on to make sure the skelaxin would not interfere. She said to ask the pharmacist. Wow! I know my fibro or RSD is triggered off very easily and the fall probably got my trigger points really good. However, do you think I should just verify this is muscular by getting an x ray or MRI
Thanks,
Sydney

Sounds like this Doc was a QUACK!!!! I cannot believe this person actually denied you a MRI because of cost!!! Wow. I would have asked him/her that since they are obviously deciding for you what you can and cannot have due to monies are they paying your bills? And if so you could probably give them alot more! What a jerk. This it outrageous. DO NOT LET THIS GO!! You need to let your regular doctor know. By law you have the right to all medical facilities that are available regardless of cost. That is discrimination.

I hope you are feeling better real soon. You should seek a second opinion immediately if you are not.

Chin Up!!! Mark

They usually don't do MRIs unless something really points to the need for it.
Did she do a decent evaluation - poking, prodding and testing reflexes ?

Dr may have looked at your age, how you described the fall and how you landed, and decided at this time xray or MRI is not needed.

Oh and did she follow up on the passing out part - And what caused that to happen??

Hmm - I forgot that RSD will thin the bones?? is that correct??
In that case at least an xray- do you have urgent care centers in your area?

In response to your questions -------No there was no follow up on my passing out. She seemed concerned about it at first but then forgot about it. She never asked me to describe the fall. I just said I passed out and fell. I did request that she not examine me because I am so fearful of her triggering off more Fibro trigger points or more RSD spread. My body cannot tolerate any touching, pushing, etc. I hadn't had my blood pressure taken in 2 years as the cuff makes my arm ache for weeks. I cannot tolerate reflex testing of knees, etc. It triggers off knee pain.
The pain is a 10 plus now. I am going to Urgent Care or the ER tomorrow. I can't deal with this anymore. It is getting worse as the day goes on. But I am scared to death of the hospital. I have no veins for IV's and I'm afraid of their exams. I MUST have IV morphine if they can get a vein. Took sleeping pills now and hope I can get away from the pain for awhile.
Thanks,
Sydney

((((((Sydney)))))),

I'm sorry this happened to you

I can't believe the incompetence of some medical personnel. Even *I* with my limited medical knowledge know that there should have been a better exam done. Especially because of the passing out.

I fell flat on my back once at work. The fire hose was leaking and flooded the hallway. I didn't see the water. Fell from the height of 2-inch high heels flat onto my back -- like being body-slammed by a wrestler. This was right around the time that I developed my fibromyalgia.

Needless to say, everything flared up. I was out of work for 6 weeks. Actually knocked a disc in my back out of line.

I'm glad you're going to the urgent care. You need someone "competent" to judge what kind of problems you're facing right now.

In the meantime, take real good care of yourself. Forget about cooking, cleaning, any of that stuff. Just take care of your SELF and your BODY.

I hope, I truly hope, that this fall doesn't flare everything up.

Gentle BIG HUGS.

Barb

Hi Syndey,

If I was you, I would get 2 sheets of paper. One with my prior history and another with all your recent SX. Make sure it is dated. You need action. MD's in the States have to dot their I's and cross thier t's. Hugs, Roz xxx

PS Keep a copy for yourself as well.

Hi Sydney--i think Ros is " right on"...

take a "logical approach" in determining WHY you passed out: 1). ANY RECENT changes in your meds?? If NOT, then then something else might be going on.

If you have been "doing ok" up until your recent episode, then a Doc needs to determine ALL factors that may possibly come "into play"-- change of med dosages, high blood pressure, kidney, liver and other involvement that might be "complicating" your condition.

And-- a work-up to determine IF you have sufferd other PHYSICAL consequences as aresult of your fall.

Granted, there are certain "guidelines" and symptoms that a Doc takes into consideration, before ordering more sophisticated tests, such as n MRI, CT scan . etc. but, it is imperative to see the "big picture".

I will give you a personal example if I may, that hopefully will underscore the point: (Get ready for a loooong post!):

I suffered a fall that resulted in a broken knee ( non-displaced tibial plataue fracture.) The"plain" x-rays were initially NEGATIVE. It was not UNTIL I had an MRI scan that the existence of the fracture was determined.

I was subsequently on crutches, during the rehabilitation/ partial weight-bearing phase. Unfortunately, I then fell down an entire flight of stairs, because I could not navigate on crutches properly( thanks to RSD . carpal tnnel syndrome, etc. of both arms). I went via ambulance to the ER.

The "plain" x-rays were NEGATIVE for any fractures.. I was in HORRIBLE PAIN. The ER Doc was going to DISCHARGE me back home, at 2o a.m. knowing full well that I LIVED ALONE.... and there was virtually NO ONE who could "assist:... Very reluctantly, the ER Doc "admitted" me to the hospital, DESPITE the "negative x-rays.. ( I guess, to his credit).

It was a very "awkward" experience, KNOWING that some Docs do NOT recognize RSD...in other words... I felt as though as I was "walking the fine line" between an UNKNOWN , or being "labelled" as "xaggearting"the SEVERITY of the nes leg injuries as a result of the fall,

Two days later, while in the hospital, I had to actually "negotiate" and "reason" with the attending Doc in order to get an MRI scan andCT scan of my leg...I AGAIN had to "remind" the Doc that when FIRST broke my knee, that the initial x-rays were negative, and the ONLY procedure that CONFIRMED the broken knee was an MI SCAN... (Which by the way. was perfomed at the VERY SAME HOSPITAL where I was)...

Three days later--tests done.the MRI and CT scan reveal that I RE-BROKE my knee, I ALSO had sustained a broken ankle AND a pelvic-ring fracture. I was in the hospital for Ten more days (VERY fortunately, I did NOT get RSD in my leg--I had In home PT/OT and I just kept that leg MOVING).

TRUST YOUR "INSTINCTS", Sydney. You, and ONLY you knows your "body best".. The COST of aTEST is not a "reason" to NOT have the test, particularly if the test reveals that you have an actual INJURY that can be TREATED, an d minimize any futher adverse consequences.

I am still paying for my hospital bills and the MRI/CT scans...and I do so very GRATEFULLY because my leg is doing JUST FINE. Thank the Lord that I didn't get RSD there, too. I have enough to contend with. given the RSD in my arms...

Given the RSD issues, my motto is "better SAFE than SORRY"...and sometimes. that means we need to be more "pro-active", particularly when RSD is involved. WE know OUR bodies BEST--and if things continue to be "wrong". or "out of the ordinary" (all things considered), then WE have to persevere...in order to determine WHAT is going on, WHAT is the "CAUSE", and how BEST to treat it.

Again Sydney, YOU know YOUR body BEST. I hope that you will be able to deterine WHY you passed out, and IF you have suffered any futher injury so that BOTH issues can be addressed appropirately.

Well, again I apologize for the long post. I hope it helps...

Most Sincerely,

Brokenwings