Spent majority of day in ER

Oh, so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. These doctors in the ER have no idea about chronic pain pts. Now you have to wait all weekend.

In my area we have a new ortho practice open 24/7. That knee might have to be drained. I had that done. It wasnt fun.

Keep us updated. I will pray for you and send you healing hugs and thoughts.
Betsey

Morning WB!

I don't make it in here as often as I would like, but have often wondered how you were getting along. Now I know after reading your post!….and I'm sorry that you are suffering with multiple issues…and very painful ones at that!

I was thinking that you were moving or had moved, and the worry of finding a good PM was a major issue for you. I' hope you found one, and I'm glad to see that you are closer to family now as well.

SE

I've missed you around here WB!

I hate hate hate when tolerance isn't considered when Drs talk about pain meds. It just doesn't make sense to me, especially considering that traditionally...when your body has extra pain than *usual* they give you more meds...ie if you sprain your ankle you get motrin...if you break it...you get percocet. Well...when you're on pain meds already the same rule still applies..DUH! Lol.

I'm crossing my fingers that you're able to find some distractions this weekend and that it goes by quickly for you!

Please let us know how the follow-up appointments go. I'm really wondering what's causing all that swelling and fluid. Is it just in the one knee and nowhere else?

It does sound a lot like fluid on the knee in need of draining. Please let us know how you make out with all of this.

I've been in the hospital before (Vickie is probably already guessing why,....usually for falls). And I kid you not, I have had the ER docs tell me "just take more of the pain medication you're already on."

Or...."You're already ON pain medication, you (ahem) 'shouldn't need' any more pain meds."

Seriously? It's like they are storing their medical and ethics training, along with an understanding of the rigorous controls of PM contracts,.....in the seat of their pants. It's not in their heads, that's for sure. Where else could it have fallen to? Somewhere dark that doesn't see the light of day.

And if I didn't know better, and if I followed that ER doc's advice,....I'd be in big trouble. Huge! And the ER doc....? Not even a cursory slap on the wrist for messing with my entire health management and my future potential for care.

Dolts.

.............just sayin'




M.

WB, I'm really sorry to hear about your pain and the update. Hope you will get some pain relief over this weekend.

Keep us updated when you get your apps.

UA

Sent you an e-mail hope you like my pictures>>>
Continue Prayers as well.

WB,

I've been swamped the last few days so haven't been able to email yet - but I've been praying for you and thinking of ya.

Much love to you my friend! I'll write soon, I promise.

--Tina

Thinking of you White Beard. I suffer from knee problems so I know the pain they can cause. Sounds like you'll be needing a knee replacement. I need one of these too but am trying to get my back problems sorted out first.

Yes Alcie I just wanted him to tap it and drain the fluid a little to relieve the pressure and he wouldn't do that either! As for the Thyroid, I have been having problems with that on and off for years, but this was the first time I was ever given medicine for it. I have only been on it a couple of days, so far I have not noticed anything good or bad either way, but reading up on it, it can often take up to three weeks before seeing any results. I do see my new PCP tomorrow, to see what he thinks about it.

I got a call early this morning from an orthopedic surgeons office, his nurse said they got a referral from the doctor at the ER and that the surgeon would review my X-rays.  She was pretty adamant about me not calling them back if I hadn't heard back from them,  as she said  she would  definitely call me back with an appointment date, after the surgeon reviewed the ER X-rays, if he thought I needed to see him! Well I haven't heard back from his office yet??  I am not sure I want him taking care of me anyway with that type of attitude, as X-rays of knees are notoriously inadequate as they often don't even show tears in the cartilage or allot of soft tissue damage. If all he is going by is the X-rays  they took to determine if he needs to see the me, then I am not sure this is the type of surgeon I would want to see anyway! I have had some experience with these knees of mine, and I know a little about what is going on with them, heck if the surgeon would have had that attitude, back in the early nineties when I had problems with it, then they never would have found out what was wrong with it and fixed it! Back then the X-rays  didn't show any major  problems, the only reason the surgeon wanted to go ahead and  scope it, was because of the massive swelling and the fact that the knee was locked! It was his physical examination that was the determining factor on what he did. Even afterwards the surgeon said he was really surprised to find that the  cartilage was so badly torn and bent over in half locking my knee so it couldn't bend at all! So if he would have went strictly by the X-ray things would have been allot different!    Heck even in the ER on Friday the doc didn't try moving my leg or knee or manipulating or anything, he just gently pressed on it a little, and said ""yep it is really swollen up"", and then asked me a bunch of questions  about what happened and if I did anything to injure it, and then he ordered  the X-rays and blood work.  

Anyway, it is not near as sore as it was, but still really swollen up, as is very unstable, keeping it wrapped up tightly does seem to help allot, and keeping it elevated, but I can only do that so long as then my back starts giving me the "old this isn't going to hack it message!" and I have to get up! I will wait to see  what my new PCP says tomorrow, and then go from there, about making an appointment with a specialist about it. At least the ice is melting a bit today, and so far we haven't gotten the really cold weather they had forecasted or any large amounts of ice and snow. I think we pretty much dodged the bullet, this time!

White Beard

P.S. Thanks every one for the nice comments and well wishes,  I really do appreciate it! I have always considered everyone here on this forum like family.  It is an honor to be associated with this forum and YOU the ones that really make it so Great! 

Post Edited (White Beard) : 12/9/2013 4:06:15 PM (GMT-7)

Hi WB,

It is 2 am here, but I can't sleep at the moment because of pain. I was thinking about you, so I thought that I would just check in quickly to see how you are doing. I'm sorry to hear that the surgeon/surgeon's office is being so snobbish and inconsiderate. That really annoys me. I totally agree with you about just reviewing the rads being a poor substitute for a comprehensive PE and history. Yes, radiographs can tell you a lot, but they certainly cannot tell you everything -- especially as you said, when it comes to soft tissue injuries (which it clearly sounds like this is, either due to some primary or secondary injury or disease process).

And it's not like the surgeon, or even really anyone else from his office has ever even spoken to you, the patient, to find out what is going on & how you are doing today. Yes, they have the ER report, but still, at this point, that report is several days old. A lot can happen in several days. Just the fact that your condition was bad enough to warrant a visit to the ER, suggests that well, you might have some potentially serious acute disease process going on that needs to be addressed. AND, you were referred directly from the ER to a surgeon with the intention of being seen asap, because the ER doc thought that they would be better suited/better equipt to handle your problem. So to me it would seem logical to first talk to the patient and find out what is going on & how they are doing, and then go from there. Sure, the surgeon should review the rads and the ER report before seeing you, but that should be done in the context of an exam, and in my opinion, doesn't necessarily need to be done more than a few minutes in advance of the appointment/shouldn't prevent you from scheduling and appointment.

Ugh, it always amazes me that some of these doctors have gotten as far in life and in practice as they have. Yes, surgeons tend to be notoriously cold and arrogant. But I mean, it's not like they didn't know upon entering medical school that they would be working with people. If you dislike your patients that much, then you should be in research, or in another career field entirely -- for example, engineering (that way you can do some similar type of things as you would a surgeon -- rebuilding, fixing, designing things, but without so much of the human factor). Alright, I'll end my little rant here.

I hope the knee is feeling a little better today, and that you hear back from the orthopedic surgeon soon, or are able to find a different surgeon to see you. And I would call the surgeon's office in the morning if you haven't heard from them within an hour or so of them opening. I know they strongly implied that you should not call, but come on! You're in pain and you need to know what is going on so that if they are not willing or able to see you, or still can't give you any kind of definitive answer, you can find someone else who can! I really don't think that that is too much to ask. Otherwise it sounds like you could be sitting around by the phone for several days and still waiting for this guy to call you back.

Skeye

edit: I just re-read that you are seeing your new PCP tomorrow (or I guess that is now today). I'm glad to hear that. Then you know that at least someone will be able to take a look at that knee (and maybe even help with the referral/lighting a fire under the surgeon's butt).

Post Edited (skeye) : 12/10/2013 12:45:20 AM (GMT-7)

Thanks WB! I finally got to sleep about 30 minutes before I had to get up for class :-(. Not doing a whole lot better today, unfortunately. It's been rough, especially the last few weeks with all of usual the end of the semester madness. It's hard to catch a break when I don't sleep & then am using the eye so much all day. It's this vicious cycle. I know any CPer can understand that. The pain just continues to build until I can't take it anymore & my body just gives out -- which is about at the point where I'm at right now. Can't do anymore work tonight. I can barely see out of that eye & have no ability to focus with all the pain.

We still have class through Thursday, then exams start next week. The undergrads have been done with class since sometime last week, and I think finish exams this week? But the veterinary school marches to the beat of it's own drum. We always start several weeks earlier than the undergrads & finish several weeks later. I'm definitely looking forward to a nice break. My brain and my body both need it!

Surgeons are definitely a breed of their own. It is such a cut-throat profession that you almost have to be of a certain personality type to survive. It's the same way in veterinary medicine (in terms of surgeons, that is). There are some great, personable surgeons out there. But it seems that they are few and far between, unfortunately.

Anyways, hope the knee is feeling better today & your appointment with your new PCP went well. Thanks for all the encouragement! I really appreciate it! I think of everyone here all the time (and especially you), even when I can't post. You all helped me through so much over the years. I would NOT be where I am today without the support, encouragement, and guidance of all the wonderful folks on this forum!

That's about all my eye can handle right now. Off to go crash, and with any luck, get some sleep...

Skeye

DianeB I can totally relate to that I am often wide awake into the wee wee hours of the night, often not being able to get to sleep till 3, 4, 5, even sometimes 6 in the morning, then sleep till 8, 9, or 10 in the morning. I guess it doesn't make any difference really, it just seems my sleeping isn't in sync with the rest of the world. Pain always seems worse at night. So DianeB your not alone being a night owl....hoot hoot hoot.

Well seen my new PCP this morning he checked out my knee and he is going to look at the x-rays and talk with the surgeon and get back with me. He wants me on the thyroid medication for a month the will see me again for test, he is waiting to get my records from my other doctors before he doe anything else.
Knee is doing better I guess not as sore still swollen up, but I do keep it wrapped and elevated when I can.

White Beard