I am letting people know about what has happened to me with the hope that it saves anyone who reads this blog or there friends from going through my horrible experience. I am not looking for sympathy and am not doing it because of the poor me's but I just hope it saves someone from having to go through the misery I am going through.
To give you a bit of history I am a 48 year old male who has a severe case of osteoporosis. 8 weeks a go I was helping my partner lift a ladder and when we where done I had a sharp pain in my hip. The next day the pain was worse so I saw my doctor and she referred me to an orthopedic surgeon who x rayed my back and hip and then did a MRI. His conclusion was that there was no breaks and just a slightly herniated disc that should calm down and I would be fine. Over the next 8 weeks I returned to see the doctor 3 times and was in excruciating pain. I was only able to walk a couple steps using two canes, without stopping because of the pain. The most sleep I got in a night during the 8 weeks was 2 hours a night. Finally on my third visit to the doctors I stressed that I could not go on with the pain I was in and she told me there was no reason for the pain it was just in my head. I did not leave the appointment and insisted on how serious it was and that she has 5 days to find out why I was in so much pain. She finally agreed to send me for a nuclear bone density scan of my body. Last Thursday I had my scan and they found that my hip is indeed broken. I see the surgeon today to find out what they are going to do about it. I called my osteoporosis specialist and told him what had happened and he told me that he has had a few cases in his practice where this has happened. I cannot begin to explain the hell I have gone through in the past 8 weeks with pain. It is something I want to try and save anyone I know from.
My reason for telling you this is if you have osteoporosis and you think you have broken something because of the pain, if they do an x ray and a catscan or MRI and do not come up with a satisfactory answer insist on a nuclear bone scan as it will find things the other tests can miss. This also goes for other health problems if you do not get a satisfactory answer insist on more tests or second opinions until you get the proper answer. Remember it is you we are talking about here and you are worth it.
To give you a bit of history I am a 48 year old male who has a severe case of osteoporosis. 8 weeks a go I was helping my partner lift a ladder and when we where done I had a sharp pain in my hip. The next day the pain was worse so I saw my doctor and she referred me to an orthopedic surgeon who x rayed my back and hip and then did a MRI. His conclusion was that there was no breaks and just a slightly herniated disc that should calm down and I would be fine. Over the next 8 weeks I returned to see the doctor 3 times and was in excruciating pain. I was only able to walk a couple steps using two canes, without stopping because of the pain. The most sleep I got in a night during the 8 weeks was 2 hours a night. Finally on my third visit to the doctors I stressed that I could not go on with the pain I was in and she told me there was no reason for the pain it was just in my head. I did not leave the appointment and insisted on how serious it was and that she has 5 days to find out why I was in so much pain. She finally agreed to send me for a nuclear bone density scan of my body. Last Thursday I had my scan and they found that my hip is indeed broken. I see the surgeon today to find out what they are going to do about it. I called my osteoporosis specialist and told him what had happened and he told me that he has had a few cases in his practice where this has happened. I cannot begin to explain the hell I have gone through in the past 8 weeks with pain. It is something I want to try and save anyone I know from.
My reason for telling you this is if you have osteoporosis and you think you have broken something because of the pain, if they do an x ray and a catscan or MRI and do not come up with a satisfactory answer insist on a nuclear bone scan as it will find things the other tests can miss. This also goes for other health problems if you do not get a satisfactory answer insist on more tests or second opinions until you get the proper answer. Remember it is you we are talking about here and you are worth it.
Update:
The top of my femur bone is not getting enough blood to grow. I go for a MRI on Saturday October 31 and then see my surgeon on November 5 to decide which surgery I need. If it is a small area of the bone they will try drilling holes in the bone to increase blood flow but the surgeon feels that what is going to happen is a full hip replacement. This is complicated by my severe osteoporosis. I will update next Thursday.
16 comments:
Poor thing, how can the doctors just dismissed your claim of pain as your imagination :(
Do take care and take lots of rest. I will be praying for your speedy recovery!
Thanks for sharing your story, Clyde. I do not have osteoporosis, but your story will help me understand better what others are going through when they have health issues. I hope the doctors are able to ease your pain soon.
Your experience with the medical profession sounds horrendous, we put our trust in such people, indeed our lives.
Just hope now that your pain and discomfort will be eased, and wish you a speedy recovery.
Oh Clyde, I'm so sorry for all your pain and what you have gone through just to get the doctors to keep looking for the cause of your pain. Hopefully you will be painfree soon. Good luck and I'm sending healing thoughts and hugs your way.
You are very young, Clyde, to have this condition; take the greatest care of yourself, and, as the advertisement says "It's never too early or too late for calcium".
We found out that my son had broken vertebrae after the same bone scan test; it shows up the flaws as "hot spots". His back problem was caused by fast bowling in cricket!
You have done a great service with this blog post. Hope that your pain will be eased and sending love to you.
I am sorry you had to go thru that, but so glad you shared it with us. I hate it when Dr.s don't believe us!!! What are they thinking, that we just say we are in pain just so they can send us a bill? grrrr. Anyway, yes, thanks for the head up about the nuclear test!
Oh my gosh, Clyde, what an ordeal! Thank you for sharing this information with us all.
Good Man for being so persistent in the midst of such pain! I recently had to change nephrologist because he said I was "too old" for treatment for failing kidneys. I"m 73! Guess they will just set us on an ice flow (oops, that will melt~global warning) with Obama's new Health Care Proposals.
Take care of yourself when you are young; because as you get older; they think you aren't 'worth' the trouble money wise. It stinks, but there it is! Until one has been told by 'reputable' physician that you are too old for a kidney transplant, it's hard to believe how callus some doctors operate!
Hang in; at least as you heel, you can tat!
luv, Bev
I am so sorry that you had to go through this ordeal before finding out that your hip was broken....many thanks for sharing with us......Here in Australia it is getting bad for the older generation too with regard to Doctors and Specialists.
I was sent for a scan on my Kidneys...which were O.K....but the results also showed (so they said) that my Gall bladder was fine.....I had that out 6 years before I went for the scan!!!!
Can anyone tell me what is happening????? Its just crazy.
Anyway I do hope that they will do something for you soon and that horrible pain will be eased I wish you a speedy recovery
Dear Clyde, thank you so much for sharing your medical challenges in your blog. I have Osteoporosis too. And I have had terrible pain in my hip - I will persist!
My prayers for your speedy recovery and rest and comfort - healing!
tatting in ohio, traci
Oh, Clyde, I'm so sorry you had endure such torture before they would find out the cause! Sending healing light & energy your way with a prayer. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I'm a 57 y/o female at high risk for osteo.
Clyde, nothing beats a bone scan for a quick and dirty way to look for what the bone is doing. I hope that you heal well and strong.
Clyde, thank heavens you were so persistent. I realize when you are in pain that there is nothing else you can focus on, but still, you wouldn't let it rest until it got properly taken care of! Good for you! It is so important to speak up for yourself!
I am sorry to hear that your hip is broken and I do feel badly for you that you have suffered so.
((Hugs))! (very "gentle" hugs so as not to cause more pain)! :)
Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and words. They are greatly appreciated and I will be sure to keep everyone updated.
Sorry I have just read your story. But anyhow I am deeply sorry you had to go through those 8 bad weeks. I wish you a speedy recovery and all the best.
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