now its my disability

[alohacousin]

Hello to all~ I wanted to let you know about a 3 yr situation with my doctors. Since I was 18 I have sprained my ankle 8 times. Sometimes when I was thin sometimes when I was anything but thin. Because I have a weight issue my doctors shrug it off "go on a diet" 3+ years ago when I was 7 months pregnant I fell on the ice at the mall, dislocated my sholder and spraining my ankle once again but this time after 12 weeks my ankle was huge. Nicknamed the "kankle" since it looked as if I had no ankle. They took xrays but no fracture. I endured pain for the past 3 years since doc said it was attributed to my weak ankle and my weight. I even went to disney world twice since then. The pain had become so bad that the family had to do everything for me. Having a physically handicapped daughter became a serious issue just trying to get through each day. I broke down calling a foot & ankle specialist who said I had a small cyst under my ankle which she drained and also ordered an MRI. When I returned with the results she said "Well your ankle swelling is the result of a 2nd cyst that is so big it is pushing on the bone & joint." She showed me the scan & it was amazing! I also have my ligaments around the ankle completely torn. She wants me to have surgery _no big deal. When she drained 3/4 of my cysts I could not believe how much better I felt. I am angry though at all the doctors I showed my ankle to who shrugged off my complaints as nothing while enduring the lectures of weight loss.
It's so nice to have somewhere to share my experience.
Renae
who is blessed with a wonderful husband, 6 amazing children, & a profitable family business that lets me stay home with our kids.

 

[Talking Hands]

I'm glad you finally got a doctor who listened. The same thing happened with my fibromyalgia. Finally got a doctor who listens. Its made all the difference in the world. At least now I function.

 

[Poohnatic]

Ranae,

Congratulations on finding a specialist who could help. Isn't it a relief when someone tells you that yes, there is a problem, this is what it is, and I can fix it?

It took 6 years and eight doctors to figure out what was wrong with my wrist. One told my father that I was a hypochondriac (I was 14), and my father informed him that I'd broken my elbow the year before and blew off his several requests to go have it looked at, that I kept saying 'I just bruised it real bad'. Another had the nerve to ask if I was a virgin and I asked what that possibly had to do to with my wrist hurting all day and all night? Finally found a doctor who said "okay, it's not on an xray, but that doesn't mean there's nothing wrong" I could've kissed his feet! Six months later, one surgery and it was fixed. Don't ask me about the other 5 surgeries on my wrists, though, because all but one were due to my clumsiness! Yes, I'm the 8th dwarf, Clumsy.

Second 'relieving' diagnosis--finding out that there was a name for what makes my 6 year old tick. He's diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and no, life is not easy for us, but knowing what makes him do what he does has really helped us all!

Suzanne

 

[Nanajo1]

I'm happy you finally got your ailment validated. Here's some pixie dust that your surgey goes smoothly.

 

[Figment1964]

Originally posted by Poohnatic
{snip} Finally found a doctor who said "okay, it's not on an xray, but that doesn't mean there's nothing wrong" I could've kissed his feet! Six months later, one surgery and it was fixed. Don't ask me about the other 5 surgeries on my wrists, though, because all but one were due to my clumsiness! Yes, I'm the 8th dwarf, Clumsy.

Second 'relieving' diagnosis--finding out that there was a name for what makes my 6 year old tick. He's diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and no, life is not easy for us, but knowing what makes him do what he does has really helped us all!

Suzanne

I think we've lived mirrored lives. I went from the time I was about 13 until I was about 26 having severe wrist problems with no one believing me that the pain was as bad as it was. Until one day I met the doctor of my dreams. He told me it was a ganglyon (sp?) cyst and one surgery took care of it. I've been pain free for 12 years now!

I also got a diagnosis of Asperger's for my 9 year old son about 2 years ago. What an amazing relief that was to know that it wasn't in my imagination! And like you, life isn't necessarily easier, but just knowing what's up sure helps!

 

[LvsTnk]

WOW!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Yeah for doctors who listen.
We had a foreign exchange student from France who had a "problem" with her ankle for 5 years when she came to our home. She had been told it was all in her head, it was stretched muscles or ligaments; practically everything you can think of. She was in a lot of pain after just a little walking. We finally got her in to see an orthopedist who was really good and got to the root of the problem. It turned out that she had a stress fracture of her ankle 5 years before that never totally healed. It would get to a point of being almost OK, and then she would walk a little too much, or stress it too much and re-break it. She was in a cast for 8 weeks, with progressive strengthening exercises after that and by the time she left our house 9 months later, she was water skiing and everything.

 

[Poohnatic]

Barb,

After all that time with no diagnosis, I'm sure you can tell others what's wrong with their wrists, right? I've had everything happen (3 different RSIs, arthritis, now Carpal) that if someone complains of wrist pain, I can triage correctly!

Fortunately, after this carpal surgery, I haven't had the 'phantom dropsies'.

Related to that, you probably notice the kids with AS that haven't been DX'ed yet, too! In my job, I encounter a lot of kids and notice the aspies. One of my regular guests also has an aspie son and they were dx'ed about two months apart.

Suzanne

 

[RachelEllen]

Originally posted by Poohnatic



It took 6 years and eight doctors to figure out what was wrong with my wrist. One told my father that I was a hypochondriac (I was 14), and my father informed him that I'd broken my elbow the year before and blew off his several requests to go have it looked at, that I kept saying 'I just bruised it real bad'. Another had the nerve to ask if I was a virgin and I asked what that possibly had to do to with my wrist hurting all day and all night?

I hope he explained to you. Gonococcal disease can cause a pretty bad arthritis. It would be a shame to miss, as it can destroy joints and make you very ill. Sorry the doctor asked you in a confusing way.

Rachel

 

[Poohnatic]

Originally posted by RachelEllen
I hope he explained to you. Gonococcal disease can cause a pretty bad arthritis. It would be a shame to miss, as it can destroy joints and make you very ill. Sorry the doctor asked you in a confusing way.

Rachel

Nope, he never did. I sat there, incredulous, good Catholic school girl wondering where he got the idea that I was having sex? I even asked, 'what does my being a virgin have to do with my wrist?" Really ticked my dad off, because he DIDN'T explain it.

Suzanne