Appointment outcome

[selenay]

The good news is that all the bones in my back are in the right place. The specialist seemed to have great fun - he's never had a patient with the degree of hypermobility I have before so he spent a lot of the examination saying "Wow, bendy!"

He was also a little stunned by the family history and all the potential things I could have inherited - ankylosing spondilitis on both sides and, on my mother's side, osteogenesis imperfecta. The OI is rare enough that he's never seen a case outside of his medical text books so I think talking to a family with two sufferers was rather cool for him. Mom came in with me for moral support (and so that I'd actually remember what I had to tell him) so he got a little side-tracked asking her about the OI :-)

We took some X-rays because, due to the hypermobility, I'm at increased risk of certain bones in the spine being displaced. Thankfully, they're all where they should be. So that's definitely a positive. He's pretty sure that the dysplasia in my hips is also a result of the hypermobility.

The bad news is that there is no definite diagnosis. Despite the pain, there are no neurological issues which rules out disc problems and diseases such as MS. He's currently thinking that it's muscular and getting the pain sorted should allow the muscles to heal. To that end, I've been banned from doing the physio exercises and told not to overdo things. Go back to work if the back feels better, stay home if it doesn't. I've got a new set of painkillers to replace the ones that I'd been taking with no result and he's referring me for acupuncture. I'm due to see him in two weeks so that we can review my progress.

So, although there's no definite diagnosis, at least he's showing a positive interest in getting the pain under control and trying to fix me, which is rather a relief. I'll just have to see how this next phase pans out :-)

Comments

[paranoidangel]

At least it's not anything serious. Although it feels like it would be better if it was something specific that they could do something to to make it go away.

[wadjet-theperv.livejournal.com]

That's all good news, and if it *is* muscular and they can manage your pain in the meantime, it's a great result. As you said, it always feels better when someone is actually *interested* in getting you a result rather than just chucking a prescription at you.

Good luck with the acupuncture. *hugs*

[alicambs.livejournal.com]

This may well be something you know, but there's a society for hypermobility that might be able to offer you further advice on back /joint protection, but there again the physio might do that as well. Mightly amused at the thought of a consultant going 'wow bendy', but glad he took you seriously and is trying to help.

[blue-adagio.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear that you seem to be in capable hands there. Hopefully the new set of painkillers and the acupuncture will help. Hang in there!

::hugs::

[selenay]

Yeah, my mind is at rest about potentially serious things, although something more specific would have been even more comforting *sigh*

Love your icon :-)

[selenay]

Yeah, it's all pretty good news if it means that he can get me fixed :-) Looking forward to finding out what acupuncture - I'll reserve judgement until they've proved to me that the needles *don't* hurt going in!

[selenay]

Huh, I didn't know that there was actually a society for hypermobility. I've been able to find a bit on the Net (mainly rather dull medical stuff), but I probably haven't done as much research as I should have. To be honest, until all of this cropped up I hadn't really thought about it much since I was a kid. I'm down to a sprain or dislocation every year or two, rather than two or three a month, and I don't think the docs ever told my parents about the potential repurcussions in adulthood.

I'll have to see if I can dig them out.

The consultant's "wow bendy" stuff was mightily amusing :-) I think he was stuck between being concerned and thinking it was really cool to have a patient he could tie in knots! But he's determined to get me out of pain, so that's cool, and it makes a pleasant change to have an interested doctor.

[selenay]

Thanks, hon! I have all my fingers crossed that this new bunch of stuff is going to work :-)

Are you back in England any time soon?

[wadjet-theperv.livejournal.com]

I had acupuncture, and the needles in my experience don't hurt going in in the way you think they might. When they reach the pressure point, *then* they hurt, but it's nothing like having a needle stuck in you - if that makes any sense? It's more like the sensation you have when you maybe knock your funny bone. More of a brief but intense twanging of the nerve. It's odd, but it works :) And it doesn't always happen either. Sometimes you'll get the needles in and you won't feel anything at all.

[paranoidangel]

something more specific would have been even more comforting

Yep, been there. Still there, technically speaking.

Love your icon

Thank you! He should totally sword fight more often. Like every episode. In fact, I think it would liven up just about every TV series ever. Imagine in something like Eastenders instead of shouting at each other all the time, they can just whip out some swords and poke each other. Improve it no end.

(I dreamt about tonight's episode again last night - this time, though, it was really boring and ten minutes before the end nothing had happened, except for an entirely unrelated 10min bit on something Indian.)

[historyterry.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting us know. That does certainly seem to be a step in the right direction. I know you've not had all the answers you'd like, but with a few things ruled out... well, that's got to be a good thing.

Maybe without the physio, the pain will be a little easier to manage. For what it's worth, my sister says acupuncture is about the only thing that works for her, and she now swears by it.

Hope you managed to get your shopping today - sorry we couldn't meet up. Have a lovely time with Dr Who, and see you soon.

Txx

[blue-adagio.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately not any time soon. I might be doing Wolf SG 11 in November though. Are you planning on going as well?

[selenay]

I have high hopes for the acupuncture, not least because I don't want to be on these drugs for a vast amount of time. So I'm cautiously hopeful about it :-)

I got my shopping - comfy jeans with no embarassing holes :-) Very pleased with the purchase. Doctor Who was fabulous and we will definitely be meeting up soon. Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow!

[selenay]

I'm trying to resist the temptation - I'll have only been home from Canada for a couple of weeks and I really shouldn't disappear again so soon :-(

[selenay]

Well, none of that sounds too bad so hopefully it will work out for me :-)

[selenay]

He should totally sword fight more often. Like every episode.

Definitely :-)) 'Cos that was too much fun!

they can just whip out some swords and poke each other. Improve it no end.

I don't think there are many TV shows that wouldn't be improved by a bit of fencing. Far more entertaining for the audience than some of the things they write and probably much more fun to act.

I dreamt about tonight's episode again last night

Was the episode better than your dreams in the end?

[paranoidangel]

I don't think there are many TV shows that wouldn't be improved by a bit of fencing.

Ooh, they should put swords in the Big Brother house! Anyone who gets hit gets evicted!

Was the episode better than your dreams in the end?

It was, I think. I don't remember them that well. But there was more Sarah Jane than the second dream, less than the first dream. But more exciting than both. Hence the long reply to your review post :)

[riverfox.livejournal.com]

Thank God. Very good news on the negatives. Question tho: didn't he mention/consider the Fibro in the "no definite diagnosis"?

::hugs you:: :)))

[selenay]

Thank you {{{hugs you back}}}

I may have, um, forgotten to mention the fibro ::hangs head:: Wasn't sure whether he would be the kind of doctor who accepted that it existed or the kind who would wack me on anti-depressants at the first mention of it. I may bring it up when I have my check-up, though.

[riverfox.livejournal.com]

What am I gonna do with you? *g* {{{{{{{{{ more hugs }}}}}}}}}}

Next time, sweetie, tell the man who's supposed to fix stuff *everything* he needs to know. I get why you'd be afraid of his reaction, but you are in charge of your health. Or you're supposed to be. If he snubs his nose at Fibro, find a doctor who doesn't. I know, it's hard, but you require that support and the medical profession needs to get off its dead ass.