Living with Pain…
My blog has now become my way to vent my feelings of despair. In the last several months, my life has revolved around hospitals. I know I sound complaining but just when I thought things may be getting better, life took a turn around… I have tried everything from cortisone injections and physical therapy to chiropractors, acupuncture and massage therapy. I have to deal with pain in my neck, shoulder, arm, hip, low back, knee and ankle. Sounds awful… Doesn’t it? What is worrisome is that all my symptoms are only on my right side.
It all started with my wrist pain caused by DeQuervain’s Tendonitis. I had surgery on my right hand last November. My hand is much better now barring the lack of strength. Since then, I have had to deal with severe low back, hip and knee pain on my right side. I went back to Dr. Stevenson, who happens to be the director of Sports Medicine at UMass. He is also the one to have diagnosed my wrist problem. He is one of the best doctors I have met. After looking at my knee Xray, it was evident that I had Patella Femoral Syndrome. My Patella, commonly known as the knee cap, was not being held in place by my femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). The most common reason for this ailment is weak quadriceps and inner thigh muscles. I also had very tight Ilio-Tibial Bands. He prescribed physical therapy to strengthen my legs and my core. Most of the exercises are impossible because my back and hip begin to click and pop! I have been very active and good about it though. I try to maintain a good posture. I use an ergonomic chair in my office. I see a chiropractor and massage therapist on a regular basis. I maintain an active lifestyle.
There have been some new discoveries in the recent past. Despite my active lifestyle, I noticed significant muscle loss on my right side. My right quad is much thinner than the left. I noticed some dents on my legs. My calf muscle has shrunk too. My weakened muscles make my knee joint very unstable. I’ve had recurring issues with it. Now, I have to wear a brace at all times to support it. The MRI of the knee indicated degenerative changes in the meniscus. The MRI of the back showed degenerative disc disease and slight bulge around L5, S1. This is just a fancy name for ‘Arthritis’. My knee and back will never be the same again but I can improve my symptoms. This is a progressive problem and my doctor said I would be an early candidate of a knee replacement surgery! That is not what bothers me either.
Muscle Loss and lack of muscle definition?! These symptoms can’t be good! I am trying very hard to work my right side. I am doing my squats and weight bearing exercises to retain what I have left and to rebuild what is lost. However, when I overwork these muscles, I have a weird sensation similar to tingling run down my body keeping me awake at nights. I have pain that is most intense at the base of my skull and very top of my neck on the right side. My neck keeps going out of alignment very easily. This is again from muscle weakness. My neck issue is significant but hasn’t been looked into. Could the problem be up there? Is this is a problem with a nerve being compressed? There has to be a reason for excessive weakness on only one side of my body. I have been active for years. Before the problem began, I was at the gym working out regularly.
My next step is to see a Spine doctor and a Neurologist. Let’s see where it takes me. Hopefully, by Christmas, I will have some answers…
If I did not have a funny 19 month toddler at home, I would have been engulfed with depression. She makes sure I have my share of laughs… I do complain a lot but then again, that’s just how I am… All the fun blogs are on Riana’s website.