Why am I so scared to call the doctor? (Sorry, long)

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I'm glad you called

You've encouraged me to.

I have horrible pain in my right hip that makes it nearly impossible to walk some days, or at least do so without falling. I've been putting off calling the doctor for quite a while because I'm afraid that since I'm only 24 that I'll be told it's nothing and to just take OTC meds.

*goes to make that call now*

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I will tell you one thing - (I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV...) - but about 4 years ago I did go back to my surgeon because my "good" hip was starting to hurt - A LOT. I was terrified I would have to have the same thing again! But it turned out it was bursitis - and I can tell you that bursitis is one of the most PAINFUL things I've had - much more painful than a broken pelvis - and it's easily treated, usually. Please let us know about your appointment!

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Tomorrow at 10:30 am

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So...how did it go?

Originally Posted by kluchetta

So...how did it go?

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Well, I go back in tomorrow at 10:45 am to "go over the x rays". Fun...
The doctor said I looked pale and wanted to do a blood test to see if I was anemic and asked about family history, so testing for diabetes too. I'm not sure what the other blood test was, there were three listed. Maybe thyroid related since that's a problem on my mom's side as well.


When is your appointment for? I hope you hip problems can be helped. Let us know how it goes/went

Originally Posted by kluchetta

I will tell you one thing - (I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV...) - but about 4 years ago I did go back to my surgeon because my "good" hip was starting to hurt - A LOT. I was terrified I would have to have the same thing again! But it turned out it was bursitis - and I can tell you that bursitis is one of the most PAINFUL things I've had - much more painful than a broken pelvis - and it's easily treated, usually. Please let us know about your appointment!

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I can totally relate to this. About 8 years ago I was running 4 miles quite often. Well, my right hip and a very specific spot in the middle of my butt (for lack of a better explanation) started to hurt which I knew was somehow associated with my hip. Well, I was stupid and ran through the pain. It stop for couple of years when I went back to tennis practice.
Years later it started doing it again when I tried to start running again. I have had steroids, steroids shots and those have helped my bursitis in my hip on the side. But the pain in the back of my butt, is aggravativing, EXTREMELY painful and chronic. I have seen an orthopedic surgeon, my family doctor, physical therapy and now a physical medicine doctor. I have had two MRI's and a bone scan. They can find nothing wrong with the bone. So it could be a nerve or muscle problem. It hurts so bad and interferes with everything I do. It has lowered my quality of life to the point where I get depressed because I can no longer excercise how I used to and I always have to be careful because I know it will start hurting. Has anyone ever had this pain???? I can't be the only one!! I am getting sooooo desperate!!!! My hip has locked up before and sometimes I can't put pressure on one side because it's so bad. I am so frustrated that no one seems to know what is wrong!! Sometimes the pain feels synchronized with both sides and is in same exact spot on both and the pain is very DEEP down. I no longer know what it feels like not to feel pain because I have it on a daily basis. Please, if any of you have ever heard, experienced, read of this kind of injury/pain I would be so grateful to any treatments that have worked. I am worried because I am only 26 and if I feel this bad now, what will it be like when I am older?

Sabrina

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Well, I go back in tomorrow at 10:45 am to "go over the x rays". Fun...
The doctor said I looked pale and wanted to do a blood test to see if I was anemic and asked about family history, so testing for diabetes too. I'm not sure what the other blood test was, there were three listed. Maybe thyroid related since that's a problem on my mom's side as well.


When is your appointment for? I hope you hip problems can be helped. Let us know how it goes/went

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Oh, good - let us know what comes up. Your blood tests could take a few days, though. Having low thyroid could give you tendinitis, and I think anemia can make certain muscles hurt/weak.

Oh - my appointment is next Wednesday the 21st. At this point, the surgeon can cut my hip off if he wants, LOL. I can't do anything without pain!

Originally Posted by Duchess15

I can totally relate to this. About 8 years ago I was running 4 miles quite often. Well, my right hip and a very specific spot in the middle of my butt (for lack of a better explanation) started to hurt which I knew was somehow associated with my hip. Well, I was stupid and ran through the pain. It stop for couple of years when I went back to tennis practice.
Years later it started doing it again when I tried to start running again. I have had steroids, steroids shots and those have helped my bursitis in my hip on the side. But the pain in the back of my butt, is aggravativing, EXTREMELY painful and chronic. I have seen an orthopedic surgeon, my family doctor, physical therapy and now a physical medicine doctor. I have had two MRI's and a bone scan. They can find nothing wrong with the bone. So it could be a nerve or muscle problem. It hurts so bad and interferes with everything I do. It has lowered my quality of life to the point where I get depressed because I can no longer excercise how I used to and I always have to be careful because I know it will start hurting. Has anyone ever had this pain???? I can't be the only one!! I am getting sooooo desperate!!!! My hip has locked up before and sometimes I can't put pressure on one side because it's so bad. I am so frustrated that no one seems to know what is wrong!! Sometimes the pain feels synchronized with both sides and is in same exact spot on both and the pain is very DEEP down. I no longer know what it feels like not to feel pain because I have it on a daily basis. Please, if any of you have ever heard, experienced, read of this kind of injury/pain I would be so grateful to any treatments that have worked. I am worried because I am only 26 and if I feel this bad now, what will it be like when I am older?

Sabrina

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To me - your pain sounds like this:
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/spra...piriformis.htm

It's so hard with overuse injuries because they can come back so easily. In addition, thyroid problems can make complete muscle/tendon healing very difficult.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Oh, good - let us know what comes up. Your blood tests could take a few days, though. Having low thyroid could give you tendinitis, and I think anemia can make certain muscles hurt/weak.

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Well the blood test are also because I mentioned I have problems with dizziness, grey outs or syncope, and fall because of it.
I've had pain problems most of my life and for the most part ignore it, until it gets really bad. Bad habit ingrained from my parents, unfortunately.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Oh - my appointment is next Wednesday the 21st. At this point, the surgeon can cut my hip off if he wants, LOL. I can't do anything without pain!

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If he refuses to do much to help find another. There is no reason you should suffer.

Originally Posted by Duchess15

Sometimes the pain feels synchronized with both sides and is in same exact spot on both and the pain is very DEEP down. I no longer know what it feels like not to feel pain because I have it on a daily basis. Please, if any of you have ever heard, experienced, read of this kind of injury/pain I would be so grateful to any treatments that have worked. I am worried because I am only 26 and if I feel this bad now, what will it be like when I am older?

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Rereading that now... there was an original injury that could have set things off, have you or a doctor ever considered a chronic pain disorder? It would be something that would be diagnosed only by ruling out all other possibilities. I know what you mean about being young and feeling awful, I'm only 23 and some days I feel like an old woman, what will it be like in 10-20 years?

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Well the blood test are also because I mentioned I have problems with dizziness, grey outs or syncope, and fall because of it.
I've had pain problems most of my life and for the most part ignore it, until it gets really bad. Bad habit ingrained from my parents, unfortunately.

If he refuses to do much to help find another.

There is no reason you should suffer.



Rereading that now... there was an original injury that could have set things off, have you or a doctor ever considered a chronic pain disorder? It would be something that would be diagnosed only by ruling out all other possibilities. I know what you mean about being young and feeling awful, I'm only 23 and some days I feel like an old woman, what will it be like in 10-20 years?

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Well, did you find anything out yet? I hope you're feeling better!

I agree with everyone else, you just have to go to your doctor, there is no other way around this. He is the only one who can give you an answer to your problems. The longer you wait, the longer you will suffer and continue to think the worst. Go and find out how you can be helped and or cured. My thoughts are with you.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Well, did you find anything out yet? I hope you're feeling better!

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Yes, I got the information from the doctor yesterday.
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=119285
Easier than writing it out again. Honestly, I'm a little spooked and worried that I'll be told that I'll need surgery. I think that's why I was afraid to call too? Sometimes you know it can't be good, such as you saying you had to mop sitting down! Definitely scary if the pain is that bad.

I wonder if it's possible that you could have arthritis in your hip too? I'm sure you'll have some x rays ordered when you visit your doctor next week. May I suggest you wear some pants or shorts that don't have metal in them so you can leave them on... I hope it's something that can be fixed so you can get some relief. Good luck next week!

Hey, just thought I'd update...appointment tomorrow at 8:55 a.m. (what a weird time - huh?) I'll let y'all know what the Dr. says.

To be honest I'm a bit nervous. I had amputation dreams this week. Yikes! At least it won't be THAT bad, LOL!

Maybe part of you is just wishing you could get rid of the thing and be done with?
Dream moods site says:
"To dream that your limbs are amputated, signifies abandoned talents and serious, permanent loss. It indicates your feelings of frustration, powerlessness and helplessness.� Sometimes amputation may also represent a situation that you have been ignoring and has finally reached a crisis point. In particular, to dream that your arms are amputated, suggests that you lack motivation. Dreaming that you legs are amputated suggests that you are limited in movements and where you want to go in life."

kind of makes sense

I hope your doctor is able to help. Good luck tomorrow!

Ohhhhh you must be feeling dreadful. But I'm pleased that you've gone and had some investigations done.

I'm thinking they told you 8.55 because your appointment's really at 9.00 but they want you not to be late! That can throw a whole clinic out.

As far as your hip is concerned, yes, current best practice suggests that arthroplasty (total joint replacement) should not be performed on people under the age of 70.

BUT, I think that there are always exceptions to every rule and that occasionally when there is no other option they will undertake arthroplastic surgery at younger ages than this.

Good luck, best wishes with it all - please post again with updates after you've been tomorrow

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Rereading that now... there was an original injury that could have set things off, have you or a doctor ever considered a chronic pain disorder? It would be something that would be diagnosed only by ruling out all other possibilities. I know what you mean about being young and feeling awful, I'm only 23 and some days I feel like an old woman, what will it be like in 10-20 years?

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Y, there was an initial injury I developed due to running too far too often. I stopped too little too late. It went away for a couple of years while playing tennis and resting. Now it is back all the time. I have considered a chronic disorder.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

To me - your pain sounds like this:
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/spra...piriformis.htm

It's so hard with overuse injuries because they can come back so easily. In addition, thyroid problems can make complete muscle/tendon healing very difficult.

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Thanks for the link! I printed it out! I think the orthopedic surgeon had suggested it might be that.
I am seeing my physical medicine doctor again this friday. He put me on pamelor which is an antidepressant, but they use these types of medications at LOW doses to try to relax the nerve. It has helped, if I excercise, I am not sore the next day(or very little), but it is still there. So I will see what he wants to do. I believe that I already had thyroid testing done, but want to check for autoimmunity and possible arthritis.

I get a new hip!!!

Well, actually it's called a resurfacing. I have no cartlidge in my hip socket anymore and it is down to bone on bone. They will line the socket with a false socket, and cap my femur with a ball, but I get to keep the femoral head.

I had no idea I was so bad until they told me I could get it fixed. I cried.

Hi kluchetta, I didn't read this whole thread but after reading your first post I wanted to reply. I can see some of myself in your message. I strongly dislike going to the Doc for myself. Over the years I have had doctors make me feel like I shouldn't be in their office and that nothing was physically wrong with me...even though there was. I found a GP that I really liked. With my back he sent me to another Doc (sports medicine). This go round was with a huge disc herniation. The mri and tests I had done did not show it and every time I went in he would say to me. You shouldn't be feeling the pain you are describing. I was treated like I was after drugs and they didn't want to give me anything to handle the pain.

In fact the large mass of disk material was on my siatic nerve root. The pain got so bad I could not sleep or even function in my life, even on pain meds. A new doc (neurologist) put me on over a dozen drugs at once with no help. They messed me up more. I ended up checking myself into the hospital thru the ER. I told the ER doc I would not leave until someone figured out what was wrong with me. My GP came and he set up a series of MRIs that were different and he found the heriation. After three months of escalating pain, I had surgery within a few hours.

I learned from this that you are your best advocate. If you don't like the Doc and how he treats you go to another one. You have a right to medical treatment and the best quality of life possible.

I know this is easier said then done. The "practice" part of "medical practice" is unnerving. I have daily pain from scaring that causes nerve impingment. I should talk to a doc again but we moved across the country and I don't know anyone here. For now I am dealing with it. I can function. My cats help me tremendously. You sound like you are losing function so its time to set aside your emotional discomfort and start a journey to finding the right help for you and improving your quality of life..

Originally Posted by kluchetta

I get a new hip!!!

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I'm so glad they're able to help! Keep us all updated for when you have to go in for surgery and such.

I am saying prayers that all goes good and soon you'll be back in the swing of things.

I am so pleased that you will get a new hip..woo-hoo!