MRI RESULTS

hileena111
hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
edited 28. Sep 2010, 12:19 in Living with Arthritis archive
Well I actually got a call from orthos secretary. She said she had a message to pass on from him. I have a lot of disc problems so some of the pain is comiong from my back and some from the un operated hip.
She then said.....its up to you.....the operation hasnt been cancelled so you can have the operation which will ease some of the pain and then he will refer you to a back specialist who will sort out your back....or you can do it the other way round....its up to you.
I dont know about anyone else but I think they should decided which would be more beneficial.....not just throw it at me.

Love
Hileena

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Ooooh, that's a poser, isn't it? You are the one who is having to live and cope with it all, so perhaps they have put the ball in your court for that reason - perhaps only you can decide. I think it was not so good of them to break it to you that way, but there is a time pressure involved here, isn't there? Isn't your hip op due soon? Wasn't the plan to get you done and dusted before Christmas - but that is now complicatd by your back. Tricky one, hileena, tricky one indeed. I have to put my work hat on now, but I will have a think about it all. What a situation to find oneself in. Poor you. :( DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • nearlybionic
    nearlybionic Member Posts: 1,899
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Hileena
    Glad you have the results at last, but sorry you are now posed with a dilemma. Unfortunately, because medicine and surgery cannot always be exact, they probably want you to decide which is causing the most pain for you . However, from my experience it is difficult to work out where the back pain ends and the hip pain begins . Not sure if that is similar to your experience.
    Did she say when they need to know your decision by? Could you see the surgeon before then to talk it through further?
    NB
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    It is a hard decision isnt it....
    No I cant see him before hand. He's on call in another hospital and his next clinic is Thurs evening and I'm due in hosp at 7am Fri for my hip replacement so thats no good.Sorry thats a week this Friday...possible hip appoint.
    You are right NB I dont know where the hip pain ends and the back pain starts.....even the hip thats bee replaced last Feb is sore.....back is very sore front of both legs are sore.
    I think they are just passing the buck.
    If they even had said what treatment I would get on my back...operation or something manual etc it might make it easier to decide which to have first
    Love
    Hileena
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Hileena
    This is the position I am in, only I haven't had any THR yet.
    I have seen my x rays, and they do show my hips are quite worn, the trouble is, I have always been convinced that most of my pain is coming from my back.
    I spoke to the surgeon about this, and his reply was it is hard to define where the pain is coming from.
    He told me to have steroid injections in my back, and if these didnt work, them we would know it was my hips.
    Well they didn't work, but apparently they don't work on everyone.
    I hope you get to see someone before you have to go in.
    Good Luck...I will be watching with bated breath.
    Love
    Barbara xx
    Love
    Barbara
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Barbara
    Thanks for the message...its awful being in this dont know situation.
    My op is supposed to be Friday week..
    Since the phone call....I've thought that is not much of an answer to my question,
    I know what hgappens in a hip op and post hip hopbut what about my back? what will it involve, how long will it be before it can be treated? etc etc....how can I amak a decision not knowing the full facts
    The other thing is when he sent me for the MRI I said what happens if it is coming from my back and he said the hip operation will be delayed and the back treated first???????
    Love
    Hileena
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Hileena
    Could you not postpone the op for a while, or will they put you to the bottom of the list.
    Hopefully they should understand, that this is none of your doing, and needs some thinking about.
    I hope everything turns out for the best.
    Love
    Barbara xx
    Love
    Barbara
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Barbara
    I've rung the ortho's secretary againg. I told her i didnt think that was much of an answer....Told her I knew what happened in ahip op and post op but had no idea about my back so how could I decide without more information...I also remembered that he had said when he was sending me for the MRI and I asked "what if it is my back" he said thehip operation will be delayed and the back treated first. So I told her all this. She has got me an appointment to see him on Sat at the other hospital hes atr...he's on call but its theatre call so he could be operating any time but she said she would e.mail all my message to him. So 10am Sat.....its still a long way off but she said she would try and get him to get in toucch before that. It was "hitty missy" because it was theater on call???? So I dont know really. Sounds like I'll have to wait until Sat then fire all my questions at him.
    Love
    Hileena
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Hileena,

    just catching up on your post. :!:

    I agree that 'they' should be making the decision about 'which way round' they do the hip and back ops....not leave ot to you to decide without the proper consultation and discussion.
    in any case you need to know what exactly they mean by a 'back op'. :shock: :?

    I hope you do get to see/ speak to the ortho consultant on Saturday.... I wondered if he has an ortho clinic before then that you could attend? ....even if it's at another hospital?

    maybe that's a stupid idea but you do need to be given some guarantee of being seen before making decisions about your hip op etc. :roll:

    let's hope the secretary will come up with a better plan.

    Iris xxx
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Iris
    That appointment on Sat is at another hospital miles away but that doesnt matter. and its the only one he has until Thur evening and I'm due in for op 7am Fri LOL Thats no good.
    I dont even know what this back procedure entails. I did say to his secretary that I couldnt decide with so little info and she said well you will be referred to another doc at another hospital for your back so we dont know anyway...waiting times etc??????
    Love
    Hileena
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Hileena

    I'm so sorry... and annoyed on your behalf. :( :x

    surely the ortho can phone you.... not much to ask really.

    you're caught between a rock and a hard place. :roll:

    would your doc have received a copy of the MRI? would it be worth speaking to him? I know GPs aren't specialists in ortho but he may have a better idea and certainly more knowledge than the secretary who's been acting as 'go between' between you and the surgeon. :?: :roll:

    sorry I'm not offering much in the way of useful suggestions.... but I am thinking about you Hileena and hope that things become clearer over the next few days.


    Iris xxx
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Iris
    All suggestions are welcome thanks.
    I've just received the copy letter from him to my GP dated 16/9
    Had my MRI on 21/9 so not sure that he'll have refceived anything yet...We have only a small slot to speak to GP but possibly the receptionist couold tell me if he has received a letter even if she doesnt tell me whats in it....worth a try. Just thinking as I type this....ortho only got results today
    Love
    Hileena
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning hileena, how is the dilemma today? Any further thoughts, any clarity yet? It is such a difficult position for you, I wish I could be more constructive. Sorry. :oops: DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi DD
    Think I'm tending towards having the back treated first....I've got a lot of questions to ask when i see him on Sat.
    One of the things is that a very sore place is the leg that has been operated on....thats not the hip...it aint there :lol: so must be the back
    I'll maybe get a bit more info from him on sat....I mean thats not even a diagnosis....I want a proper diagnosis...what EXACTLY is wrong with my back and what about all the other tests he supposedly did that he hasnt mentioned?
    Its just going to be a long wait until Sat and then if it is decided the hip op first thats the following Friday :shock:
    Love
    Hileena
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You have a plan and that is always a good starting point. The trouble with pain is that it can be very difficult to pin down to a specific area - blasted nerves mean that what is hurting may not be the root of the pain - as tho we don't have enough irritations with which to cope! I wish you well, rest as much as you can and keep your back well-supported. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • tillytop
    tillytop Member Posts: 3,460
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Hileena

    Just reading back through your posts - it is a real dilemma and I think you are absolutely right that you can't make a decision without a proper diagnosis and all the information about what the back surgery would involve. You say you will try to speak to your GP - coud your GP follow up with the consultant on your behalf - the consultant may be happy to speak to him on the phone. Just a thought.

    Really good luck on Saturday - really hope you get the answers you need to make your decision.

    Thinking of you.

    Love Tilly xxx
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You are so right DD....its hard to tell where the pain is coming from
    Any advice on supporting my back would be welcome.
    Love
    Hileena
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Hileena,

    Sorry I am late to this flower....

    Supporting backs..... muscles are so important....

    I opted for surgery as well (didn't really have much choice so it was easier) and I have both temp de-nerving and medrone jabs in bits of it quite a lot. I did have to chose though ... lumber of neck.... now she sort of helps me with either but never together... yet... though I ma working on that one :lol:

    Muscles flower the best support a back can get......

    Also know the 2 pains are different in my case.....

    When you say they will treat your back you need to know what they are suggesting. In my case its not treatable now and it does make the thr's a bit difficult......

    You so need to be able to talk to your consultant and find out what is wrong with that spine. A ((( ))) and again sorry i am so late. Cris xx
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Chris
    Thanks for your reply.....I'm pretty certain that I'll delay the thr because like you say I do need to know what they are suggesting for my back before making a choice.
    Its a different doc and a different hospital I will be referred to so not sure how much the ortho can tell me.
    I've got n appt for Sat morning at a different hospital to see him so I'll know more then but thats only a few days away from the planned THR
    Love
    Hileena
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Re back supporting: I use pillows and cushions in a variety of shapes and sizes, I also have a V pillow which can be helpful, and one can buy proper lightweight back frames, which can be used when sitting anywhere plus in the car. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HI DD
    I've got a V pillow which tends to be used downstairs for mne to stretch out on the settee and watch TV :lol: I've just seen the advert JML for back rests for cars/chairs etc....any good? Do you know?
    Love
    Hileena
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have three Vs, scattered round the house. I have no experience of the frames yet: I am considering getting one as I have been having back spasms thanks to crappy walking over the past few days (serves me right for having fun in Cambridge). Our local branch of Staples sells them, about £25 I think.
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi The one I saw JML....superdrug and places like that is £5......
    I'll check the next time i'm near a staples as well just to have a look
    Hileena