Just another Weekend

Happy Sunday all!!

I finally painted my back door and did some touch up work outside... Even on Vicodin I can still paint inside the lines!!

We finally got an answer to our Ground Squirrel problem. Thanks to Pete's Pest Control!! Sealed up all the holes and set traps. Hopefully no more scratching over the winter.

Aarons soccer team won 6-1 on Saturday!! He had an awesome diving save. He is getting to be a very good goaly.

I tried some new pain medication this afternoon Darvocet. I guess it is not suppose to knock you out like Vicodin does. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!! It totally wiped me out!! So much for having something I can take and drive to work with little pain and take after work to drive home with little pain.

My luck has sucked so far this year so why should it be any different now. I am just going to have to suck it up for two more weeks or longer!! My business trip is going to be a joke and not a lot of fun. We will see what my doctor says but I am hoping I can cancel it.

At this point I cant image 6 hours on the plane, 2 hours in a car and sleeping in a hotel. Then walking all day and flying all night home. What ever...........

I am getting loopy again and the ability to make good sentences is rapidly going away. So, I will sign off for today.

I have said it before but my life is like the movie "Ground Hogs Day" , same thing every day. I pray 2009 finally brings something good for me and my family. Maybe I don't deserve it but I know Theresa absolutely deserves a very long string of good luck and low stress. I am crossing everything I have to make sure it happens!

Good Nite!!!

Consultation Set

Good News! I finally got an appointment for Oct 30th at OHSU. I am upset it is not sooner but considering the Surgeon is the best and the only in town who can do this, I am dealing with it.

My doctor gave me Celebrex to try. If it works I am hoping to take less Vicodin, which will make me feel more comfortable. However, no one is concerned about me getting dependent on them. Its just my OCD kicking in.

The pain seems to be getting more intense unfortunately. I will be very grateful when this is over. If everything works out I hope I will be done with Surgery before Thanksgiving.

I have a business trip November 5 and 6. I am not looking forward to 6 hours on a plane. I will find a way to manage. I cant afford to miss this trip or any work since I have no more sick days or vacation. Work actually gave me 2 extra weeks after Chemo which I am very thankful for. I do not want them to think I am tying to get more time off.

God knows I need to keep this job right now....

Anyway, I do feel better that things are at least moving in a direction. Just 2 weeks ago I no idea what was going on and my over active imagination was coming up with all kinds of scenarios.

I just need to mange the next few weeks and I think it will get better real quick.

The best Christmas present is to have NO aches, pains or bad test results!!

MRA- Results!!

With a lot of pushing I finally got my results!! It turns out I have a torn labrum!! This totally sucks but at least I am not going nuts!!!

I am working on a consultation at OHSU. It turns out only ONE Orthopedic Surgeon in Portland can do this procedure. Hopefully I can get in quickly and get this behind me.

I added a Link for explanation of the procedure and success rate (on the right column)

A torn labrum is most commonly found in very active people, Athletes. It does occur in people with degenerative diseases such as Osteoarthritis, which I have. However, it is very rare.

The most common treatment is physical therapy and anti-inflammatories. In my case it looks like the only solution is Surgery as it was a fairly bad tear. It hurts so much because I am just rubbing bone on bone.

Not sure how a guy like me could get so gosh darn lucky!! So stay tuned. Once I get my consult I will post the next steps. I am hoping its an easy Arthroscopic procedure with no hospital time!

My life is turning out to be a laugh a minute. To bad I don't get air line miles or bonus points for hospital time, exotic disorders and tests!! I would be half way around the world!!!

By the way, until 3 weeks ago I didn't even know I had a Labrum let a lone that you could tear it by doing absolutely nothing!!

It can only get only get better....Right?? I think that's what I said after my Chemo.....

Test Day

I had my MRA today. It did not hurt as much as I thought but it was not a very fun. Nothing like having a needle inserted into your hip joint!! He had to do it three times in order to get in the proper position. Can you say Ouch!! I spent about 45 minutes in the machine but I hope it pays off.

I really dont expect to find anything but who knows. Cross your fingers, I hope to get a call with my results tomorrow.

Despite all this, leg still hurts and I am very sick and tired of it. I am tired of taking Vicodin everyday. It is starting to worry me but I cant sleep with out it.

I will keep you in the loop. I will also send a link detailing the procedure I went through today. It was interesting.

Take it easy

Another Saturday

Well,

No change this week. It still hurts like hell and seems to be getting worse. I about lost it at work and left early yesterday. I am worried they will hold it against me for leaving early so I am going in early Monday and Tuesday of next week.

I am struggling trying to understand and cope with what is going on. I am frustrated and don't know what to do. I can not live on Ibuprofen and Vicodin. I need some sort of diagnosis so I can fix it.

Aaron has a soccer game in Hood River today. Not sure if I can make the trip which makes it very rough on Theresa.

I know she is getting frustrated, having to take care of me again. This year is a complete nightmare and I hope I wake up from it soon.

My Doctor never called me back to schedule my MRA and I am very pissed. It has never taken this long for me to get anything scheduled. I even told them that my pain is getting worse and please hurry. I got zero response!!!

I have been very fortunate so far to have great doctors, until now. I guess he is not worried since all my tests come back negative. He probably thinks I am nuts. He might be right!!!!!

Well, I am going to limp through another weekend and hope for the best next week.

Take it easy.........

Lost Weekend

Weekend is slipping away very quickly. I have spent it on my back full of Vicodin. My hip/leg, whatever has gotten worse!

I have resorted to taking vicodin to make it at least tolerable. It has also helped me sleep. I am very concerned about it but until my MRA I dont know what else to do.

I am not giving up until I understand exactly whats going on and why.

Stay tuned!!

Yet another Test

Sounds like Grounds Hogs day the movie!!

first, my second MRI came back negative? Yet my leg is killing me. It is a dull ache all the time and still huts when I move it.

I went to an Orthopedic Doctor yesterday. He moved my leg around and reviewed all my tests and flat out could not find any reason why it hurts. The only thing he could think of was to do an MRA to see if my Labrum was torn.

The Labrum is the soft tissue in my hip joint. If it is torn it causes severe hip pain and is the most difficult to diagnose. The only way to see it is in an MRA or during an arthroscopic procedure.

MRA-magnetic resonance angiogram

They will inject die into my hip joint and use the MRI machine to take a picture of my Labrum.



I will be having the test hopefully next week. If it comes back negative, I am really not sure what to do.

I don't think this is the problem as I have no idea how I would have injured myself this way. I guess I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I am taking Aleve for pain and does not seem to be working but I will keep taking it and hope I get some relief soon.

This feels just like before I was diagnosed with HCL. A lot of test, questions and uncertainty.

I cant believe I am having all these issues this year. I think the HCL was more than enough!

All I can do is keep going and eventually it will work itself out, some how!

GO DUCKS!!!