It's not in my head....the pain is real

The MRI came back today and I have lumbar degenerative disc disease.  Well, at least that's what my online chart says.  She called it something that sounded much less bad, but I can't remember what all the words were.  Basically, there is a disc out of place.

So, it's real.  They've referred me to a "pain doctor."  Like seriously, that's what he is.  I feel like that makes me sound like a druggie seeking pills.  Apparently though, he is the right kind of doctor.  He may try to fix it using steriod shots.  I'm not sure about that.  This all started when I was on IV steriods.

The more I think about it - the more done I am ready to be with freaken doctors.  It's ridiculous!  None of this happened before I got MS and started this doctor malarky. 

doctor update

I still have this stupid back pain.  I wish I knew what it was.  The CT Scan shows no kidney stones.  It does show gall stones, but the kind of pain I have does not match gall stone pain.  Where does that get me?

No one seems to know.  My PCP didn't know and questioned if it was neurological.  The urologist said it wasn't urological and probably neurological.  My next step was to call my neuro.

I called Friday.  She wasn't in.  I explained to the receptionist (the one who is BRILLANT at getting radiology appointments scheduled) what was going on, that the other doctors thought it was neuro and that the primary doc was scheduling an MRI over the weekend.  We left the conversation saying that I would call back Monday when I knew the results of that MRI.

Well, the primary's office is not nearly as brillant as the neuro's office at scheduling those radiology things.  It didn't get done and so I had no MRI over the weekend.  I didn't call the neuro Monday, since I had no results to share with her and I kinda felt like either it wasn't neuro, or if it was, there was nothing she could do about it anyway.

Monday afternoon Becky calls me.  She said Dr. Dayaw wanted to see me tomorrow.  I explained that I hadn't had the MRI done and had no results to share.  She put me on hold while she went to ask the doctor.  She came back and said, "nope, she wants to see you first thing in the morning."

"Am I dying?" was my question.  Why on earth does she want to see me first thing in the morning.  I read lots of posts online from people who have so much trouble seeing their neurologist. So why on earth is mine calling me and wanting to see me so quickly.

She said no, thankfully.  But nonetheless, the Dr. Dayaw wanted to see me the next morning.  "I have an 8:00 available," she says.

"No, I can't do 8:00.  At 8:00 I have 700 children arriving."

"Ok, I have 3:00 available."

"No, at 3:00 I have 700 children leaving."

"How about 11:00?"

"11 works just fine.  I'll be there."

So, I get there at 10:45.  The receptionist puts me in the room, but says that the doctor is running behind, so I may have to wait a little while.  I'm patient and that's perfecly fine with me.  About 30 seconds pass and I the doctor comes in.  I am surprised, as it's still not even 11:00. 

She wants to know what's going on, and I explain.  She checked out where the pain is, which incidently is located at where I believe is my kidney (which explains the urologist).  She tells me that it's not neuro pain.  Neuro pain is more generalized and not so specific. 

Clearly, she is cranky.  I'm not positive if she was cranky with me, or with the other doctors for saying they thought it was neuro.  I think it was a little of both.  Either way, the appointment ended with her telling me that it wasn't neuro and that puts me right back where I started.

She did refer me to another doctor - a neuro urologist.  I have NO FREAKEN clue what that specialty means.  I figure it must mean she is prett smart.  She must also be good, if this doctor recommends her.  I called to schedule an appointment and the next available appointment isn't until November.  November.  Good gravy train.  I didn't make the appointment. 

First, if I am in this pain from now until November, I reckon its possible I will go crazy.  Second, I did see a urologist - even if it wasn't a neuro urologist.  He cleared me, and in the process did some crazy tests.  I'm not really a big fan of being subject to those crazy tests again just so some other doctor can come up with the same conclusion.  It's not urological.

Except it feels like it is, and maybe I will just schedule that appointment after all.

is the unknown better than known?

So, the xray has confirmed I don't have an extra rib.  Which, is kinda sad, cause that woulda been a cool bit of trivia about me.  But I don't.  So, I don't know what is wrong with my neck.  My primary doc is out, but she had another doctor covering for her.  He was VERY NICE.  I'm usually fundamentally opposed to male doctors, but he was lovely.  Not quite my neuro, but good nonetheless.

He said I should talk to my neuro about it when I see her this week.  Then I guess if she is still adament about it, call the primary.  I'm a summer camp director and next week starts camp.  For the next 10 weeks, my life will only consist of camp, and pain or not, I won't deal with it until September.  I love this life :)

I have a wierd pain, and it's not neuro!

I think I love that fact that's my strange neck pain isn't MS related.  I also love Dr. Dayaw.  She's so smart, straight forward, down to earth and wonderful. 

I called the office yesterday after the third person asked me why I hadn't called the doctor.  They called back later and said she would just see me next week (for my regular appointment), and if it got worse to go to the ER or call my primary. 

But then she was at the MS support group tonight.  She did a presentation about MS drug medications and what not.  Afterwards, I was talking to folks and ended up talking to her.  Which by the way, is just awkard.  I feel like she's this genious and prestigious person and I'm just me.  So talking to her in real life is awkward.  And she asked me, "so what's going on with your...foot?" That's another reason why she's great.  She didn't even see me yesterday, just my name and she remembered.  Admitingly, it was my neck, but close enough.

She looked at it and poked and such and then declared she thought I had an extra rib.  Now of course, I'm no doctor, but I have no idea how a 33 year old woman just suddently develops an extra rib. But I will call my regular doctor tomorrow and ask her to order an Xray, which of course is what Dr. Dayaw said to do.

I should also mention I balked a little about getting the xray and my doctor said, "it doesn't hurt...why don't you want to get it done?"  And when I just shrugged, she said, "you don't want to know the results." 

She's brillant and honest and I just adore her.  I'm SOOOO happy she's my doctor.

one of those people....

So, for the past few weeks, I have been having this really weird pain.  It's in my neck, right above the boney part (also read: no pertinent organs located anywhere in the vicinity).  It's this sharp kind of pulsating pain.  When it's acting up, it shoots down my left arm as well. 

So, the first time it happened, if it had been any lower, I think I would have gone to the hospital.  I describe this pain to my friends as "my heart attack in my neck." 

Anyway, my friends asked me today if I told my doctor.  I did not.  My doctor said a while ago that I should tell her about things that last more than 24 hours.  This did not.  It came and went.  It didn't last more than 24 hours straight...it just happens every couple of days.

I didn't want to call, cause I didn't want to be one of those people that calls about every little thing.  But now I'm afraid I'm one of those people that doesn't call when symptoms are acting up and something could be done about it.  Pahumph.

this is the sound of one voice...

Today was a GREAT day.  I felt like a productive member of society and learned quite a bit.  I participated in a study that was trying to link fatigue and MS.  I just saw the information online, and then did a telephone survey, found out I qualified for it, and did it today.  It was very cool!

I think I've been so busy with work, that it has become all I do.  Well, work and think about having MS anyway.  This was productive and a welcome change.  The students running the study were super nice and had a lot of information. 

I should say, I'm a little worried I was meant to tell my doctor I was doing it.  They asked for her contact information and said they were going to use it to confirm I had MS.  I'm not sure if I should be telling her, but I didn't.  Oops.

So, another new symptom, that I'm not sure if is MS or not.  I get this pain in my neck, like right where the bone is.  It's incredibly painful and if it was any lower, I'd worry it was my heart.  But its definitly in my neck.  Once the pain subsides though, then I feel like I've pulled a muscle in my back.  It's weird, but nothing I have time to worry about this week.

So anyway, the study.  First, they did all kinds of measurements.  My height, weight (which I think I lost a LOT of weight since November - but their scale was also extremely old), my arm lengths, my leg lengths (which were all different).  I had to so some tests about sensitivity on the bottoms of my feet, and my muscles to flex my feet. 

I did this little obstacle course thing and then walking at different speeds.  Next they hooked me up to all these markers (sensors), and it was balance testing time.  I had to lean forward, backward, standing one foot in front of the other.  Now, it was treadmill time.  That was pretty good...just different speeds.  Except while they were recording, I wasn't allowed to hold on.  At one point, when it was going as fast as it got, the power went out.  That of course made the treadmill stop.  Well, they were recording at that moment, but I had to grab on or else I would have fallen.  It was pretty funny...all the testers were shocked and worried about me....at which time I was just worried that I ruined their recording.

Finally, the same balance tests again, after I was fatigued from the walking.  All in all, it was pretty good.