Ah, the joys of waiting for MRI results

First I had to wait a week to get the damned thing and now am on day two of waiting for the radiologist to look at it. Luckily my doctor put "stat" on the order; I'd hate to see how long it would take to get a routine MRI. :eyes:

The part that annoys me is that I've had to put my physical therapy on hold until we know what's wrong, so today marks two weeks without it. :(

it is read is very common. Good think your doc put "stat" on it. Are you doing any home exercises while you wait to return to PT?

There is apparently some kind of prelim result being faxed to my doctor as I write.

There isn't a whole lot I can do; I have a lot of weakness and little feeling in my left arm, thumb, second and third fingers, and they are looking to see why I have a pinched nerve (I was in a car accident).

Nerve-involved injuries aren't pleasant, but the damage, if there is any, isn't always permanent.

Crossing my fingers for you!

at C4-5 and C5-6. :( I hope you won't need surgery, but be ready...steel your mind.

:hug: :pals: :hug:

Exactly in that same place too.

I'm trying to steel myself for the idea of surgery but am still hoping for the best, like some miraculous recovery.

Thanks. :hug: :pals: :hug:

My surgeon's P.A. told me that, for some reason, younger folks have a harder time after surgery than older folks. :shrug: I'm not sure why that would be.

The good news is that if they get in there right away and take out the offending disc(s), there's a pretty darn good chance of nerve recovery. Because my first MRI took six months, my nerve damage may be permanent. I have pain and decreased sensation in parts of my right arm and right hand, especially the thumb. I asked a doctor why it had taken so long. He looked at me and said one word: "Medi-Cal."

There's still a chance it could heal, though.

That really sucks, LH. Take care. :hug:

:hug:

:hug:

I'm glad you and the others told me to get to the ER the night of that car accident. :think:

:loveya:

I hope you find out whats going on soon.
:hug:

How are you? :hug:

Thanks. I wish they hadn't said, "We'll have the results to your doctor today or tomorrow." I wish they'd said it'd be a week or more, then I could be surprised by the early arrival. :D

Sorry. :(

I know they're busy, but not knowing is driving me batty (or battier than normal). :(

Play the Pixies, or have a Buster Keaton movie marathon. ;)

and not being able to get them from your doctor because they want to see you in person, but you're on vacation!

I'm hoping for speedy results for you!
FSC

You'll get yours any day now. I think it takes them at least a couple of days to process it and get it over to your doctor.

You were smart to go to the ER after your accident. I didn't go to the doctor after my scooter accident and look what's been happening to me as a result. It's great that you're getting it taken care of right away. The longer you wait, the harder nerve pain is to treat. I speak from experience. ;-)

How are you doing? Is it any better? I hope so.

All I want right now is to be able to wash my hair in the shower without screaming in pain. ;)

Except with me, it's my toes. I can't bend over to reach them. I had to buy one of those scrubby sponges on a stick, just so I wouldn't gross myself (and everybody else) out. :D

I'm okay, had my second shot (which sucked) and I'm on a brand new drug for nerve pain called Lyrica. The drug takes about a week to work, so I guess I just have to wait and see.

As for your shower problem, have you considered dreadlocks? :hide:

:rofl:

Sorry, I just love that old chestnut.

They just haven't had the heart to tell me yet. :D

:(

:cry:

:hug:

:(

If you're poor, the answer is between six and fourteen months.

My first MRI took six months. The second one--that I needed before surgery--took over a year. Even though the first one showed herniated discs, Medi-Cal turned down the request and then didn't bother to tell me.

:(
That is just awful. So far, all of this crap is being paid for by various auto insurance companies. (Allegedly - they've yet to cough up a cent as of yet.)

:shrug:

It's "poor folks" insurance, so those who have Medi-Cal don't matter.

The closed ones really suck the opens ones are more tolerable. Good luck to you. Btw what music did you pick I usually go with manillow.

It wasn't as awful as the last one I had a few years ago - I could at least see out toward my feet.

I was given just the radio option, so I went with KEXP. They were playing some kind of industrial music, which really went well with the MRI noise. :D

for the result to be helpful (as in - gives info that can the lead to addressing the problem). Heal quickly, my friend.

:hug:

hope it all works out for ya FY. i've had about 80 - 100 of the damn things and at one point i had built up a rapport w/ the radio tech and he'd go ahead and lemme take a look at the screen before i left so i could se what was going on. unfortunately we moved and that was the end of that. but i can read a brain scan as well as anyone.

It's awful waiting for medical stuff to get done when you're not feeling so hot. Take care! :loveya:

it took a week to wait for the damned results.

The results weren't good news for me anyways. :(

First, understand that lawyers get different treatment from medical folks because they fear us.

But, a good friend of mine happens to be my allergist, and when I was convinced I had an undiagnosed sinus infection, she sent me for an MRI.

She was there when it was done, and she and the radiologist did a "wet" reading, right there with her in the room with the controls.

I was standing there, too, looking at pictures of the inside of my skull, and the radiologist says, "Christ, it looks like a Donald Duck Rorschach."

My so-called friend starts laughing, and says, "You know, it does."

With all the dignity I could muster, I took a look.

Yep. The inside of my head looks just like Donald Duck, in profile, staring into a mirror.

I had no sinus infection.

Keep laughing, kid. You'll be fine.

I have one bulging disk at C5-6. I meet with a neurosurgeon tomorrow to discuss options. :(

Do they know what caused this? :hug:

I did suffer whiplash from it, which probably aggravated some underlying neck problem (I've been suffering with neck issues for 20 years).

Thanks, cally. How are you doing? :hug:

I'm sorry. I hope the appointment tomorrow will offer a reasonable treatment option.

I've had a great day. I'll probably be done with treatment by Thanksgiving and able to move on. I caught my cancer very early so I will be cured as much as anyone can be. Thanks for asking. :hug:

I'm so glad to hear that things are going so well with your treatment. Take care. :hug:

:hug:

:(

one-armed :hug: in return. :loveya:

Sorry about the news. :hug:

Except you know that soon you may have an idea of what is wrong...