So, I went into the ER this morning after work... It was about 45 minutes from work, but due to needing to take a nap along the way to prevent a crash, I took about 70 minutes... Which gave me time for the pain to recede(not necessarily a good thing), but kept me out of the ditch...

Anyway, the doctor was a little skeptical of me going to the ER over an ongoing issue, but he examined my leg and knee and found some points that sent some sharp pain, and due to my limping around for a couple years, I have a severely limited range of upward motion in my leg(without bending my knee)... But, he took some x-rays of my leg/hip/knee and found nothing abnormal there(no skeletal issues so far)... The tentative diagnosis is simple neuropathy(basically a $20 word for nerve damage), and he prescribed me two medications for inflammation- Meloxicam 15mg(1 daily) and some steroid pack which I can't remember the name of... He also told me to follow up with my PCP and to call and check for openings earlier than 7/21, maybe I could get in earlier... He told me to mention getting an MRI(they didn't have the machine in the emergency dept), and an EMG test to show the extent of the nerve damage... Maybe we can fix it, and maybe I'm just stuck dealing with the pain... Either way, I don't know yet, but I'm closer to finding out...

Only issue I have is that the medications say to avoid aspirin, but that's part of what I usually take when I get a migraine, so I guess im screwed on that front?

 

It's good to hear that you went. Neuropathy results from many different conditions, and sometimes it just happens. However the steroids should help the area heal more quickly (wherever that is) and the antiinflammatory in conjunction with the steroids should help. Just be true to the med schedule.

No mri available to the ER staff? I call BS. The doc prob figured it can wait, and he passing the buck to your pcp to get one done. As for the EMG, even if the MRI does not reveal any obvious source of the inflammation, which I can't believe it wouldn't, the EMG will as you indicated quantify the degree of nerve damage. My question is where would they test the nerve conduction? From where to where?

Anyway, you've taken a huge step towards sorting out this mess, getting better, and there seems to be a path forward---as long as you CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE PATH.

Make the appointment, take meds as prescribed and follow this through.

As for aspirin, look up each of the medicines and see how much of an interaction there is w aspirin. It may be a blood thinning issue.

If you're getting a significant number of migraines, ask your pcp about that too--that's not normal.

Dr. Derf, MD. (Maryland)

Proud of ya

 

It is a small-ish hospital in rural WV... I know for a fact that their MRI is in the form of a trailer attached to a truck... I would say that I'm going to have to go to a bigger hospital, either in Charleston or Morgantown, but that will wait until I see my PCP...

The migraines only happen a couple times a year, they used to be much more frequent when I wore my hair longer...

 

wow, quite a few anecdotal references on the web about migraines being induced or aggravated by longer hair pulling down on the scalp which, for some, is problematic due to very sensitive nerve endings in their scalp. I read it and laughed, looked it up, and I'm not laughing anymore. Glad they've decreased for you.

I would agree that you need to go to a larger hospital; I actually thought you had.

Anyway -- isn't your old PCP the one who said it's a hamstring pull?
Cut'em loose.

If they couldn't find the blatant limitations of movement or know where to press to check for normal/abnormal nerve response, how on earth are they going to address the real problem/find the root cause?

You have new insurance coming in a few days, so you should be able to find a competent PCP with good reviews who takes your new insurance at whichever of the hospitals is "in network" in the new plan.

Same with the neurologist you'll get referred to. Stick with the larger in-network hospital and make sure they refer you in network.

I'd start your web research now since docs will be booked up an you'll prob need choices a, b, c, d for PCP and Neurologist.
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Make SURE you have a copy of your medical records from the ER visit, including XRAYS on disc, the doctor's "impressions", and his final report concerning your visit. These are critical to convince other doctors down the line where the problem ISN'T, which is important when trying to determine where he problem IS. Also, you don't want to be paying for redundant testing.

Get a head start on this as the bureaucracy can be maddening.
You are entitled to this information release by law.
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It was my old PCP who claimed the hamstring pull, the one I have now is just really difficult to get an appointment with... The guy diagnosed a condition in my grandmother that left other doctors scratching their heads, which impressed me greatly...

All I got from the ER visit was some info on the condition and the medications...

Yeah, the migraines were back in high school... I thought forever that it was from the fluorescent lights(even wore sunglasses in school to guard against the light), and they miraculously went away when I cut my hair to get a job... Once in a while, i still get a good one, but not often enough to be concerned...

 

PCP: Excellent. Impending train wreck avoided. Work those phones and get yourself in there while the pot's simmering and you have some forward momentum.
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Yeah, they give you the standard "discharge instructions" which tells you what you're supposed to be doing AND by you signing, abolishes them of any liability if you don't. Standard stuff.

What I'm referring to is a "release of medical records". As part of your intake paperwork at the ER (or at any new doctor for that matter), they make you fill out a HIPPA release form, where you authorize specific individuals or doctors to whom the health records generated at said doctor's office can be released to.

I'm gonna guess you put your wife as one of the people.

If you did not, you definitely want to going forward (unsolicited advice). In any event, you want to be sure you specify the referring doctor on the HIPPA form for of the specialist he sends you to.

Also, you have the legal right to a copy of ALL of your medical records. I suggest that, since this is the beginning of your journey, you start collecting them right away. Digital copys of xrays, mris, etc are crucial as you'll save yourself 3 weeks at your first neurologist's appointment because you'll have the records in hand, instead of waiting for their staff to collect.

Plus, always keep a copy for yourself. You never know if you're gonna have to ditch a loser doctor --- and therefore a copy of your records.

Some facilities get all weird when you ask for your own records -- I think they think you want to sue them. Just put the reason down (and by law no reason is even required) as "Personal Medical Records Archive" --- otherwise if you ref to other doctors or care in any way they will deflect you towards giving the authorization to a doctor instead of giving you the records. Then you have to tell them you don't KNOW which doctor, that's why you WANT the records in the first place. Be sure to ask for specifics as well as generalities (digital copies of x rays, results of all blood tests, as well as doctor's notes/impressions, and his final report summarizing his findings and diagnosis.

I know it sounds as if I am being **** retentive but I went three rounds with my dizziness clinic specialist doctor's office to get ALL of the information I needed. "Doctor's notes, impressions, and all reports including final reports an diagnoses" should make it clear to whomever is tasked with filling your request that you know what you're asking for and how to ask for it.

The digital copies of the xrays mat be cost prohibitive if it is a tiny hospital --- only one way to find out. As long as you get the reports from the radiologist who read the films, you should be good -- and if a doctor down the line wants to see the actual films, they can always request them.

MRI's you def want a copy for yourself.

Apologies for the novel--just trying to help you avoid the weeks of BS I went through to get one friggin extra magical page out of my medical records from the dizzy doctor that started the whole ball rolling towards the muscular related aspects of my dizziness issues.

Prefer to have you not go through the crap I did.

 

Thanks for the information- I will start collecting records as soon as I get some time... I ended up taking a day off, because I was falling asleep as I drove home, and I only had time to sleep maybe 2-3 hours before needing to leave for work...It sounded dangerous to attempt a work day being that exhausted...

 

I wish I could take a day off just to sleep...the last month or 2 I've barely been sleeping...I'm running on empty a lot...hope you got some sleep...glad you didn't drive or go to work like that.

Glad you're finally getting this stuff going..

 

Just an update, but I'm nearly done with the steroid that I was given, and I am noticing small improvements here and there, but nothing major... The anti-inflammatory drug seems reasonably effective, but the OTC ones seemingly worked better, I think... At any rate, the pain is very tolerable, and I can walk upright and without a limp so I'm happy... At some point, I'm gonna have to work on my range of motion in the affected leg... Right now, it's pretty limited...

 

Glad it seems to be helping a bit. Better than none at all.