Friday, February 11, 2011

The Lovely Bones

I never ended up getting to talk with my doctor about my stress fractures. The nurse called me again and I asked if she could have him call me directly. I also messaged him through the online message system and got no response. Meanwhile, I requested a copy of the report and the images from the Radiology office. They were reluctant to send them to me, but the moment I mentioned my rights under HIPPA, they were quick to comply.



The official report from the radiologist says "Stress fractures involving the bilateral tibias and left fibula." 

I just think this is so odd. The fracture on the left leg looks bigger than the one on the right and yet I have zero pain over on the left. Meanwhile, the right leg sometimes hurts enough for me to walk with a limp.  From the bottom pictures, it looks like there is something going on in both fibulas, but according to the report it's just the left.

On Monday evening, I started to use my Exogen 4000 bone healing machine. Within just several uses, I noticed remarkably less pain. However, I was highly discouraged when the pain returned this morning. (Don't worry-- I didn't run on it or anything!) I've been using the machine 2-3 times a day, depending on if I wake up early enough. It supposedly reduces healing time by 38% which would mean I could gradually introduce running on February 25 as opposed to March 9. Thankfully my doctor's appointment is on the 25th so I will be able to ask him about it.

If any of you radiologists care to weigh in on what's going on here, feel free. I'm totally clueless about this situation. 

12 comments:

  1. You need a doctor to answer all your un-answered questions. It's not Kaiser is it?! I;m sorry your not getting your questions addressed, how frustrating.
    Call greater washington orthopedic group, ask for Dr. Smink, he was amazing!
    I'm a HUGE patient advocate, and reading your blog, and lack MD communication frustrates me! lol Sorry:)

    hope ur healing well!! (and quick)

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  2. Elizabeth, I agree with Tara - you need better answers! Can you ask at running stores or clubs and find a running doctor? There must be someone around!

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  3. My friend just got an x-ray done and they told her it looked like a fractured kneecap. 2 days later, nope, just something wierd on the film. She had a similar story of that happening with a friend of hers. Apparently, xrays are often wrong. So...not sure what you can do about it, but maybe your instincts are totally correct!

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  4. Elizabeth, you're so good at advocating for yourself. Go girl! What the heck is that machine? I've never heard of that before. I can't wait to run anymore...I'm going tomorrow. Please pray for me!

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  5. Is your bone stim unit running on a 20 minute timer? (And this may sound like a dumb question, but since you got it second-hand: do you have the ultrasound jelly to use with it?) Doing it that many times a day is not going to help it heal any faster. Once a day, twice max, but even that isn't necessary--the ultrasound is meant to continue working after the unit is done. Unless you meant one treatment for each fracture = 3 treatments a day total?

    I wanted to do my bone stim on my foot multiple times a day, but I knew I would just be wasting my time sitting there while it worked.

    Yeah, you really need to get some answers from someone who's actually going to work on getting you back running!

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  6. agree with everyone. find a doctor who will give you some answers!!! but i'm glad your pain is decreasing!

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  7. I can't believe your doctor hasn't spoken to you about this! I would keep calling and, if you can't get an answer, call your insurance company and see if they can get him to call. He should have been the one to pass on the diagnosis, not the nurse.

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  8. I agree with runner NYC...us nurses CAN NOT give diagnosis. We just can't. Unles we are practicioners, which Im guessing these nurses are not. Call and harass mult times a day....most importnantly get a 2nd opinion please.

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  9. I think my plan of action will be to contact one of the doctors that my friends recommended to me and get an appointment. And I will continue to hound my current doctor's office. I am not sure if it's the doctor or their bureaucracy that is preventing me fro speaking with him. This diagnosis won't change because that is from the radiologist reading the scan. But I would actually like to be under a doctor's care here.

    Jenn- yes I have gel with the machine and it is on a 20 minute timer. My friend Cristina used it three times a day with no ill affect because her doctor told her the more the better.

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  10. No words of wisdom, just wanted to say that I'm thinking of you and I wish you a speedy recovery.

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  11. Oh wow, you are using a LIPUS machine! So sweet - I remember when I first read about LIPUS in 2006 or so, and got very excited about its potential to regrow teeth. I hope its working well for you - remember to take lots of calcium citrate, too!
    (also, I added you on twitter)

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  12. isn't this sort of a hint from your body to slow down on the running? people in this day and age don't need to get stress fractures.

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