New here and on pins and needles waiting for a diagnosis

MARYCAIN · King of the Jungle Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 1576

It takes an hour to get to the hospital, but there are ambulances stationed at the local fire department, about five miles away, and they are fully staffed by paramedics with medical training, who can start IVs and give meds, and send EKG readings to the hospital over the radio. So they can start treatment right in the ambulance, which makes it much better.

IloveHistory · Bear Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 689

That's good!

I wanted to ask you a question, if you don't mind. I hope that this doesn't sound stupid, but can you get Arthritis in your back (as in, your spine)?

I have extreme back pain at the moment and my spine is in a terrible spasm. I have a Scoliosis, Spina Bifida and Scheuermann's Disease though, so those might be causing the pain, but this is the worst spasm that I have ever had and my mom told me that my back was extremely stiff when she tried to massage it. Sad

MARYCAIN · King of the Jungle Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 1576

There are several types of arthritis that affect the spine. Lupus generally tends to affect the peripheral joints (hips, shoulders, knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, fingers, etc.), but it can cause inflammation anywhere. So your pain could be lupus-related, but it's probably impossible to tell without some specialized tests of your spine. Do you have an orthopaedic surgeon for your scoliosis and kyophosis? Are you wearing a brace? If you've grown to where it isn't fitting properly, that could certainly cause a lot of pain and spasms.
Plus, some people with Scheuermann's also have juvenile disc disorder (abnormal degeneration of the discs that seperate and protect the lumbar vertebrae). So this can cause a significant amount of back pain, or weakness or pain radiating down into the leg. Although you are fairly young, your pre-existing medical conditions may put you at higher risk for osteoporosis, so any sudden back pain could also be a vertebral fracture. With your medical history, there are a lot of possible reasons for your pain, so you probably need an MRI of your back just to be safe.

IloveHistory · Bear Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 689

Hi Marycain!

Thanks very much for your wonderfully detailed advice, as always! Smile

Yes, I do have an Orthopaedic Surgeon. The only problem is that he's always so busy! Sad

My ex-G.P. never bothered to refer me to anyone, even though she knew that I've always had a Scoliosis, which was getting worse, as I got older. Eventually, my back pain became unbearable and so my mother made an appointment with an Orthopaedic Surgeon, who specialises in spines. Unfortunately, I only got to see him in October last year and there was some reason why I couldn't get a brace at this time. He said that they could fix the problem when I was older, but not now. Sad

However, I have a lot of bone problems, so it may be a good idea to go and see a general Orthopaedic Surgeon (the Spinal Surgeon suggested it himself, actually because of my feet; I have completely flat feet and have to wear Orthotics. I also have terrible problems with my ankle bones, which "pop out" all the time. I also have a tilted pelvis, which looks like I have been in a car accident! and my hips dislocate a LOT!); I will speak to my Paediatrician/Paediatric Cardiologist about it.

My mother was pregnant with twins and she lost the one, but I survived. This caused a lot of problems and so I was born with many bone and muscle irregularities, as well as other problems, so I think that I better have this checked out.

There is a lot of Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Arthritis in my family, making me even more at risk, so thank you for the advice; I will see if I can get an appointment with my Paediatrician/Paediatric Cardiologist today (Friday).

I am worried because I have been in so much pain that I haven't slept the entire night! I also have a fever and an extremely sore throat, so I think that I had better go and see my doctor.

My Gran has the worst Arthritis that I have EVER seen, along with Osteoporosis and Gout and she said that the doctor might release the spasm by injecting Cortisone into my spine, which is what they do for her.

Thanks again, Marycain and keep well! Smile

I will let you know how it goes!

P.S. I am still waiting for my urine specimen results from my Urologist; he tried to call on Wednesday, but we missed his call and he was operating all day yesterday, so we are hoping that he will call today. I will let you know as soon as we hear!

mnjodette · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:42 am Post subject:

Marycain, I'm glad to hear you've got emergency medical personnel close to your home. That's got to give you some peace of mind. When my mother-in-law fell in our home and broke her hip, we called 911. We live in a the country...pretty rural...and several of our neighbors are first responders. It was so wonderful to have them come immediately - they were here in 5 minutes. Ambulance took longer, as it had to come from town. But she had some care right away.

Jody
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"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." Lord Byron

MARYCAIN · King of the Jungle Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 1576

It was like that here until a few years ago - the ambulances had to come from the hospital thirty-five miles away, then turn around and go back to the hospital. Then we had a series of bad incidents all in a row - a coal mine explosion, a grain mill accident, a car full of high school kids who played "chicken" with a train and lost - and people got up in arms and started demanding the county do something. After 9/11, the federal government started handing out homeland security grants like candy and our county got one to buy two ambulances, and they use part of the coal severance taxes (the money the coal companies have to pay for using heavy trucks on the road) to maintain them and pay the paramedics. It's still just two ambulances - it won't help much if we have a major disaster like a mine explosion again - but it's definitely better than nothing.

mnjodette · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:51 am Post subject:

Homeland security grants helped out little township buy some needed equipment for our volunteer fire department, and if I remember right I think that's how we got a few extra first responders trained and outfitted. Even at that, the nearest fire truck is still many miles away and the ambulance has to come from town (about 15 miles away.) But the town in Minnesota that I live near has three hospitals - two of them very large - and lots of auxiliary medical service sites and clinics. It's the third largest medical community in Minnesota (that's pretty large, considering that the other two are the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis.) I'm grateful for the good care here.
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"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." Lord Byron