I am 45 years old and am writing this because I have no options. I am an honest good person that needs help, so please listen to my story as I do not want sympathy, just solutions.
It stemmed from a motorcycle accident. I hit the bumper of the car in front of me with my right hip, when I was 16. That's what the doctors thought contributed to the decline of my hip. I was fine and could do anything I wanted, I wrestled, played football etc, in college. That was in Pennsylvania. I moved out to Nevada in 1991. That's when I started having hip problems. Since then I've had several procedures, (hip arthroscopies, injections), on my hip which none worked for the pain. I limped badly. I finally decided to get a hip resurfacement, which hopefully would end my pain and suffering, and as a result my limping. I had my hip resurfaced September 11, 2007. Success! it worked, I was able to whatever i wanted after the surgical pain subsided. I was again a healthy, happy person. It continued to be perfect up until about a year and a half. That's when the problems started again.
I started having major pain in my right hip, deep inside. Several tests later, they deemed that the plate on top of my femur came loose. I needed another surgery. At this time I had been seeing Doctor Russell Nevins. It was at this time that he advised to get a total hip replacement to fix the problem. I had surgery July 5, 2010. The surgery was deemed a success. I walked one day after surgery. The moment I stood up it didn't feel right. I felt a "popping" sensation. The physical therapist said she thinks its because my muscles haven't healed yet. While in the hospital I also got a heal ulcer from bed rest, which took a few months to heal.
I started physical therapy as advised, it went well, but I still had major pain. I finished the physical therapy and it felt OK. There wasn't any major pain until I went back to work as a casino dealer. Something was not right, so I went back to the doctor. He acknowledged something was wrong, I still had pain and swelling in my right buttocks. So the doctor scheduled an MRI of my back, and CAT scan of my hip. I went to get the results. That's when I saw that there were several heterotopic bones, and a screw that is seated in my minimus gluteus muscle. The doctor then ignored me. I guess pain and swelling would subside on its own. I started searching for help.
First doctor thought inflammation was my problem, so they prescribed steroids. No help. Next Dr just called me and told me they couldn't help me, go back to the doctor that did the surgery. That's when depression set in. Why won't they help me? I searched for help outside of Nevada, and found a Dr. from California. He examined me, and questioned me why is there a "high offset" femoral component? I also learned that my right leg is out further from my core than my left, about 2.5 inches further. I am crooked, no wonder my back hurts!
They also tested my blood for metal ions, negative. They did a bone scan, which may or may not show loosening. I went to another doctor who just wrote me off. There has been talk about scoping my hip, to understand the problem, but time is wasting, with no results. Why won't these doctors help me?
I currently am stuck, what is so bad about my surgical hip, that doctors won't help me? I've tried pain management, but very little help in the front, and did nothing for the pain in my buttocks. I sit crooked for my buttocks is severely swelled up, I limp badly, unless I use a cane. My right leg is shorter than my normal left leg, and further out from my core. My kneecaps are even crooked! I am losing muscle in my surgical leg. The screw is still residing in my minimus gluteus muscle. Limping hurts my back too much. I have disc desiccation. The more I limp, the more my back hurts. So I walk with a cane to stay upright, the pain is horrible, but my back feels better. What's the answer? there is none, so I take percocet for the pain. If I sit around it's not so bad, when I get up to walk is when the pain starts. When I stand, I stand with my right surgical leg behind my left one for less pain, but my body suffers. I am trying to find help, but every doctor has refused to help me, why won't they? They see a patient who is swelled up and in pain. So I am out of options, and depressed. I have carried health insurance throughout this whole ordeal and still do.
When you sleep with major pain, and cant sleep on your back or your right side because of the swelling, its not fun. Walking is horrible, my posture is horrible, I feel my leg was a doctors experiment, it looks different from my regular one. What I want is to be fixed. If it requires surgery, so be it. I cannot live with this pain, what can I do?, and why won't the doctor's help me? I just want the pain and depression to stop. Please help me or tell me who can. It is sad when the medical community overlooks patients who have pain and swelling for $ signs. We need help, I'm sure im not alone. How can this be resolved? I want to feel like a normal proud human being instead of an experiment.
Topic: Need help (Read 2165 times)
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