I saw my Orthopedist, Dr. John Fenlin, on Tuesday (August 30) with the idea that we were to discuss surgery since I just finished 5 weeks of physical therapy (hereafter = PT) only to be told that he's concerned about possible nerve damage in the shoulder and he wants to be absolutely sure of all possible conditions before he goes in, so he wanted me to have an Electromyography (hereafter = EMG) test, I was lucky enough to get one scheduled (downtown, ugh) today, September 1, and since I was able to get the results today as well I was able to get an appointment to see Dr. Fenlin again next Wednesday (September 7), though that may not be necessary (see below).
So once again the Third Option rears its ugly head (why am I not surprised?). I go in expecting to hear one thing and hear something completely unexpected that slows progess to a crawl.
I had the EMG test done downtown today, we got lucky with traffic and made it in about 35 minutes, getting me to the office about 50 before my scheduled 8:00am appointment, luckily they took me in at 7:50am.
The tests took about 90 minutes in total, from getting my medical history to testing my range of motion and then hitting me with a hammer to sticking me with needles and shocking the nerves to test the responses to see if there is any damage. Overall the doctor (Dr. G.J. Herbison) seemed pleased that there appears to be no severe damage and that after 3 months (I fell 90 days ago today) I appear to have healed quite nicely, though there's still a good amount of healing to do.
So the good news is : I'm healing ok (nerves, not muscles since they're still torn) but the bad (and possibly horrible) news is : I could have surgery now but the nerve still needs to heal which means I won't have motion in the arm until that happens, so a surgery now will still result in waiting for the nerve to heal, so it's more likely the doc will want to wait until the nerve heals in more completely and then do the surgery so I'll have motion immediately afterwards, though I'll still need PT either way. The horrible part of that news is that it could be SIX months until that nerve heals in completely!
So I could be looking at surgery no sooner than March 2006!!!
This does NOT make me happy, especially since the extreme pain will not go away in the next 6 months, and the last 3 months were hell, this would be devastating news if that's what the doc wants to do - I won't really know until I talk to him (he did not do this test). I have an appointment to see him next Wednesday, September 7, so I may know more then. I am going to see if I can get his opinion on the results of the EMG test over the phone since it would be better/easier/cheaper than driving all the way back downtown just to be told face to face what I could be told over the phone. It would save 3-4 hours of travel/waiting, $15 co-pay, $9 parking if this is something that can just be told to me.
Either way, if he does decide to go ahead with the surgery now (which I doubt since he'd want full recovery right away, it'd keep his "Best" label accurate since it avoids the possibility of me telling others "it didn't work right away") then it could still be months until I'm anywhere near "normal", but if it ends this pain then I'd be willing to do it this way, otherwise he may want to wait the 6 months to ensure full immediate recovery (which gives me another half a year of Hell).
I'll keep you posted.
RobMac
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Long Overdue Update (Long)
I have been absent for good reason - here's my recent "History", placed here to share with loved ones so I don't have to type it over and over in lots of emails and to keep available on the World Wide Web for posterity....
May 30 (Memorial Day) Went to Lorraine’s, in lots of pain in right kidney.
June 3 Was asleep on recliner in living room, got up at 3am and “collapsed” into TV, smashing right shoulder, used left wrist to try to break fall, pinched nerve, hurt ever since, fell to ground on right hip (weighed 260lbs) and hip has hurt ever since.
June 6 Hip, wrist & right shoulder in extreme pain, went to family doctor who referred me to Lower Bucks Hospital (hereafter = LBH) ER where they took x-rays of shoulder and diagnosed (incorrectly) as “sprained”, stating it would heal in 2-6 weeks. They gave me pain reliever Dilauded, which does not help very much at all (Neither does Percocet, Tylenol 3 or Morphine, I‘ve become immune to their effects). Also diagnosed with kidney infection, which most likely contributed to (if not caused) The Fall.
June 20 Passed fairly large kidney stone. Down to 220lbs.
June 27 Three weeks have passed since ER visit, not feeling any better, in fact I’m feeling much worse. Visit family doctor again who orders an MRI. Called LBH and scheduled MRI for June 29. Also complained again about hip & wrist, doc suggests I have inflammation around both areas of impact and puts me on Naproxen (Anti-inflammatory, 500mg - 1 tablet, twice daily).
June 28 Passed HUGE kidney stone.
June 29 MRI at LBH - 915am.
June 30 Called my family doctor about results of MRI - I have a “Full Rotator Cuff Tear” (resulting in the extreme pain I’ve been feeling, this will not heal on its own, surgery is most likely needed). Dr. Morgenstern wants me to see Orthopedist Dr. McPhilemy. I call Dr. McPhilemy’s office and am told he’s “Out of the office until Wednesday” (July 6).
July 5 Called Dr. McPhilemy’s office back and am told he’s now “Out of the office” until “Next week” and that the first appointment to see him is “mid-August” (in about 6 weeks). I called Dr. Morgenstern’s office back at 9am, left message for him about the situation. Called Dr. Morgenstern’s office again at 11am to leave another message. Called Dr. Morgenstern’s office AGAIN at 330pm to see if the other two messages were ever delivered - they were I was just never called back. Turns out Dr. Morgenstern wants me to “wait to see Dr. McPhilemy”. I said that is unacceptable and the office said they’d leave him a note for “first thing tomorrow morning as he’s gone home for the day” (they can’t call a doctor at home!?!). I am in so much pain on a daily basis that I’m nauseous ALL the time.
July 6 Heard from Dr. Morgenstern’s office, the suggested trying Dr. Aland (215-702-0600) or any of the doctors at Makefield Orthopedics (267-757-0560). Never got an answer to the anti-inflammatory question, so I asked Mary to ask Dr. Morgenstern again if it should have had some effect since I started taking it last Monday (June 27) and if it should to let it know it hasn’t and does he recommend something else. Dad came over with a list of possible Orthopedic Surgeons, he tried Dr. John Fenlin at The Rothman Institute @ Jefferson University (Center City) first, he can see me next Tuesday (July 12) at 9:30am so he scheduled an appointment. We did not try any other doctors on the list as Dr. Fenlin is supposed to be “The Best”. Mary calls back saying Dr. Morgenstern wants me to discontinue the Naproxen and start Vicopropen instead (7.5mg/200mg - Every 8 hours).
July 12 Appointment to see Dr. Fenlin at 9:30am. Dr. can’t operate because shoulder is “too tight” and I need to do 4 weeks of physical therapy (hereafter = PT) to loosen the muscles which will make surgery & recovery easier. Will need PT after surgery as well. Doc sent me to the PT department at Jefferson to get instructions and prescription. Called NovaCare Rehabilitation to schedule PT visit and made appointment for Tuesday, July 19 at 11am. I am to do 6 different PT exercises at home on my own 3 times a day.
July 19 PT appointment - 11am. Paperwork and base readings taken, no actual PT done.
July 21 PT - 11am. Did all 6 normal exercises plus therapist stretched arm in all directions and received electrical stimulation therapy with ice packs (this becomes the standard PT drill, all taking about 1 hour per visit).
July 25 PT - 9am.
July 27 PT - 1030am.
July 29 PT - 1030am.
Aug. 1 PT - 10am.
(Cancelled 8/1 @ 8am - Kidney Stone, Passed!)
Aug. 3 PT - 9am.
Aug. 5 PT - 930am.
Aug. 8 PT - 9am.
Aug. 10 PT - 11am.
(Cancelled 8/10 @ 945am - Migraine)
Aug. 12 PT - 930am.
Aug. 15 PT - 330pm.
Aug. 17 PT - 2pm.
Aug. 19 PT - 930am.
Aug. 23 PT - 1130am.
Aug. 25 PT - 11am.
Aug. 30 Appointment with Dr. Fenlin to discuss state of shoulder as a result of PT & possible surgery options - 310pm.
Sept. 1 EMG test downtown to check for nerve damage - 8am.
Sept. 7 Appointment with Dr. Fenlin to discuss EMG test results & possible surgery options - 310pm.
May 30 (Memorial Day) Went to Lorraine’s, in lots of pain in right kidney.
June 3 Was asleep on recliner in living room, got up at 3am and “collapsed” into TV, smashing right shoulder, used left wrist to try to break fall, pinched nerve, hurt ever since, fell to ground on right hip (weighed 260lbs) and hip has hurt ever since.
June 6 Hip, wrist & right shoulder in extreme pain, went to family doctor who referred me to Lower Bucks Hospital (hereafter = LBH) ER where they took x-rays of shoulder and diagnosed (incorrectly) as “sprained”, stating it would heal in 2-6 weeks. They gave me pain reliever Dilauded, which does not help very much at all (Neither does Percocet, Tylenol 3 or Morphine, I‘ve become immune to their effects). Also diagnosed with kidney infection, which most likely contributed to (if not caused) The Fall.
June 20 Passed fairly large kidney stone. Down to 220lbs.
June 27 Three weeks have passed since ER visit, not feeling any better, in fact I’m feeling much worse. Visit family doctor again who orders an MRI. Called LBH and scheduled MRI for June 29. Also complained again about hip & wrist, doc suggests I have inflammation around both areas of impact and puts me on Naproxen (Anti-inflammatory, 500mg - 1 tablet, twice daily).
June 28 Passed HUGE kidney stone.
June 29 MRI at LBH - 915am.
June 30 Called my family doctor about results of MRI - I have a “Full Rotator Cuff Tear” (resulting in the extreme pain I’ve been feeling, this will not heal on its own, surgery is most likely needed). Dr. Morgenstern wants me to see Orthopedist Dr. McPhilemy. I call Dr. McPhilemy’s office and am told he’s “Out of the office until Wednesday” (July 6).
July 5 Called Dr. McPhilemy’s office back and am told he’s now “Out of the office” until “Next week” and that the first appointment to see him is “mid-August” (in about 6 weeks). I called Dr. Morgenstern’s office back at 9am, left message for him about the situation. Called Dr. Morgenstern’s office again at 11am to leave another message. Called Dr. Morgenstern’s office AGAIN at 330pm to see if the other two messages were ever delivered - they were I was just never called back. Turns out Dr. Morgenstern wants me to “wait to see Dr. McPhilemy”. I said that is unacceptable and the office said they’d leave him a note for “first thing tomorrow morning as he’s gone home for the day” (they can’t call a doctor at home!?!). I am in so much pain on a daily basis that I’m nauseous ALL the time.
July 6 Heard from Dr. Morgenstern’s office, the suggested trying Dr. Aland (215-702-0600) or any of the doctors at Makefield Orthopedics (267-757-0560). Never got an answer to the anti-inflammatory question, so I asked Mary to ask Dr. Morgenstern again if it should have had some effect since I started taking it last Monday (June 27) and if it should to let it know it hasn’t and does he recommend something else. Dad came over with a list of possible Orthopedic Surgeons, he tried Dr. John Fenlin at The Rothman Institute @ Jefferson University (Center City) first, he can see me next Tuesday (July 12) at 9:30am so he scheduled an appointment. We did not try any other doctors on the list as Dr. Fenlin is supposed to be “The Best”. Mary calls back saying Dr. Morgenstern wants me to discontinue the Naproxen and start Vicopropen instead (7.5mg/200mg - Every 8 hours).
July 12 Appointment to see Dr. Fenlin at 9:30am. Dr. can’t operate because shoulder is “too tight” and I need to do 4 weeks of physical therapy (hereafter = PT) to loosen the muscles which will make surgery & recovery easier. Will need PT after surgery as well. Doc sent me to the PT department at Jefferson to get instructions and prescription. Called NovaCare Rehabilitation to schedule PT visit and made appointment for Tuesday, July 19 at 11am. I am to do 6 different PT exercises at home on my own 3 times a day.
July 19 PT appointment - 11am. Paperwork and base readings taken, no actual PT done.
July 21 PT - 11am. Did all 6 normal exercises plus therapist stretched arm in all directions and received electrical stimulation therapy with ice packs (this becomes the standard PT drill, all taking about 1 hour per visit).
July 25 PT - 9am.
July 27 PT - 1030am.
July 29 PT - 1030am.
Aug. 1 PT - 10am.
(Cancelled 8/1 @ 8am - Kidney Stone, Passed!)
Aug. 3 PT - 9am.
Aug. 5 PT - 930am.
Aug. 8 PT - 9am.
Aug. 10 PT - 11am.
(Cancelled 8/10 @ 945am - Migraine)
Aug. 12 PT - 930am.
Aug. 15 PT - 330pm.
Aug. 17 PT - 2pm.
Aug. 19 PT - 930am.
Aug. 23 PT - 1130am.
Aug. 25 PT - 11am.
Aug. 30 Appointment with Dr. Fenlin to discuss state of shoulder as a result of PT & possible surgery options - 310pm.
Sept. 1 EMG test downtown to check for nerve damage - 8am.
Sept. 7 Appointment with Dr. Fenlin to discuss EMG test results & possible surgery options - 310pm.
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