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| Any physical therapists here?; Help before I cut off my leg! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 13 2008, 02:56 AM (512 Views) | |
| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 02:56 AM Post #1 |
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Just wondering if anyone here is a physical therapist or has any background in sports medicine or rehabilitation of injuries? I've been sidelined for about 2 1/2 weeks with a nagging injury of unknown origin and it seems to be getting worse instead of better. Due to my current state of unemployment and lack of health insurance, seeing a doctor isn't in the cards at the moment. Anyone??? I'm rapidly losing my mind.
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| Deleted User | Oct 13 2008, 03:07 AM Post #2 |
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Deleted User
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Sorry Bev, I am not a physical therapist. I just treat the mind, not the body. I wish you all the best with your leg, don't cut it off please. See what's going on in your mind. Your body reflects your mind. Treat both. |
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 03:09 AM Post #3 |
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Michelle, I can only deal with one disaster at a time. I'm nowhere near being up to the task of even looking at or dealing with what's in there.
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| Deleted User | Oct 13 2008, 03:10 AM Post #4 |
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Deleted User
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What's wrong with your leg? |
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| Merry | Oct 13 2008, 03:11 AM Post #5 |
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Wow Bev, I'm really sorry to hear that! I hope you feel better very soon! Though I'm no professional, I just wondered if you've tried soaking in the tub with some epsom salts? When I've done something strenuous and felt badly afterwords, its helped me. Do you think you've pulled muscles and/or tendons? I once injured the tendons in my foot, and it was extremely painful, took me weeks to walk properly again! The best to you, take good care! Merry
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 03:25 AM Post #6 |
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Thanks, Merry and Michelle. Long story short, I went for a run about 2 1/2 weeks ago, even though I had been having a bit of lower back pain (it surfaces occasionally from an old gym injury). I wore a pain patch on the sore spot and managed to get in about 5 miles. Later that same night, I took my little dog out for his nightly walk. His usual thing is to run the last couple of blocks as we turn for home. As soon as he shifted into a higher gear, I started to run and my right leg almost completely gave way! It felt as though a little gremlin was inside my leg, grabbing and pinching the muscles and nerves inside. I walked the rest of the way home. I can walk, but it hurts to turn over in bed and if I sneeze, the pain throughout my back and leg is excruciating! I've done some online research and from what I can tell, I may have a condition that is causing my sciatic nerve to be compromised by my muscles. The worst part of this for me is that I can't go out and run. Running has been the savior of my sanity during this past year (no need to spill the ugly details here and now) and I'm sinking into a really deep depression because I can't run. Also, not knowing if what I have will get better on its own with time and rest or if this is something more ominous that will require surgery. . . I just don't know if I should be trying to do any form of exercise to stretch it and make it stronger or whether doing that will make it worse. As for the bath thing, Merry . . . well, now that I'm not in my own home, I only have a shower. I have no way to soak it. I've alternated between icing it and keeping a heating pad on it. I've also tried to massage it which seems to help somewhat. The strange thing is that this pain seems to travel to various areas of my leg. One minute, it really hurts in my hip; the next minute, it hurts down the outside of my leg or in my ankle. I have a really knotted-up muscle in the front part of my thigh that I can feel with my hand. I think this problem originated in my lower back and my other muscles have overcompensated for it.
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| Jacaranda | Oct 13 2008, 03:26 AM Post #7 |
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Bev my goodness. I hope you feel better soon. Can you tell us what happened? Maybe someone here can help. I also could ask the PT who comes here to assist with my mom here, I think he'll be here Tuesday. Also, might it be possible to get in contact with some agency that can help for free or reduced cost? |
![]() "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." General Melchett, Blackadder Goes Forth | |
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| Jacaranda | Oct 13 2008, 03:30 AM Post #8 |
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Ok it appears we posted at the same time. Now that I know I'll ask around -- I have a friend who's a massage therapist and I can also ask the PT. Seems though of course that it would have to be seen by someone to determine if there is nerve involvement. Even if you don't have a bath in your place can you go to someone else's place and try to soak your leg? I hope that could help you somewhat.... |
![]() "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." General Melchett, Blackadder Goes Forth | |
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 03:32 AM Post #9 |
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Lisa, I think we were posting at the same time. From reading I've done at some runners' sites, my best guess is that I either have piriformis syndrome -- a weak muscle deep inside the gluteus that causes the surrounding muscles in the hips and thighs to overcompensate and pinch the sciatic nerve -- or I may have some sort of hip flexor thing happening. I tend to think it's the former. I doubt if I can find any free treatment for what would be considered a non-life-threatening injury. Ironically, my health insurance coverage lapsed 2 weeks before this happened. I couldn't afford to continue with COBRA, as it was going to cost over $350 a month . . . not in the cards with unemployment.
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| BeatleBarb | Oct 13 2008, 03:32 AM Post #10 |
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Bev - as you know, I've been sidelined for more than one reason as well...but my knee did the same thing. Through self diagnosis and the opinions of others, I have a torn miniscus (spelling?) and a tad bit of arthritis going on. Bending is not an option. Does your injury involve a "catching" type pain? Have you tried the icing/heat regimen? |
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| Deleted User | Oct 13 2008, 03:35 AM Post #11 |
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Look for a real therapist, make exams and follow his instructions and if possible make acupunture, it's very good. |
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 03:40 AM Post #12 |
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Thanks! Any info you could get would be greatly appreciated. I damaged the IT bands on both knees a couple of years ago, and those got better in about a month with RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation). I had extreme swelling and very limited ability to walk or move with that injury. With this injury, I've had no swelling, so I don't think I've torn anything. . . . not sure if all muscle injuries produce swelling. The main things I'm wanting to know are whether I should be trying to do any strength exercises for my core and lower back and legs, or whether I should be trying to just rest. It seems the more I lay in bed or on the couch, the more it hurts. It seems to feel better when I get up and walk, although it hurts when I first put weight on it. Once I'm moving, it seems to feel a bit better. I tried to take one running step and it felt like every muscle in my leg seized up. I suspect there might be a compromised nerve, but it's so hard to isolate the pain. Also, when I sneeze, I get this excruciating pain in my lower back and all the way down my leg. That's why I think a nerve must be involved.
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| BlueMolly2009 | Oct 13 2008, 03:41 AM Post #13 |
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LOLcat Freak
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Bev, you really should seek professional help, because self diagnosing yourself isn't that great. There must be an agency that could help with the medical costs. I just would hate to see you permanently disabled because of you couldn't go to the doctor's office. |
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| Merry | Oct 13 2008, 03:42 AM Post #14 |
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I don't know if this will help in diagnosing your problem, Bev, but I found this info about Sciatica nerve damage...the symptoms and all. http://www.medicinenet.com/sciatica/article.htm I don't like to do backseat diagnosing and I think it would be great if Lisa could have her mother's physical therapist give an opinion. I agree with her too in that there may be a clinic somewhere that can offer you help on a lower fee scale or even better, for free. And I can certainly relate to you feeling badly about not getting out to run, for me walking is my favorite exercise, and I'd go stir crazy if I wasn't able to on a daily basis. It's therapeutic for me in many ways. Do you think you could try walking for a while? It'd be easier on you than running, but you'd still be getting in that physical activity. Just go easy, if you feel pain, back off, you don't want to make anything worse. Merry |
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 03:45 AM Post #15 |
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Barb, I didn't realize you were having physical issues. One of my former co-workers had surgery for a torn miniscus and he and I traded stories about that. He could barely even walk for about 6 months, until he had surgery to repair it. I injured my IT bands on both knees and although I couldn't walk for about a month and had extreme swelling, etc., the problem resolved on its own. Of course, I iced both knees, kept them elevated and stayed off them as much as possible. It was enough to do the trick. Maybe that's what you have, rather than a torn miniscus. I do have a catching type of pain, but it's not always in the same spot. That's the really weird thing. That's why I think a nerve must be involved. I swear, if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all! What else can go wrong? Never mind. I'm sure something else will.
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 03:45 AM Post #16 |
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Barb, I didn't realize you were having physical issues. One of my former co-workers had surgery for a torn miniscus and he and I traded stories about that. He could barely even walk for about 6 months, until he had surgery to repair it. I injured my IT bands on both knees and although I couldn't walk for about a month and had extreme swelling, etc., the problem resolved on its own. Of course, I iced both knees, kept them elevated and stayed off them as much as possible. It was enough to do the trick. Maybe that's what you have, rather than a torn miniscus. I do have a catching type of pain, but it's not always in the same spot. That's the really weird thing. That's why I think a nerve must be involved. I swear, if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all! What else can go wrong? Never mind. I'm sure something else will.
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| beatlechick | Oct 13 2008, 03:53 AM Post #17 |
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In Paul's Arms!
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No but you can go to County. You just walk in to Olive View, which I think is the closest, and hopefully they aren't busy. If you do that, take a book for you may be there quite awhile. I had to do this and was there for about 4 hours before triage but once you are in their system, it is a lot easier to make appts. I know they don't have a good reputation, they do get a lot of od's and shooting victims, but my experience was pretty decent. You can diagnose all you want but you will not get a good diagnosis until you see a doctor. You may have a torn muscle or ligament, but then again you may not. |
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 03:55 AM Post #18 |
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Thanks, everyone! I wish I had the money to seek out professional help. Thanks to our great state's financial woes, the lovely folks at the unemployment department have been making collecting any benefits a nightmare! I have to go to their office tomorrow and start the process all over again! I'm doing well just to put a roof over my head and my critters at the moment. But I digress. . . . Anyway, I will investigate the free clinics here, but those services are usually restricted to essential services and I don't think my injury would fall into that category. The numbers of people here needing medical services is staggering! Merry, I think I will take your advice and try to continue to go for walks with my little guy. At least I'll be getting some form of exercise and it makes him happy. It's just that running provides a whole different level of stress and anxiety relief. It's really true what you hear about a runner's high. I used to work through my problems in my head as I was running. Walking just doesn't do the same for me, but I'll just have to try to adapt. Lord knows, I've spent the last 16 months adapting to just about everything in my *new* life. Thanks for listening and for caring. You guys are the best. |
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| beatlechick | Oct 13 2008, 03:56 AM Post #19 |
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In Paul's Arms!
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I have a torn, or had, meniscus and some arthritis. I have since had arthroscopic surgery but you may be able to get by for quite awhile with cortisone shots. My own doctor has the same thing and had a shot in February and has done well. I had a shot and it worked for a couple of weeks. |
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| BeatleBarb | Oct 13 2008, 04:01 AM Post #20 |
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Oh crap, I'm going to go self-medicate and take my torn meniscus/sorry self to bed with some liquid therapy. Good night all and I hope we're all better in the morning! Put the lime in the coke you nut and drink it all up
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 04:05 AM Post #21 |
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Cathy, I had an experience with county years ago, before my employer provided health insurance. I had a severe asthma attack and was on the verge of complete respiratory arrest. I was on the job when this happened and ended up at county USC (General Hospital for you soap opera fans!) on a Saturday night. I got to witness a shooting victim passing away, just about 10 feet away from me, and his shooter was also being treated on the table next to him. It was a circus! My breathing wasn't responding to the treatments they were giving me, so they admitted me to a room. Once there, a "nurse" -- I use that term very loosely to describe her -- came into my room and was like Nurse Ratched! She started telling me that because I had a job, I would get a bill for services rendered, even though I explained to her, through gasps of air, that I had no insurance. Sure enough, I got a *bill* about 2 weeks later, as they determined (not sure how they determined) that I had the "ability to pay"!! There was also a little note at the bottom, stating that if the bill went unpaid, it would be turned over to collections! Well, I never paid it, as I already had a nearly $30,000 bill from my previous ER/week's stay, thanks to my asthma. Of course, just after all this happened, my employer FINALLY caved in to pressure from all the employees and got health insurance!!! So strange, that. When I didn't have it, I needed it. When I had it, I hardly ever used it and was healthy. Now that I'm unemployed . . . . well, here we go again. Let's just say that I hope Obama steps up to the plate. I know Hillary was trying to fight the good fight on this issue.
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 04:08 AM Post #22 |
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'Night, Barb. Heading to the 'fridge now. . .
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| Jacaranda | Oct 13 2008, 04:08 AM Post #23 |
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I understand your hesitancy Bev, about your injury not being life-threatening, but you should take Cathy's advice, go to where ever she said (I don't remember and I'm lazy now ) because don't for God's sake make the mistake Betsy made. She waited till it was almost too late to go to the emergency room because she didn't have insurance. It is true that what you have going on is nowhere near her level of severity but it could progress to be much more serious if you don't take care. Please don't risk your ability to walk, get care when and where you think you can.Let's put it this way. If your dear furbabies were in this much pain, would you not take care of them and hope whatever was going on would just go away? I don't think so. Please give yourself the same consideration. Remember too that they depend on you to be healthy and to be there for them, just as you need to make yourself a priority. I'll get off my soapbox, and apologize for being too forward, but realize that I say this because I care about you, and I'd hate to see something similar happen to you that happened to Betsy. Also about walking as exercise (something I do everyday too), though you don't get the runner's high, a good brisk walk can approximate a bit of the feeling though. I will ask my mom's therapist what his opinion is but I'm sure they would be hesitant to say too much, but I'll see what he says. |
![]() "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." General Melchett, Blackadder Goes Forth | |
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| beatlechick | Oct 13 2008, 04:08 AM Post #24 |
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In Paul's Arms!
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I would still give County a chance. They do, do good work. |
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 04:11 AM Post #25 |
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Cathy, I hope your knee is on the mend. I personally wouldn't consider getting a cortisone shot. In my research, I've learned that to do that is to just mask the pain and doesn't really treat the root of the problem. I can tolerate the pain that I'm feeling. It's the not knowing and not being able to run that's driving me over the edge!
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| beatlechick | Oct 13 2008, 04:13 AM Post #26 |
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In Paul's Arms!
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I have to say that when I injured my knee it did not swell up like I expected. I fell on it very hard and thought for sure it would swell and hurt like hell. It did not. It hurt a lot when I fell but the pain went away so my thoughts of going to the doctor went away until I could stand it no longer. I am normally a lot more active than when we met with Andy and Fiona, if you recall I had to push myself up from a sitting position and ease myself down to a sitting position. It hurt to stand, it hurt to sit, it hurt to walk more than 2 blocks. Had I looked into it than, I believe late last year, I may not have had as much trouble as I did before the surgery. I would definitely look into some free or low-cost healthcare. It is out there. |
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| beatlechick | Oct 13 2008, 04:14 AM Post #27 |
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In Paul's Arms!
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Bev, the knee is doing well enough that I can go back to work. I have to but I don't want to.
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 04:16 AM Post #28 |
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Thanks, Lisa and Cathy. Lisa, thanks for asking some questions on my behalf. I won't do anything to jeopardize my health. I'm not doing anything to make the injury worse. I'm just not sure if there's anything I could be doing to make it better. Sometimes time and rest will do the trick, sometimes not. Believe me, I've thought of Betsy more than once! Cathy, do you know if county would do an MRI? |
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 04:17 AM Post #29 |
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I remember that feeling well! Glad your knee is better. I know how much pain you've been in.
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| beatlechick | Oct 13 2008, 04:19 AM Post #30 |
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In Paul's Arms!
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I know they have the facilities for that so I would say likely. |
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| beatlechick | Oct 13 2008, 04:20 AM Post #31 |
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In Paul's Arms!
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back at ya, hon.Don't worry, you have our support. Just get this checked out. You don't want this to get any worse. |
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| Rose | Oct 13 2008, 02:17 PM Post #32 |
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Well, here's another clue for you all, the Walrus was Paul...
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Bev...I'm obviously clueless in how to help you...but I am truly sorry for your pain and suffering. I hope you get it all figured out with the help of so many nice people here. Good Luck.
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![]() "I'm in awe of McCartney. He's about the only one that I am in awe of. He can do it all. And he's never let up... He's just so damn effortless." ~ Bob Dylan | |
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| scottycatt | Oct 13 2008, 10:12 PM Post #33 |
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Thanks, Rose.
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| BeatleBarb | Oct 14 2008, 01:56 AM Post #34 |
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How's that leg today? |
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| scottycatt | Oct 14 2008, 02:00 AM Post #35 |
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Slept on a heating pad all night and could barely move when I tried to get out of bed. It always seems to get worse the more sedentary I am. How's yours? I stayed up until almost 5am reading about "compartment syndrome". Was wondering how your injury began. Did you injure it while running or doing something else? Did it start suddenly? |
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| BeatleBarb | Oct 14 2008, 02:05 AM Post #36 |
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I was getting up off a rather high chair (no jokes, here) at the reference desk. The chair has some spring to it and my leg sort of jammed. But now, both knees are sort of like that, so I don't know what's causing it. I can walk, run, etc, but cannot do squats or bend. Glad we're still calling you scottycatt and not stumpy. Compartment syndrome - people who live in the glove box? |
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| scottycatt | Oct 14 2008, 02:14 AM Post #37 |
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Stumpycatt. I used to refer to myself as short and stumpy, but now it has a whole new meaning. It sounds like you jammed both of your knees. The good news is that you're able to do weight-bearing exercise. That would likely indicate that you haven't done any serious damage. Your symptoms will likely get better with time, light use and RICE -- rest, ice, compression, elevations. Try it and see if your symptoms don't improve. If you had a torn miniscus or even a severely strained or pulled IT band, your knees and ankles would look like canned hams. Have you considered doing some light stretches, etc., to gradually rebuild your strength and flexibility? If you go the the Runners World website -- the same folks that publish the magazine -- you will find a wealth of information, videos, etc. about how to achieve this. And as for the people who live in the glove box? No, I think you have them confused with Sir Walter Raleigh in a can. Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck. . .
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| Dorfliedot | Oct 14 2008, 03:33 AM Post #38 |
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Beatlelicious
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You know my sister work at a physical therapists office. Right next door to Rideout hospital. I hope all with aches and pain will get better soon.
Edited by Dorfliedot, Oct 14 2008, 03:37 AM.
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| Jacaranda | Oct 14 2008, 04:22 PM Post #39 |
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I wasn't able to ask my mom's PT anything today, sorry Bev. I am hoping to see him again either Thurs. or Saturday, so let me ask you a couple of questions: 1) do you have pins and needles or tingling in your leg, back or anywhere related to the injury? and 2) can you come up with some questions you want me to ask him? Thanks.
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![]() "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." General Melchett, Blackadder Goes Forth | |
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| maccascruff | Oct 14 2008, 05:13 PM Post #40 |
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Sing the Changes
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Bev, I don't have any advice for you either. I do hope you can find some medical attention and become pain free. |
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| scottycatt | Oct 16 2008, 05:59 AM Post #41 |
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Lisa, I've finally got the problem figured out. I have a herniated disc. Long story short, my symptoms and everything that led up to it are textbook. It stems from an old injury from the early '90s, but because it has manifested in my leg this time, I didn't recognize my back as being the cause of the problem. Thanks to a tip from Gaye's son's girlfriend, a PT, I did more research and chatted with some other runners who have IDENTICAL symptoms as mine. After reading up on webMD, it was as if I had written the page! If the info is correct, it should be another week or so before I start to see improvement, as long as I don't do anything damaging in the meantime. Now I need to find out whether I should or shouldn't do stretches and I'd like to find out if there are any beneficial exercises I can be doing to help things along. I already know the *proper* ways to sleep and rest, ice, etc., etc. I still remember all of that stuff from my time spent with a sports doc at the time of the original injury way back when. At least I know what I'm dealing with now. I've been going nuts thinking it was one thing, then another. A compressed nerve from the herniated disc explains why the pain keeps *relocating*.
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| Jacaranda | Oct 16 2008, 02:51 PM Post #42 |
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From what I read here in my book called "Smart Guide to Healing Back Pain" a herniated disk presses on a nerve root -- commonly causing pain along the path of the nerve. Like the sciatica you referred to earlier. Pain down the back of the leg, on the side of the calf and sometimes into the side of the foot. Numbness or weakness in areas served by the nerve can occur as well. It says in the book that "disk ruptures usually heal without surgery, but slowly," however people frequently opt for surgery because the condition can lead to pain and disability for as long as a year or two. Because you have a problem that is a new-onset problem you should still get it checked out, if you can. You can't know the proper types of exercise to do to help yourself unless you see someone professional to diagnose the problem. At the very least, you should ask Gaye's son's girlfriend what exercises are appropriate for someone with the condition you feel you have, because of course, not all back exercises are appropriate for all back conditions. |
![]() "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." General Melchett, Blackadder Goes Forth | |
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| beatlechick | Oct 16 2008, 09:29 PM Post #43 |
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In Paul's Arms!
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Always have it checked. You could be one of two things: Entirely right or entirely wrong. You need to make sure of the proper diagnosis and treatment. |
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| BlueMolly2009 | Oct 16 2008, 10:52 PM Post #44 |
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LOLcat Freak
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I know when I had my cellulitis on my right leg I went online to look up what was going on. I decided to go to the ER because I knew it wasn't right. It took me two times before they really knew what it really was. But I'm glad I went to the ER. You can't always self medicate yourself. |
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Merry
I have no way to soak it. I've alternated between icing it and keeping a heating pad on it. I've also tried to massage it which seems to help somewhat. The strange thing is that this pain seems to travel to various areas of my leg. One minute, it really hurts in my hip; the next minute, it hurts down the outside of my leg or in my ankle. I have a really knotted-up muscle in the front part of my thigh that I can feel with my hand. I think this problem originated in my lower back and my other muscles have overcompensated for it. 





I used to refer to myself as short and stumpy, but now it has a whole new meaning.



6:55 PM Jul 11