I went to the orthopedic surgeon today.
Fun times.
After my x-rays a good looking fit and tan very young doctor comes into the room.
He shows me the arthritis in my shoulder, can't really see a tear but doesn't mean its not there.
So before an MRI he suggests a cautious protocol.
Sounds good to me at this point. I don't want surgery so let's go.
He then makes me move my arm in ways that causes me such pain.
And just because Good Lookin' Doc is probably a sadistic shit he then begins to press in the area I tell him that hurts the most.
I turned to him and explained that my right arm works fine and I can still throw a punch.
He laughs but doesn't stop. WTF?
I ask him to please stop this is painful. He finally listens and stops.
He asks me if I am able to sleep. No I respond. No position is comfortable. The best is one of the theatre seats upstairs in the tv room but still not great. It keeps me awake all night long.
He hems and hahs.
Then he suggests 4 weeks of physical therapy.
Oh great I think, more pain given to me on purpose. Damn I can't wait!
And if that doesn't help then he says he will give me a shot.
A shot AFTER 4 weeks? For heaven's sake I am eating ibuprofen like Pez.
A shot would be great right now buddy!!!
But then if I give him too much grief I imagine it will be a shot with a rusty needle so I listen as he explains his theories. I'm not buying these theories but I listen.
Then he tells me not to do any exercise like Pilates where I'd be pulling the ropes/pulleys or lifting weights etc. Gee ya think? I haven't been able to do that for awhile now from the pain.
I can't even lift my arm over my head anymore or get things out of the microwave above the stove. Hell, I can't even carry my purse on my left side from the pain it causes in my shoulder so pulling ropes or weights is out of the question.
Trying to put on a bra is a major ordeal and my husband is competely and utterly useless. Apparently he can only take them off. And if I ask for help, he fondles and does nothing to actually help me.
The good lookin' doctors parting words were to slow down on the ibuprofen.
I ask if he is going to give me anything else. He says an emphatic NO.
"Just slow down on the ibuprofen and take with food", he says.
I eat 4 of those suckers every 3-4 hrs. I don't eat every 3 hrs.
I sleep if I am lucky 2-3 hrs. I am a walking zombie and in constant pain.
No I don't think I'm going to stop taking aspirin and ibuprofen anytime soon mister.
Washing it down with gin doesn't hurt either. But I don't share that tid bit with him.
So I went to the doctors today and $400 later, I am still in big pain.
$400 because I have not reached my $750 deductible.
(Oh how I love America's shitty medical system)
To recap my lovely day, I am poorer but have more pain.
Is this really how it's suppose to work?
7 comments:
Well that sucks!
He may be doing this in part due to insurance. Seriously, I wanted to scream when I found out that I had to go through MEGA hoops with my back pain before they could do what REALLY helps the pain. Took me two years of seeing the doctor before we finally got it right.
Hope it doesn't take that long for you......
Bonnie, for once it isn't my insurance company. I actually asked that. But I wouldn't be surprised about anything anymore.
It feels best when in a sling like position against my body - so since I work from home and my dog isn't here to day I have it in a sling and typing in a very awkward way. :-)
I changed jobs recently. The new insurance sucks. I was thoroughly disgusted with the last place but at least the benefits were good. Now? Asshole pharmacist told me $170 for a damn one pill yeast infection pill. BITCH WHAT? (if I didn't say it out loud, she got it from my face, I'M SURE). Turend out that was without insurance (meaning she was stupid). I paid $20. For one damn pill.
I'm sorry youre still in pain. I hope the therapy works. Sometimes forcing the movement (because when something hurts and we don't want to move it it just gets stiff, increases) does help but I know it damn sure doesn't feel like it when you're doing it.
Sounds like you should of told him you didn't agree and you were in too much pain to go that route!
Sorry about your pain, hubby is going through the same thing.
About the ibuprofen... when Michael was admitted to the hospital, one of the first things they diagnosed was acetaminophen toxicity, from trying to get relief and to be able to sleep. It was in more than one thing he was taking and he never gave it a second thought. No more than you eat, you could be really damaging your innards from the ibuprofen.
I am new here, saw you commenting on Julie's blog so I thought I would wander on over.
I always find that if one doc is a douche you can always go looking for another. I had one doc that took a look at a problem I had and did nothing. Went to a different doc the following week and he fixed the problem. Do you know what they call the student that barely passed doctor school.....Doctor
Physical therapists can be very sadistic.
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