Medical Mystery
I saw the specialist today re: the numb skin on my upper left thigh. (Some of you might remember this happened about 5 - 6 weeks into my physio last winter, so over 5 months now.) I was
expecting the "cattle prod" test, as the family doctor had put it, but
there must have been some miscommunication between my clinic and his
office, as he had been expecting my numbness to be on the outer thigh
(which is isn't).
He did his thing, with a female surgeon
present to offer input, only to say he's never seen this pattern of
numbness in his 23 years of specialization. A search of their medical
database brought up "rare." It's not muscular, he tested that, as well
as my reflexes.
So I'm a medical mystery, apparently.
They did their medical-speak, but the upshot is that he's 99% sure the root cause is benign, he suspects it IS from an acute injury (i.e. the physio), and wants me to see my family doctor in two weeks, as by that time he'll have his recommendation. Which is likely to be a pelvic MRI this time, to ensure there's really nothing untoward going on. (I really don't want another MRI, but I suppose better safe than sorry.)
They told me that if, in a year, the numbness hasn't progressed any further it's not going to and that if it persists after 2 years (because it can take that long for damaged nerves to grow back), I'll always have the numbness.
He seemed to be very excited about it all and will do research before contacting my family doctor.
So I'm a medical mystery, apparently.
They did their medical-speak, but the upshot is that he's 99% sure the root cause is benign, he suspects it IS from an acute injury (i.e. the physio), and wants me to see my family doctor in two weeks, as by that time he'll have his recommendation. Which is likely to be a pelvic MRI this time, to ensure there's really nothing untoward going on. (I really don't want another MRI, but I suppose better safe than sorry.)
They told me that if, in a year, the numbness hasn't progressed any further it's not going to and that if it persists after 2 years (because it can take that long for damaged nerves to grow back), I'll always have the numbness.
He seemed to be very excited about it all and will do research before contacting my family doctor.
In fact, he was so excited that he wanted to know if I'd come back for the residents, as a teaching experience for them. I waffled, said okay (it was just a one-off), but when he said it would be 5 - 6 residents I changed my mind and said no. That pushes me past my comfort zone. One or two I could deal with, but not a crowd of 20-something year old kids all hovering around my fat, lumpy thigh and groin while they talk about what it could be, etc.
I do know one thing for certain, though: It'll be a cold day in hell before I ever go to another physiotherapist.
Peace.
Comments
I hope it is not causing you too much trouble and they figure it out.
Take care and talk soon.
Maybe if I had a gorgeous body I wouldn't mind being ogled? LOL. I don't know!
Checking out that nothing is swry in your pelvis sounds like the cautious thing to do under the circumstances, if it can be done with mri.
Simba's human
One or two residents I could handle. I see a resident almost every time I go to my clinic, as it's the university's family health clinic (anyone can be a patient if there's an opening, though, not just uni staff/faculty). And most of my other medical appointments have a resident or trainee tech there too. So I'm used to that, but not to a group! :-)