MRI today

I had an MRI this morning of my right foot.  The tech lady said it would be 1-4 hrs before a dr would see it.  I don't know if that means a "reading dr" or the dr that ordered it.  I will call Monday first thing to find out if he will even share results with me, assuming everything came back "fine".  If something DID show up, of course he'll want me to spend $20 and gas $ to drive up there for him to share it with me.  No idea how long it'd take to get back in, but for now, not going to worry about it.

I have my follow-up appt with my rheumatologist on Tuesday.  He started me on a new anti-inflammatory, which I started taking today at lunch (after the MRI).

My feet have been pretty rough today.  Gritting my teeth & pushing through.

Another new medicine

My rheumatologist called probably 30 min ago, asking how I was doing.  I told him yesterday was really good, that the pain was still there but felt "muted".  But after 1-1.5 hrs this morning, the pain in the back of the arch/front of the heel is DEFINITELY bad again, mostly in my LEFT foot this time.  I did sit for most of Joanna's swim team practice, and it was easier to walk to the van, but I can still feel it there.  UGH.

So anyway, he wants me to try another NSAID, this time, RELAFEN

http://www.medicinenet.com/nabumetone/article.htm

He said he is definitely going with primary Raynaud's syndrome as my diagnosis, as all my bloodwork came back fine (which we expected of course).

One step forward, 5 steps back.  At least I've had 2 good days in the last 3 weeks.

Walking normal

The pain is definitely still there, but I do think it is less - it was MUCH less this morning and has ramped up a little since then, but I'm still able to walk normally.

Sure is hopeful.

New medicine

I finally got started on the new blood pressure medicine last night.  This morning I had a fairly bad headache and was a little unsteady when I first got up.

My feet definitely still have tingles, but the regular foot pain is less - I am able to walk "normally" today.  I find it almost impossible to believe that my feet could feel the effects already, but maybe?

We'll see how the rest of the day goes.

I have childcare help and my MRI next Thurs early.  Then my follow-up with the rheumatologist on July 3.  Then the cardiologist to check for PVD on July 5.

Maybe maybe we are starting to narrow down.  Maybe.  :)

Today's rheumatologist visit

So much happened today, it's hard to get it all down.  I'll try.

Dr Stevens impressed us both.  He was late coming in, but my hope was that THAT meant that he would take good time with us.  AND HE DID.

He is a bit skeptical of Raynaud's since my hands aren't as affected as my feet, BUT he is giving that diagnosis, and is treating me with meds towards that end.

He did bloodwork though - which I had done at the IU hospital "next door" before we headed back from Bloomington.

He wanted me to wait on the MRI - he said the steroid pills I've been taking might affect a diagnosis.  I have my MRI rescheduled for June 28 now.

He is changing my Raynaud's medicine from Norvasc to Nifedipine extended-release 30 mg - which Alex's company happens to make, so I should be able to get it for free.  He wants me to check my bp in about a week after starting it.

He is also upping the Elavil (Chronic pain: Elavil works best for chronic pain that is nerve-related) that I'm already on, from 10 mg to 25 mg.

No ideally I don't want to be on meds long term BUT if this foot pain can't be explained, nor HELPED in any other way, I'm sure willing to at least try it for now.

I have a follow-up appt on July 3, and we'll see if there is any improvement in my symptoms.  We should also have results from the MRI on June 28 by then, as well as the bloodwork results.

He wants to start attacking things one at a time - interestingly, he thinks my pain seems somewhat to be plantar fasciitis, even though I've had 2 podiatrists say it was NOT that, and I've even had an ultrasound that "ruled it out".

He does think it is possible that all but the stabbing pains in my heels could be related to Raynaud's.

All in all, finally, a hopeful dr visit.  I know I've rambled some here, and if anyone has questions, please ask.

Mild relief

I do need to update - I am getting a pinch of relief - the pain in my heels & feet is still there, but not as intense.  I haven't had as many knife-pains in my heels.  It isn't as good as it was that first morning, but in general, it IS somewhat better.  I can't easily put a percent on it or anything though.

Friday night grocery shopping - I did walk with a cart in Aldis (the first time in 3-4 weeks), but I did use the motorized cart in Walmart again, and glad I did.

I've been walking around the house, getting a few things done, and mostly walking on my heel despite the pain - which just tells me that the pain is LESS, even though still there.  I do still wince a lot, but not enough to send me to the ball of my foot.

A little progress I suppose.

Cindy

One day of partial relief

Didn't last though.  I made it to lap swim this morning and was decent (from the heel pain in my right foot).  After getting home and getting myself ready for the day, the right heel pain came back.  Not horrible awful, but it's definitely there.  I decided last night that I was going to drive the girls to swim team today, and not chance being able to walk.  Very glad I did that.

I did find Wednesday that my family doctor only gave me a copy of ONE blood test results, not everything I had done in May.  So I called this morning, and will pick that up Monday morning on the way to or from swim team practice, so I'll have it for the rheumatologist Monday afternoon.

I am grateful I had one day of normal walking.

MRI scheduled

for next Tues, June 19.  I was able to get it in Seymour, rather than Columbus, so that is a help.  My heels continue to feel 95% pain-free, although I still have the other "ache" type pain and the tingles.  I can deal with it, and I can walk normally too.

Partial relief ?!!!!

I took the 6 methyl-prednisone last night.  I still have pins/needles/tingling, and the pinky-side bottoms of my feet still "ache" or something like that, but my HEELS are so much better that I'm walking on them.  Relief at all is such a blessing!  I do wonder if this means that there IS some inflammation in my feet, even with a low SED rate of 7.

Praise God!

No news - par for the course, sadly

The orthopedic surgeon was really not much help.  He did agree to do an MRI on my right foot, but it'll be scheduled in the next week or so, in Seymour (nearest "big" town).  The dr said I could have mild Raynaud's, and possibly mild tarsal tunnel, but he really doesn't think the MRI will show anything.

I'm VERY frustrated.  So frustrated I almost called everything off, but I didn't.  I do have a call in to the rheumatologist, to make SURE he works with Raynaud's and neuropathies - no point in going to him if he doesn't.  I realize I'll have to wait again, if he doesn't, but I do already have an appt on July 30, which I have NOT canceled.  And I KNOW that dr would be the right one, as the cardiologist called him personally and told him what all I'm experiencing.

The ortho dr from today wants me to do physical therapy, and also wants me to try methyl-prednisone - I forgot to pick it up on the way home, so I'll head back to CVS on my bike sometime after dinner and get that.  Maybe after I get the girls to bed.

I haven't scheduled the physical therapy yet - not sure when to start that - just feeling helpless & hopeless right now.  I know I'm not, but that is my feelings for the moment.

Hoping tomorrow brings a step closer

I visited the chiropractor again today.  I have not had any relief after my several visits.  I do give him credit that he was 40% sure I wouldn't.  He IS excited to show me how to use the ultrasound machine that my dad sent me yesterday.  I don't have another appt until Saturday.  One thing to note - he said if I got relief from the machine, then he would be sure it was tarsal tunnel that was the problem.  If I do NOT get relief from it, then Raynaud's is the problem.  That was his opinion of course, and I don't know how that would factor in with a neuropathy or peripheral vascular disease.

Tomorrow is my appt with the orthopedic surgeon - sure hoping for definitive results via an MRI.  I picked up more test results, consultation notes, from my family doctor today on my way home.  I feel like I'm ready for the appt tomorrow, other than - maybe - do I need to fill out paperwork ahead of time?!  I'll need to look in my folder to see if I have paperwork, and get it done later today, if so.

Sure hoping tomorrow brings me closer to resolution.

Orthopedic surgeon

I have an appt now next Wednesday in Columbus.

Please note that seeing a surgeon doesn't mean I'm having surgery.  From what I've read, surgery is the last resort - this is just a doctor that specializes in similar stuff to a chiropractor, but from a more "medical" background.

One step at a time.

Another day of hurry up & wait

I called to get into an orthopedic surgeon today, to check out tarsal tunnel further.  There happens to be a podiatrist in that same "office", whom I've already seen.  When she heard I wanted my care "transferred", she suggested I have an EMG done with a neurologist first.  Been there, done that.

She ok'd the transfer but said I do not have tarsal tunnel since the EMG was normal.  Sure bugs me, with all the research I've done to the contrary, and the neurologist himself agreeing with my research, that the EMG/nerve conduction study often does NOT find tarsal tunnel.  I believe I've read a statistic, or one of my doctors has said the "accuracy rate" is 15-50%.  That seems pretty low to me.

So now I wait to see if the orthopedic surgeon will "accept" me as a patient, then get an appt.  I will only see him IF he will agree to do an MRI as part of the diagnostic process of tarsal tunnel.

The process wears on...

Heard back from the neurologist

He is unaware that an MRI can diagnose tarsal-tunnel syndrome.  He suggested seeing an orthopedic surgeon (since that is who would do tarsal-tunnel release surgery anyway).

Goodness!

I don't know how hard it is to get into an orthopedic surgeon - or maybe I do.  My husband was going to see one earlier today, after asking for an appt last week, so that isn't too bad.  What the heck!  Might as well try yet another doctor, right?!

*sigh*

Today's update

I spent the weekend in a wheelchair, at the Weekend to Remember marriage retreat in Indianapolis.  My feet & toes were blue/cold AND my calves were.  My feet hurt quite a bit too, both from cold-pain, and the other-pain I've been having.  The hot tub was awesome to warm me up, Saturday eve.

Anyway, back to reality & home.

My podiatrist was uncomfortable scheduling an MRI, and asked what the neurologist thought.  So I have a call in to the neurologist to find out his opinion.  When I was in there, he suggested the next step was to have exploratory tarsal-tunnel release surgery.  THAT is scary, to just have them dig around.

I still haven't heard back from my family doctor either, and he's "contemplating" letting me have an MRI.  I don't hold out much hope there either, as he's had the note since late last Wednesday and it is now mid-afternoon on Tuesday.

Today I saw the chiropractor again.  Last week, he said 50/50 on whether he could help me or not.  My xrays (the new one from today) still show my hips being unlevel, even moreso today than last Tuesday, and I was standing flat-footed today for sure.  After doing his own research on me, he is 60/40 convinced now that I have tarsal tunnel (what he's doing wouldn't help in that case).  One good thing though - he said if after 2 weeks of conservative care, if I'm not starting to see some relief, HE will order an MRI.

So the lineup is:

Continued chiropractic for another 1-2 weeks
Rheumatologist to check for neuropathy and Raynaud's June 18
Cardiologist to check for peripheral vascular disease July 5

Tarsal tunnel is still up in the air - hopefully I can get an MRI before I would have surgery.  It is hard for me to justify surgery yet.

Last ditch will be Mayo Clinic.

Please continue to keep me in your prayers.