Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Well, from your previous posts on this subject, I would say the time might have been cut down significantly if you had revealed the lesion on the bottom of your foot to your physician. You have to give your physicians all available information! Your inability to be completely forthcoming with your physician(s) may have played a role in how long it took to diagnose you.
What makes you think I didn't "reveal" the lesion on my foot? You're making assumptions so you can criticize me. I've been dealing with a loss of balance for about 6 months, if you're so interested in me, go back and read all my posts on the subject.
I first had these problems in June, the first doctor I went to was a podiatrist, he treated the foot problems, but they seemed unrelated to the blanace issues. As a matter of fact, I fell right in his office, on the way out the door. He saw me fall and said that wasn't related to my foot problems. so, see..............I "revealed" all my problems to medical personnel, what makes you think I'm playing some game just because you are?
To the other poster who thinks I'm not "wearing big girl panties" because I can't participate in swimming, well, that's the problem I had to begin with----I CAN'T WALK! Ok, get it? Its not a matter of not wanting to, its a matter of not being able to walk.
Regardless of what returning veterans do, well,they do what they can. My problem was a loss of balance, its taken me months to get even a basic diagnosis. Now, the only thing they tell me to do is go swimming. Ok, try to understand this----to GO swimming, one has to get to therir car, drive to the therapy, get out of the car, walk in the door, walk through the lobby, walk into the dressing room, change, walk to the pool, then get in the pool. Then reverse all of the above to return home.
So, how doe a person do all that when they can't even manage a shower by themselves? If I could do all that, I wouldn't be seeking medical advice to begin with. Its not a matter of "big girl panties" or what Grandmas and veterans can do, its what I can do.
Why don't you tell Mr. Nimchimpsky to just "put on his big boy pants" and go drive, walk across the street, etc? BTW, he's blind, but I guess if he says he can't see that's a choice on his part he should get over?
Some posts arent' worth responding to, I wonder why I am
There is such a word as "can't" like the blind "can't" see, the deaf "can't" hear, the lame "can't" walk (or swim), to just disregard a person's physical limitations as a choice is plain ignorant, and that goes for your Grandma, too!
So, MaryLeeII, what's going on with the foot lesion anyway? What did the doctor say about it? (You've let the other thread on that subject lapse, but of course that one and this one are related.)
Marylee, I hope none of my posts offended you (either in this thread or the other one).
Could a walker help? Or a wheelchair, to get to the pool? Could you take a bath at home? I am just trying to think solutions and offer a positive outlook. I'm not trying to criticize you or anything. I truly just want the best for you.
By the way when I was saying "swimming" in the other thread, I was referring more to gentle exercises in the water, like just walking back and forth and moving my limbs around at first. I only built up to actual swimming later.
If you can't do something, start where you can. If you can't get to the pool and swim right now, maybe you can just get really warm and cozy under a comforter and try to move legs and arms around a bit and try to build up from there. Or you can stand/sit under the hot shower and try to move as much as you can. Physical therapy is all about regaining mobility so if you can use the hot water to help loosen up your joints and then try to move as much as you can (even if it's only a little tiny bit) that's a start.
One of the things that helped me when I couldn't move (I was literally bedridden from fatigue and severe pain) was energy work. Would you be willing to try a remote healing session? I don't know where you stand in terms of beliefs, but I'd be willing to at least give it a try. You don't have to go anywhere or do anything--you just receive the energy. At best it helps, at worst it does nothing. Let me know if you're open to it and I'll be more than willing to do a session with you.
Last edited by nimchimpsky; 12-03-2010 at 07:51 PM..
Marylee, I hope none of my posts offended you (either in this thread or the other one).
Could a walker help? Or a wheelchair, to get to the pool? Could you take a bath at home? I am just trying to think solutions and offer a positive outlook. I'm not trying to criticize you or anything. I truly just want the best for you.
By the way when I was saying "swimming" in the other thread, I was referring more to gentle exercises in the water, like just walking back and forth and moving my limbs around at first. I only built up to actual swimming later.
If you can't do something, start where you can. If you can't get to the pool and swim right now, maybe you can just get really warm and cozy under a comforter and try to move legs and arms around a bit and try to build up from there. Or you can stand/sit under the hot shower and try to move as much as you can. Physical therapy is all about regaining mobility so if you can use the hot water to help loosen up your joints and then try to move as much as you can (even if it's only a little tiny bit) that's a start.
One of the things that helped me when I couldn't move (I was literally bedridden from fatigue and severe pain) was energy work. Would you be willing to try a remote healing session? I don't know where you stand in terms of beliefs, but I'd be willing to at least give it a try. You don't have to go anywhere or do anything--you just receive the energy. At best it helps, at worst it does nothing. Let me know if you're open to it and I'll be more than willing to do a session with you.
Oh, I wasn't directing my comments at you about the swimming. I meant the neurologist I saw in Houston last week. After 2+ days of testing, he told me to go swimming. He didn't even take into consideration I can't walk safely around a pool. One does have to get in and out of a pool!
How you became drawn into this discussion was, another poster said something about "there's no such word as can't" etc, saying I could go swimming if I wanted to, etc. I referred to you, saying you're blind, would she say you could see if you wanted to? Its totally ignorant to say a person can "do anything they want to" and dismiss their physical limatations.
BTW, the neurology workup in Houston was a disappointment and a bit of a farce, all filtered through medical students. By the time it reached the "great doctor" it was turned around and didn't even reflect my condition and complaints. they never got to the part where I can't walk. I've lost my balance, I can only walk with something to steady me, and lots of times that doesn't work.
Its a problem with propriception (sp), but they somehow lost that in the diagnosis. Literally 17 medical students crawled over me, many who didn't speak English very well, and it was all presented to the "great doctor" as some little report, like I was some sort of teaching aid. He asked me to stand on my toes, he just ignored the fact that both ankles are fused (surgically fused, not due to laziness). Some student didn't get that in their report, so, it didn't exist. Its the chart, not the patient. I tried to explain, he just cut me off and said well, where did you get your medical degree? I told him I'm not here to get a medical degree, I'm here to get a diagnosis, and to get a diagnosis, you need to hear me. Well, he just walked away after giving his spiel about swimming. I am doing what exercises I can, at home, various DVD's., dh helps with stretching and strengthening, etc.
The problem is, I can do a fair amount of stuff if in a small area, like a small room. I totally lose my balance if out in an open area, like a hallway. Even the physical therapist I saw said I would have fallen in the hallway if she didn't have a support belt on me. They also said I had definite problems with visual changes, color of walls, etc. so, what to do? see a neurologist, which I've been waiting for months to see. Then to be "played with" by medical students and brushed off by the "great doctor"............they did do a lot of tests that ruled out certain things, like MS. At least I now have those tests, to do what? Run to another neurologist? I can't drive, someone must take off work to run me around for all those tests, doctors, etc.
I do appreciate your offers, advice, etc. I will pm you later, thanks! You're a great guy!
Oh, BTW, I was given absolutely nothing. No orders for physical therapy, nothing except to "go swimming" It was a cop out diagnosis.
I do have diabetes, we already know that, under control as much as we can, its not totally out of control.
They kept asking over and over if I had any numbness or tingling in my legs. finally I said a little, but that was due to arthritis and spinal stenosis, I've have 2 spinal fusions, so we would expect a little numbness and tingling.
So, put 1 + 1 together diabetes + numbness and tingling in the left leg, therefore, diabetic neuropathy! Such a nice report the medical student made. he said as a by-the-way, no problem with propriception. I interrupted and said that's why I'm here, my balance is off depending on the environment I'm in, so I feel there is a propriception problem. That's when great doctor said where did you get your medical degree and walked out?
Hey, I already know I have diabetes, its under control and being treated. I also do exercises for strengthening, etc. Swimming is not logistically possible for me. He just handed the problem back to me with no real answer or solution.
Ok, so, I have a lot of tests done, I will schedule an appt with another neurologist, a private doctor, and take them to him. this time tell them NO STUDENTS I'm paying for a doctor, that's what I want.
I'm right back to where I started, not being able to balance and walkl, and no answers, no treatment, just "go swimming" If I could manage the logistics of swimming, I wouldn't have been there. Its been over 6 months now I can't even make it around the house, I'm totally dependent on my dh, we spent a lot of time, money and effort to see this "great doctor" (its a long sotry of referrals, etc, how I ended up there) what a bitter dissappointment!
So, MaryLeeII, what's going on with the foot lesion anyway? What did the doctor say about it? (You've let the other thread on that subject lapse, but of course that one and this one are related.)
The foot lesion was simply a major callous that the doctor shaved down, they happen from time to time and all they can do is shave them down. It wasn't an infection, like a feared. It has nothing to do with diabetes, and nothing to do with my balance issues, I've had those calluses before and didn't have the balance issues.
Well, I thought I had a diagnosis, but they had a diagnosis. They did a farce of a workup and a sham of a diagnosis, left me with nothing to go on, not even a PT order I could take to a local PT clinic, nothing! we live 400 miles from Houston, obviously I can't go there for PT, but you'd think they would have given me some detailed orders for PT in my area.
The medical students just fudged a report to their instructor and I was left hanging!
Ok, well, will pursue. there's more doctors out there than him, I will seek more local doctors, armed with the tests they did, and go from there. Can't give up!
Thanks again, Mr. Nimchimpsky, I will pm you for more advice when I'm in a better mood, you're comments are most welcome!
Sorry to hear that MaryleeII. That happened to me too, when they diagnosed me with severe TMJ but forgot to give me a referral to PT. So I had to do two sessions out of pocket and couldn't go anymore. Plus half the time all the physical therapist kept saying is "Why don't you have a guide dog? You need a guide dog!"
I think it might be worth going to another hospital and another doctor, preferably a non-teaching one. Sounds like the one you went to was a teaching one, and medical students, residents, etc. can become very chart-oriented and competitive and forget to treat the patient like a human being, and many doctors can be like this too.
If the doctor cuts you off when you're trying to give useful information, then they're not really a good doctor. A good doctor needs to listen to the patient and get as much of the story as possible before writing down any diagnosis.
I hope you find a better doctor! See if you can get someone who makes longer appointments, cause that usually means they're the sit-down-and-listen type. I had an eye doctor who made his appointments half an hour instead of 15 minutes like many others, and he was a wonderful eye doctor. And many times he would even go over the allotted time, but it was well worth it. Hopefully you can find a doctor who works much in the same way.
.............
How you became drawn into this discussion was, another poster said something about "there's no such word as can't" etc, saying I could go swimming if I wanted to, etc. I referred to you, saying you're blind, would she say you could see if you wanted to? Its totally ignorant to say a person can "do anything they want to" and dismiss their physical limatations. ....
Nice way to totally twist my previous post. Did I actually write any of the above or are you just upset because I didn't throw you a pity party?
Did it occur to you to ask someone to help you around the pool so you don't slip and fall? I actually expected you to apply some common sense of your own. IIRC, in other posts you have mentioned having both children and a husband.
I'd say your posts contain a bit of "drama queen" considering you mentioned black & red lesions and later reveal them to be callouses you've had before. From the reaction you wrote about of the podiatrist office reaction it seems a pattern, or perhaps something else.
Good luck to you.
Last edited by lifelongMOgal; 12-07-2010 at 01:44 PM..
I'd say your posts contain a bit of "drama queen" considering you mentioned black & red lesions and later reveal them to be callouses you've had before. From the reaction you wrote about of the podiatrist office reaction it seems a pattern, or perhaps something else.
Just what do you mean "podiatrist office reaction?" Seems you're the drama queen.
Try to understand, I can't even get into a shower, let alone have someone help me into a pool. some things are not logistically feasable. I spent several days in another city, hotel, bills, etc, for a diagnosis, only to be handed a "treatment" I can't manage.
Oh, and the callouses were a dull black color, due to trapped blood underneath. What does that have to do with anything? Well, you will find something to make out of it, I'm sure! Ummm.what would you suggest, I didn't see the podiatrist?
BTW, I'm in a new town, moved here about 6 months ago, still trying to set up medical care here. its not always that easy, to transfer specialists, records, wait time, etc. This new podiatrist didn't know me and felt with the diagnosis of diabetes and the foot problems it was best to see me sooner than later. so, how's that being a "drama queen"?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
