I Need a New Knee

Well not really, but I wouldn't mind trading in the one I have for one that is pain free. Allow me to tell you about my knee dilemma.

Around the second week of August with no reason/event/trauma my right knee began hurting. I figured I had twisted it or something, so I began wrapping it with an elastic bandage, icing it and using Ibuprofen to reduce the swelling and ease the pain. On Sept. 14 I finally went to a family Dr to get established as a new patient and to check up on a couple of things, including my knee. This doctor didn't really know what to do with the knee, so he told me to continue taking ibuprofen and at my next visit if it was still bothering me that he would give me a referral to see an Orthopedic doctor. Well the 2 weeks passed and my knee was continually getting worse, so he gave me the referral. That was Sept. 30th, and I wasn't scheduled to see the Orthopedic DR until Oct. 12, another 2 weeks later.

While waiting for to see the Ortho DR, my knee was hurting more frequently and with greater intensity. I was now taking 800mg of Ibuprofen every day just to get by, and all it would do was take the edge of the pain. I asked my chiropractor about it, to see if he could do anything to help. He checked my knee and based on my symptoms and his experience, He believed it to be a torn meniscus.

Finally the day arrived to see the specialist and I was ready to just fix whatever the problem was. Easier said than done. Dr. M(as he will be known from here on) examined my knee and didn't seem to think that I had any kind of internal damage(torn meniscus, tendon problems, etc,). Dr. M believes that I have an infection in the joint. Also known as Septic Arthritis. Although the x-rays taken in his office did not show any signs of arthritic problems, he was still leaning toward that diagnosis. He gave me a prescription for Mobic. That medicine is an NSAID, or anti-inflammatory and pain reliever combo. Dr. M was did not warrant having an MRI done at that time. I left his office that day feeling very confused, frustrated and in tears that all he did was give me medicine that was a bit stronger than the Ibuprofen that I was already taking.

After 4 days of taking the medication he put me on, my knee was no better and seemed to be getting worse. The pain was getting unbearable and constant. On the 5th day, I called the office back and told them we needed to do something different. The current treatment was not working. Later that day, after a return call from the nurse at Dr. M's office, I was prescribed an additional pain medicine in conjunction with the Mobic I was already taking. I was also scheduled for an MRI the following week. I have been on the combonation of both medicines for 1 week now, and I am taking the maximum dosage of both just to get through the day, and sleep at night.

I have been to the MRI and received the results. Apparently they did not find any internal damage. These findings were bittersweet for me; Good that there isn't any major damage and no surgery is required, but also Bad, that they still don't know what is causing the issue.

I was told that I am supposed to continue taking both medications and follow-up with Dr. M on Nov. 13th. I am not sure what will happen next, I just hope they can diagnose it and get me back in working order SOON! After over 2 months of no relief and a limited lifestyle, I am ready to be fixed and get back to my life as usual.

Just a few thoughts

1. I spend a lot of time at our house now, since we only have 1 car. I have days where I love and days where I would scream if I thought it would get me somewhere other than home.
2. Last week I spilled a candle down the wall in our bedroom when I was moving it and now I have to paint the wall. :-(
3. I've been watching Idol for the 1st time since the original season. Kris Allen is a worship leader at our church, so that is pretty exciting.
4. My dog Kafka has been getting on my nerves lately since I am home with her everyday. I never realized how many times she has to go outside in a day before.
5. I am excited that Matt and Jen are coming to visit this weekend. We miss them so much. We have decided to venture down to Little Rock for dinner.
6. My parents are coming to visit for Easter and then I am riding home with them. I will be in Ohio for 2.5 weeks. At the end of that trip I will going to Indiana for my cousin's wedding. I am really excited about it, but I am a little nervous to about leaving Josh for that long. I will have to leave a lot of "how to" notes.