A week or so ago, I wrote about my arm, my left arm. I told you about how it is swollen and how it hurts when I pick things up or try to open the door of the truck. I went to a doctor and they sent me to get an ultrasound done on that arm.
Yesterday, they called me to tell me that the ultrasound did not find anything. Well, the exact wording of the report, which I drove over and picked up today, is:
” We studied the area of soft tissue swelling in the left forearm and made comparison images of the right side.
I do not identify a superficial mass or fluid collection on the left side.
The deeper muscles on the left side have a little more globlular shape but no definite abnormality was identified there.
Impression: No discrete sonographic abnormality proved. Deeper forearm muscles have a slightly more globular shape on the left than on the right…”
They went on to say that I should be referred to a primary care physician so that primary care physician can refer me for an MRI. I asked them to refer me to a doctor because I do not know any doctors in the area, and they referred me to the General Practice group that is associated with their Urgent Care Facility.
They also told me that because I am a new patient, I will have to pay a higher fee, even though I have already been seen at their Urgent Care Facility. (what a ripoff, they have the record of my visit already). I made the appointment for Thursday. Then we went over to visit with our friends, Lynda and Charlie. Yeah, even though we were off today we went over there anyway.
I was telling Lynda about my medical stuff to bring her up to date, and I mentioned to her that the “doctor” I thought I saw at the Urgent Care Facility was actually a Nurse Practioner. Now, I have nothing against nurses, or nurse practioners, so if you are one or know a super one, don’t go getting your panties all in a wad. It was just that “my impression” of this particular nurse practioner was that she was a ditz. That she was preoccupied with something other than “my” arm when I went in there to see her. And that she could have cared less about my arm. It was a Saturday, and it was close to quitting time when I went there. So, maybe she had other things to think about. That’s just how “I” felt about it. That maybe she was not the best person for me to see.
We had met a Naturopathic Chiropractor who came to the Christmas tree lot to buy his family’s Christmas tree, and chatted with him about a lot of stuff (we were not that busy). He seemed to have a lot of the same thoughts on medicine as I do, and he gave me his business card. So, while I was at Lynda’s I called his office. His receptionist is also his wife, and she remembered me from the tree lot. After I told her what my problem was, we made an appointment for me to go see him tomorrow. If he can not figure out what is wrong with my arm, he will refer me to a Osteopathic doctor who is in practice with him. Right now, I feel like that is the best way for me to go. I feel sort of “led” to go in that direction. Why else would I meet this doctor and strike up a conversation with him, if he was not supposed to be in my life right at this moment. We’ll see.
In the meantime, I want everyone to tell me all the horror stories about their best friend’s cousin’s mother-in-law who had a swollen arm, and what the problem with them was. I want all the scenarios I can get, so I can google them and maybe self diagnose my problem. Comment away, let me know what YOU think may be wrong with me.
I still think, my best guess, is that I have a fracture in the a bone in there. But no one in a medical suit listens to what I have to say.
Joy and Phil says
Karen,
I wish I had a story to tell you but I have never even heard of anyone who had the symptoms you are experiencing.
Good job with following your gut and trusting your instincts on this one. I will be following along whenever you decide to share what is happening.
hugs!
Joy
Gaelyn says
I agree you were led to the Naturapath. Hope that works out tomorrow. Have you had an x-ray?
Sorry, no horror stories.
Alice says
Karen
I will be praying for you. I have been encouraged to call a chiropractor about my headaches. That is on my list for tomorrow.
Take care and thanks for the update.
Annie Jones says
Good for you on seeking out all avenues of treatment. Before moving here, I used to see an osteopathic doctor. In addition to giving me some medications I needed, he suggested some alternative treatments that really helped. I think they are more forward thinking than a lot of MDs.
teeni says
Ooooh, that irritates me so much when they don’t listen to what you have to say. Nobody knows your body better than you do and they should pay attention. You may not be using the terms they are familiar with but if they would think back to before their schooling, they might be able to put two and two together much better and without unnecessary and time wasting procedures. Okay, sorry. Rant over. LOL. I hope you are not in too much pain while waiting.
lupingirl says
If you aren’t going to the other appointment, I would be sure to call and cancel. Some of those places bill you for missed appointments.
TuTu's Bliss says
LOL no luck but I can tell you to have them do a full thyroid check while your there 🙂 Why not? More people have undiagnosed thyroid conditions than diabetes. I really hope it is nothing too spectacular and is one of those things that clears up before you even get your results back!! HUGS
Cathy says
Gosh, where is a good arm horror story when you need it?
That is awesome you are seeing the chiropractor. I have seen multiple alternative practioners and regular doctors and feel that I have the most success with the ones I feel “led” to.
Mostly, I hope you feel better soon. We want our “Fabgrandma” feeling 100% ASAP. Cathy
nikki says
Sometimes I’d just like to tell the medical field to kiss my butt. I hope everything turns out okay and they figure out what the real problem is.
Christine says
My son had a hard lump on his forearm that appeared after a couple of hours spent on the driving range. He has been dealing with it since summer. They ultra sounded that and figure it is an inflamed tendon. He is supposed to go for physiotherapy. He wears a brace on his forearm. It seems to be slowly getting better on its own so he may try to save himself some money by not going for the physio.
Why should you have to pay more! What a bunch of money grabbers! Despicable!!
Alternative medicine is alright as long as anything nasty has been ruled out. We had been trying some alternative therapy for John when he had been displaying symptoms of his myeloma and he had seen a chiropractor a couple of times. This could have been very bad as his bones were very soft and they could have fractured. These guys like your money too. Ah man…I have turned into such a cynic!
Dee says
i don’t have a best-friends-aunts- boyfriends cousin story.
Do you think you chucked one too many trees? 🙂
I hope it all works out in the best possible way.
That nurse had to go and I don’t blame you one bit for saying that she was a ditz!
Susan says
Our primary care physician is a D.O. (Osteopathic doctor)and we have been seeing her for years. We love her. Luckily, now we only have to see her about once a year… but our whole family used her for the past 15+ years.
No horror stories, sorry.
Good luck!
Susan
Talina says
I know the feeling, sometimes the natural more person orientated medicine is the bast way to go. Keep us posted!
Linda's Place says
I don’t have any horror stories other than the fact that I had a ganglion cyst removed from my wrist 3 times about 15 years ago…left arm. You know how we tend to have the same “illness’s”…it’s in our genes…could be that fall you took on your head when you were little 😉 tee hee seriously though…I hope whoever you see can figure it out for you …. ME