MRI

On Friday I took the next step in finding out what is wrong with my  right knee.  I had an MRI of the knee and a right hip x-ray; the latter just for ruling out anything in that area.  I'll have the results of these on Tuesday, Nov. 8.  Unhappily, my knee seems to be getting more painful by the day and I'm hobbling - even more unhappily - around the house with a cane.  Never thought I'd see the day!  I can't imagine what's wrong to be in such constant pain.

Patience!  Did I see someone write recently in their blog about having patience?  I'm beginning to think that this here & now might be where my running ends....and with such promise for at least another year or two!!  Oh well, some other life!  If nothing else...I've had a "good run"  for  many years & I guess everyone has to stop sometime.  I am really most miserble about it all though!

What is Wrong?

....and here we go! 

Today I saw an orthopaedic surgeon.  He needs for me to have an MRI.  He's pretty well ruled out arthritis because there's only the slightest sign of it and, looking at the x-ray, the level & consistency of pain that I have is way too high for it to be arthritis.  "There's something more going on there," he said.  Hence an MRI to find the correct diagnosis.  All sounds good so far, but trying to get an MRI in  the near future (i.e. in my lifetime!) is quite another thing!  So, here's the string of appointments:

First available appointment six weeks away and appointments for an MRI are only after hours at night!  That's with Medicare cover; if I pay for the MRI, I can get in sooner and within normal hours. Needless to say, I'm going for the 'out of pocket' version.  Time is of the essence here!  MRI on 29th October.


Next.....try getting back in to see the Orthopaedic guy for the results:  "Sorry, nothing available till end of November!"  This, after being told by his receptionist that I would be given an appointment within a couple of days after the MRI in order to learn the results of the damned thing!


"Wait a minute," says I!  "You told me...blah, blah, etc, etc."


"No," replies the receptionist in her unlovely patronizing voice, "you seem confused; we said if we can."


Me (getting hoity):  "No, you didn't!  You said 1 or 2 days after the MRI."


"Well, let me see," says the now confused receptionist, " we will fit you in on November 8th."   Why didn't she do that in the first place?

I only want the results asap; maybe she thought I wanted surgery as well!

BIG DEAL, I thought!  I could be dead by the time I get to find out what's even wrong with my stupid knee, let alone do whatever has then to be done.  Easy to see I'm a first timer with specialist surgeon, x-ray and MRI scenario!

That's where I'm at for now anyhow. All future running plans cancelled until I get results.. In the meantime, I sit around doing quad strengthening exercises, unable to walk or run.  Next update, if I'm still here,  will be after the results are read out on November 8!


Oh, what a feeling!














 

After Blackmores Marathon

Well.... my recovery after Blackmores Sydney Marathon hasn't been going well at all!

For some months before the marathon I had a painful right knee which became just about unbearably painful during the run and since then, even more so.  No let up at all. Even walking around the house is painful.

Now, I thought arthritis was only for old people!  To my dismay however, an x-ray showed a slight version of it in my right knee but, if this pain is the result of slight arthritis, I'd hate to be a victim of the serious stuff!  The result is that I haven't had what could be called a decent run over the last four weeks.  I've tried a very easy jog three times and fast walking once but could go no further than 5km each time before I've had to quit.

Having  tried physiotherapy (R.I.C.E.) with no improvement, the next stop from my GP, is to see an orthopaedic doc who might be able to shed more light on what, if anything, is happening.  That's on Monday and will report here with the results.

This is more than just a damned nuisance.......it's soul destroying!  The likelihood of training for anything in the months ahead will depend on whether something can be done to relieve the pain in my knee.

So, there it is; very disappointing because I'd hoped to do some serious training in preparation for a couple of exciting races later this year and also in the first half of 2011.

I believe there's no cure for arthritis.....ah, woe is me.....for now!