Because I Haven't Seen An Othopedist Enough

Funny thing, it turns out when you mostly survive off salad while doing intense movement most of the time for 9 years your body suffers. Hummm, I kinda hoped now that I take Calcium this wouldn't be an issue anymore. Silly Rabbit (My favorite animal and yes, I call Zach my Bunny sometimes).

It's a loose/loose. Last May My Orthopedist put me on 1500mg of calcium 2 times a day every day for the rest of my life when he heard about my previous injuries. In March, when I went to my regular Dr., he did blood work that said my calcium was too high so I had to bring that down to one pill. I confess to not taking it while on vacation and a few times since. About a week and a half ago my knee started to hurt (I'm back to remembering my calcium pill every day). I have no clue exactly when it started or what I did but I had been walking a lot during that time, this is around the time of my dance routine creation, mentioned in the last post.

So on Tuesday I made the appointment for today (yup it's Monday almost a week later). This was a different doctor and after a quick physical exam he said I need an MRI but he thinks I tore my Meniscus. 5 minutes for an expensive appointment, I don't think so! I had questions that he was uninterested in answering. Mostly about what it could be and what the treatments would be. My post MRI appointment is with a different doctor in the same practice (there's 6 in the practice). Today's Dr even  turned his nose up at the place I wanted to go to get it, a place I have never had issues with before and is right up the street from their office. He considers the technicians inaccurate. I didn't have this problem with last years doctor so we'll see how this new doctor is on Monday. I'm getting the MRI where I want to since I have never experienced what he said.

I mentioned in the last post I chipped this knee bone in the 4th grade, 20 years ago. I have no idea if they are linked, he never answered my question about that. He did tell me this: if it's minor, I'll just need physical therapy. If it's moderate or large I'll need surgery. So I went to WebMD for answers to my then unanswered questions. What I got from webMD is that this is most likely minor since I can still do a reasonable amount of things with it like I planted more pachysandra to fill in the spaces yesterday and can walk a little. It's on the outside with the best blood flow so the chance of good healing is strong. Minor tears take 2 - 3 weeks to heal (I'm at about a week and a half) but won't ever heal completely. He never told me if I need to wrap it or not, I'm not wrapping it yet.

Here are some Post-MRI questions I'll ask Dr. Hutter, the new doctor:
1. How will this permanently effect me? (limitations)?
2. What are my exercise limitations?
3. How long, in my case, do you estimate for a heal time? (it varies)
4. Any weight lifting limits? (Zach's 34 lbs)
5. Do I need a Knee brace?

I asked the nurse about exercise limits and she just said "don't do anything that hurts during or after" but was surprised I asked her not Dr. Decter. Hopefully, Dr. Hutter will have an answer for me. When getting the MRI prescription I asked about a new doctor. After witnessing a final exchange she specifically mentioned Dr. Hutter and later when I called for the post-testing appointment he was the doctor assigned to me. They didn't look surprised at my unhappiness and by their quick mentioning of Dr. Hutter specifically I take it he would be a better fit for me as opposed to Dr. Decter and his "why are you asking now wait until we get the test results".By that time I was so annoyed I said "this is where you earn what you charge, I want to know what it might be and what the treatments might be". He did answer those questions, quickly and lacking detail. I'm curious and with my anxiety disorder I need complete information. If a patient has questions, you have to answer them. If you can't cooperate then you can't treat me. If I do need surgery I was not going to trust HIM! Luckily, I got what I needed from WebMD.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/meniscus-tear-topic-overview?page=2

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/meniscus-tear-treatment-overview?page=2

So here are my life bone injuries:

1. 4th grade chipped right knee bone (the scar is close to were it hurts)
2. Feb 2001 walking on a stress fracture in my left ankle because it hurt less then my right foot which was tested for everything and no problem could be identified at college in SC at the time (the flight home for Spring break was interesting luckily a HS friend was traveling with me. Thanks again Doug F.)
3. Sept 2004 yup, right before my wedding, this one was fun, I fractured my right ankle at work and had to go to a doctor an hour away because worker's comp had no local doctors.
4. Aug 2006 stepped on a fat stick in my parent's driveway and fractured my right foot
5. May 2011 stepped on a rock in the Target parking lot and fractured my right foot in most likely the same place
6. July/August 2012 torn meniscus (most likely) the ligament that holds the knee together.

If you are keeping track of all the times God wanted me off my feet don't forget the month of bed rest in May 2009 when I was pregnant, forced to be still while carrying an obvious-even-then very UNSTILL child. I don't know why but God clearly wants to slow me down sometimes. I'm not as limited as usual now, YET, but I still spend A LOT more time sitting then I'm used too and it sucks not being able to walk like I like or try my new exercise routines, yup I said that word and mean that word, sucks.

Funny really, I have been in a whirlwind of activity and haven't thought of wanting another child in like a month. I was settled and at peace with all these fun projects like I mentioned in the last post. Finally finding myself okay with the idea of just Zach. Focused on the present instead of what can't be in the future.

But God is clearly bored and just messing with me for entertainment because this happened around the same time a letter from our insurance company arrived in the mail on the birth control it will now cover completely as required by law. A law that specifically mentions the words "All Approved Contraceptives". Mine is the only one not on the list and I've tried others this is the only one that helps with my PMDD. Yes, it is an approved contraceptive. My Gyno had to write a letter to the appeals office but we all know how that's gonna go. So now birth control for me is $76 a month, they are required to cover prenatal care by law, and I have a lot of time to think since most of my distractions are off limits. I might have to report United Health to the authorities since they are clearly not following the law.

What the Affordable Healthcare Act says is covered for women. It's small but it mentions under preventative care: Prenatal Care
http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines/

My PMDD Post
http://homewithmommy-fran.blogspot.com/2011/06/that-explains-lot.html

I mention the last post a lot so here's the link
http://homewithmommy-fran.blogspot.com/2012/07/zach-at-camp-mommy-dances.html

Why can't I escape this? Why won't God just let me move on and focus on these other things that I am excited about? Why does he want me thinking about this? Our situation hasn't changed, we still can't afford a second child, so why won't he let me let it go?