dlc872 is offline dlc872 Post #1  June 11,2010, 8:51am
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I guess one way to look at life is that it is interesting to constantly learn new things about yourself, even in your late 40s...

I've been dealing with some orthopedic problems over the past couple of years, apparently because my one of my chosen avocations of competing in candlepin bowling frequently, among other things that just happen. Back, hips, knees...they seem to all be having their issues and the physical therapist and orthopedic surgeon are both becoming good friends.

My latest fun has been with my right shoulder (my bowling arm!). It has been very painful for a while and got very bad in March; my doc just sent me right to the surgeon who'd previously diagnosed me with calcific tendonitis. The woman I'm close friends with wants me to curtail bowling but that's not an option for me. Looks like shoulder impingement, possible rotator cuff tears, bicep tendon problem as well. He gave me a couple of cortisone shots spread over a couple months and right now it looks like I'll be having surgery in July or August.

Anyhow, the doc ordered an MRI on the shoulder, got in the same day at the same place where I've had a couple done on my back. I had no concerns, knew what to expect, but did admit to them that over the last couple years I've had a few episodes on planes or a too crowded train where claustrophobia became a problem. We get all set and they put me in the tube head first up to my ankles....and I had to get out of there right now!!!

They were great and we tried again...4 times total. I was so frustrated and determined to beat this thing, but once I got in there with the top of the tube 1 inch from my nose, my shoulders both touching the side and completely trapped...all I felt was that I couldn't breath, couldn't get oxygen at all and had to immediately get out of there. I knew it wasn't logical at all, but it was overwhelming.

The technicians told me that this is a classic claustrophobia reaction and that I should talk to the doc and they'd reschedule me and do it again with a sedative. I was really embarrassed, tough guy like me and I've done this before. They said it happens almost every day.

So my doc instead of prescribing a sedative sent me to another facility witih an open MRI. Had that done last night...a moment of anxiety as I went in, but it was more like being the hamburger between two buns and I could see out the side with no problem and was perfectly fine.

I never knew I was so claustrophobic, I really didn't. Had nightmares all that night of being put in the MRI tube and having both ends closed with me inside. It's a bit embarrassing but I guess we learn something new about ourselves all the time.
 
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zephyr1973 is offline zephyr1973 Post #2  June 18,2010, 10:53am
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I'm sorry you had such a bad experience; The hospital I work for has an "open" MRI that was designed for just this reason. It is one of two in the world that I know of, but hopefully more places will begin to build them in the future, as they are a God-send to those who suffer from anxiety (and it is very common!).

I hope you can get yourself "fixed" - don't keep getting the cortisone shots if you can help it - we used to do this with horses (that's where the practice first began), and we stopped due to the fact that you can only give so many before you are literally giving them almost daily. Ask about either surgery or if you still like the concept of injections, ask if Hyerolonic [sic] acid/steroid combo is possible (also used in horses). The racehorse industry pours MILLIONS into research on these athletes, and we are often ahead of sports medicine for humans - and having been the "victim" of my athletic partner and received a bad back as a result of a fall, I too have choices to make - I detest surgery, so if/when the time comes, I will ask for hyerolonic [sic] acid/steroid combo injections
 
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dlc872 is offline dlc872 Post #3  June 22,2010, 10:33pm
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I'm scheduled for shoulder surgery on July 12th based on the MRI results...going to be a fun summer!!!
 
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