I'm having this shoulder thing. It started bothering me at the end of last summer. I can't pinpoint a particular incident that caused the injury although I think it can be attributed to the weighted work-out bars I just HAD to have for my birthday (shhh... don't tell Pete). In the fall I went to an orthopedic doctor and after the x-rays showed no bone problems, he suggested I have an MRI.
The last time I had an MRI was a very unpleasant experience. I was having migraine-associated vertigo, which they later confirmed as Meniere's disease, and get this; they forgot to give me earplugs. It was like being stuck in a clothes dryer with firecrackers. I mean, I really think my permanent hearing damage is because of that. Halfway through I remembered that I was supposed to have the earplugs. I started waving my hands and flailing my legs to get their attention. My ears rung for days.
So you can imagine what I said to an MRI last fall- no, thank you! I begged for a cortisone shot instead. The doctor wanted me to have physical therapy, but Christmas was coming up along with a pile of debt. I put it off thinking the shot would do the deal and I could be done with it. No such luck.
In fact, it has gotten worse. The funny thing is sometimes it doesn't bother me, except that I can't lift my left arm all the way; but when I try to do something like throw sheets out on a bed or fold table cloths, it hurts like hell. Over the weekend I had a horrible crick in my neck due to the tension from my shoulder. The combination of the two caused another migraine.
Luckily I had made an appointment last week after I discovered I could no longer shave under my arm and I had to wash my hair with one hand. Today was the day I went. Tomorrow is the MRI. I'll keep you posted... and I'll make sure I have earplugs this time.
2 comments:
I had that exact same thing happen - and ended up having shoulder surgery (sorry!). Hopefully your pain can be handled with physical therapy.
My first MRI was a no go because the air conditioning was broke & they gave me these giant headphones to listen to music - I felt really hot & claustrophobic & they had to stop because my arm wouldn't quit twitching (I'd forgotten to take any pain meds that day). The next one was a breeze, since I knew what to expect. Hope yours went well for you!
Oh no.... yes, those MRI's are crazy loud. My first on in a while was about a month ago. I have had a pinched nerve in my neck causing pain in my shoulder that went down my left arm consistently ;(. Ugh. The dumb technician kept saying i was moving. i was like "I'm just breathing" - my chest moves when i breathe. They found a random syrinx cyst in my spine. Yuk. My bulging disc is inflamed and my neck has arthristis... waaaa - I'm only 42!!! Oops - sorry, it's not about me. I hope your pain goes away dear Laurie... Love you!
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