Need help with care

joanne · 04-05-2003, 07:11 AM

Hello everyone;

I have brown-sequard syndrome. I have lack of feeling on my left side. I don't feel hot/cold, pain and I have hypersensitivity.
I tripped on Feb.6. I hit my left knee into a wall. It hit hard..although I don't feel pain like a normal person(if you stick me with a pin, I feel pressure and extreme hypersensitivity...but not the pin poing as before)
It did hurt. A week went by and I all of a sudden couldn't walk.
My knee was giving out, it was clicking like crazy(like when you crack your knuckles).
If I walk at all(just a walk across the street and back) I am in a lot of pain.
Excruciating pain in the knee.
I can't really tell where the pain is coming from exactly. They hypersensitivity is intense and the burning sensations are exemplified dramatically.
I had an MRI......showed no tear.
Went to an orthopedist, who said he saw a small tear. He said that my symptoms don't sound like they are coming from the small tear.
He said I have chondromalacia.
I have been under physical therapy and it hasn't helped.
The pain is so bad. I have drop foot on the other side, so it is critica for the knee to recover. I depend on it for everything.
The Dr. acted like he didn't even want me there. No compassion for me not being able to adequately describe what I am feeling.
I can't pinpoint the pain spot. But, I know that I can't walk.
My therapist thinks it's something else......
I went to see the Dr. a second time and he was awful. I don't know if he just doesn't want to deal with a spinal cord injured person.
My husband couldn't believe his behavior.
He didn't even speak to us. He just stared at us,like "why are you here again?"

So, here I am. Unable to adequately tell anyone what I am feeling! I am unable to walk for any time. I am wondering if there is a special Dr. I can go to??? Someone who will have some knowledge of my limitations and will help me get better?
I live in the Tampa area.....if anyone can help me, I'd appreciate it so much. I am 38 with a baby.....and I can't even lift her, due to the pain I feel.
Thanks for listening.

SCI-Nurse · 04-05-2003, 09:59 AM

I'm really sorry for the inhumane care you have received from your orthopedic doctor. "Chondromalacia" means that the cartilege in your knee is thinning--I supose its a fancy way of telling you that your are developing arthritis in your knee. Your orthopedic doctor also believes that there is not benefit for you in surgery at this time (even if he didn't have the courtesy to say so). You have a couple of options: you can go to another orthopedic surgeon and ask for a second opinion. You could also go to a physician in physical medicine and rehabilitation (a physiatrist). The physiatrist can give you information on pain management, proper exercise and possible bracing for your knee. You may also want to consider starting to take glucosamine with or without chondroitin. A big name but it's available over the counter and is known to help with cartilege formation and degenerative joint disease. You need to take it for about three months before you will notice any changes but it does work. If you're interested ask your pharmacist and he or she can point out the preparations to you. This is obviously not a quick solution--the two doctor options I mentioned are going to be the quickest fix I can think of.

RAB

joanne · 04-10-2003, 11:48 AM

Thank you for your reply.
The thing that really gets me, is that
He said that I have a tear.
Then he said that the tear wasn't causing my problems.
He said that I would be feeling pain in the back of my knee if it was the tear.
He didn't even want to listen to me at all.
I don't feel......I feel odd sensations, but for me to exactly pinpoint where they are from is very difficult. I tried to explain this, but he just dismissed me.
I do experience a strong burn in the back left side of my knee that extends down to my calf.
One time I had glass in my foot, and I didn't know it.
I only looked closely at my foot, because my leg started to burn more than usual. I was told that an increase in the burn intensity can mean anything from a urinary tract infection, to having a cut. So, I can't pinpoint why the burning is there or where it may be coming from, just that I have to look.
I do have pain that radiates from different points on my knee. It's so hard to describe, when you don't know your body that well.
I was just hoping that someone would know a Dr. that would know more about what a patient like me would feel.
By the way, I am taking Glucosamine

Any good Docs in the Tampa area?
I will get a second opinion!!

04-05-2003, 07:11 AM	#1
joanne Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: tampa Posts: 46	Need help with care Hello everyone; I have brown-sequard syndrome. I have lack of feeling on my left side. I don't feel hot/cold, pain and I have hypersensitivity. I tripped on Feb.6. I hit my left knee into a wall. It hit hard..although I don't feel pain like a normal person(if you stick me with a pin, I feel pressure and extreme hypersensitivity...but not the pin poing as before) It did hurt. A week went by and I all of a sudden couldn't walk. My knee was giving out, it was clicking like crazy(like when you crack your knuckles). If I walk at all(just a walk across the street and back) I am in a lot of pain. Excruciating pain in the knee. I can't really tell where the pain is coming from exactly. They hypersensitivity is intense and the burning sensations are exemplified dramatically. I had an MRI......showed no tear. Went to an orthopedist, who said he saw a small tear. He said that my symptoms don't sound like they are coming from the small tear. He said I have chondromalacia. I have been under physical therapy and it hasn't helped. The pain is so bad. I have drop foot on the other side, so it is critica for the knee to recover. I depend on it for everything. The Dr. acted like he didn't even want me there. No compassion for me not being able to adequately describe what I am feeling. I can't pinpoint the pain spot. But, I know that I can't walk. My therapist thinks it's something else...... I went to see the Dr. a second time and he was awful. I don't know if he just doesn't want to deal with a spinal cord injured person. My husband couldn't believe his behavior. He didn't even speak to us. He just stared at us,like "why are you here again?" So, here I am. Unable to adequately tell anyone what I am feeling! I am unable to walk for any time. I am wondering if there is a special Dr. I can go to??? Someone who will have some knowledge of my limitations and will help me get better? I live in the Tampa area.....if anyone can help me, I'd appreciate it so much. I am 38 with a baby.....and I can't even lift her, due to the pain I feel. Thanks for listening.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

04-05-2003, 09:59 AM	#2
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,304	I'm really sorry for the inhumane care you have received from your orthopedic doctor. "Chondromalacia" means that the cartilege in your knee is thinning--I supose its a fancy way of telling you that your are developing arthritis in your knee. Your orthopedic doctor also believes that there is not benefit for you in surgery at this time (even if he didn't have the courtesy to say so). You have a couple of options: you can go to another orthopedic surgeon and ask for a second opinion. You could also go to a physician in physical medicine and rehabilitation (a physiatrist). The physiatrist can give you information on pain management, proper exercise and possible bracing for your knee. You may also want to consider starting to take glucosamine with or without chondroitin. A big name but it's available over the counter and is known to help with cartilege formation and degenerative joint disease. You need to take it for about three months before you will notice any changes but it does work. If you're interested ask your pharmacist and he or she can point out the preparations to you. This is obviously not a quick solution--the two doctor options I mentioned are going to be the quickest fix I can think of. RAB

04-10-2003, 11:48 AM	#3
joanne Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: tampa Posts: 46	Thank you for your reply. The thing that really gets me, is that He said that I have a tear. Then he said that the tear wasn't causing my problems. He said that I would be feeling pain in the back of my knee if it was the tear. He didn't even want to listen to me at all. I don't feel......I feel odd sensations, but for me to exactly pinpoint where they are from is very difficult. I tried to explain this, but he just dismissed me. I do experience a strong burn in the back left side of my knee that extends down to my calf. One time I had glass in my foot, and I didn't know it. I only looked closely at my foot, because my leg started to burn more than usual. I was told that an increase in the burn intensity can mean anything from a urinary tract infection, to having a cut. So, I can't pinpoint why the burning is there or where it may be coming from, just that I have to look. I do have pain that radiates from different points on my knee. It's so hard to describe, when you don't know your body that well. I was just hoping that someone would know a Dr. that would know more about what a patient like me would feel. By the way, I am taking Glucosamine Any good Docs in the Tampa area? I will get a second opinion!!