Regarding what I think I will eventually need (hip athroscopy), there are tons of blog accounts of surgery and recovery, but nothing about the diagnostic process. And because I have a small (re: ok maybe not so small) phobia of needles, I thought I should document my experience.
The day before my appointment, I googled "MRI with contrast hip" and found this video:
That's when I freaked out a little bit and sorta screamed in my head, "WHY DID EVERYONE GLOSS OVER THIS PART LIKE IT WAS NOTHING?!?!?". And that's also when I got a little envious of the person who was so not freaked out that they videoed the whole thing.
For me, the arthrogram process was a little rough. One of the major tendons connecting my hip and my leg is incredibly inflamed because of this whole injury and it was apparently making it really difficult for the doc to get the needle in the right place. It took extra numbing drugs and three or four runs on the CT scan to make sure the needle used for injecting the contrast was in the right spot.
Since my hip is so inflamed already, even the numbing injections were pretty painful, as he kept hitting the tendons, and before I knew it, there were tears streaming down the side of my face.
The doc and his assistant were really great and I was trying so hard to calm myself, but all these other emotions that I've been holding back in general just took over. It was sorta like when some people cry from acupuncture, except things really hurt. All my worries about trying to recover from this surgery I'm not even 100% sure I need just popped to the surface and it was really hard to not feel all alone in that moment. It's just hard when you don't feel like you have a solid support network, and even though I know I have family around here that would help me out and good neighbors that would take Jeff for his walks if I needed them to, I still don't feel like I have that network here. That's partly my fault, since I've pretty much decided Colorado is temporary for me, but all of that definitely didn't change how I felt in that moment.
But, I guess the nice thing was the entire time I was covered in a pre-warmed blanket. It felt like it had just come out of the dryer. It was cozy.
When they finally confirmed the needle was in the right place (3 CT scans later), it was time to inject the dye. It was the oddest feeling. Websites that had described this process said that the joint will feel very "full" and I had no idea what that meant until the dye actually was getting put into the joint. There was a lot of pressure and I found myself realizing it did feel "full". The doc was really great the entire time and asking me how things felt when he was adding the dye. I wish I could remember his name, because I would gladly give it to anyone like me who doesn't really like needles and needs someone with excellent bedside manner.
By the time we were ready for the actual MRI scans, I was so exhausted that I pretty much just slept while I was in the tube. They checked on me once and then just let me nap. I have no idea how long I was in there ... maybe 30 minutes? I didn't open my eyes once so I can't even describe what it was like being in the tube. As far as the noise, I felt like I was trying to nap while listening to music and ignoring construction going on right outside my window.
Seriously, with all the advances in technology, I am amazed that MRI machines are still as loud as they are. But hey! Just have a terrible arthrogram experience and you'll be happy to just have to lie there and try to nap.
They literally had to wake me up when it was done and try to get up and walk when my hip was nice and numb was interesting. The way my leg was half moving makes me think they had to numb that tendon - the hip flexor - because half of my quads were not working very well.
Then of course, I decided I needed to go to Target because I really wanted to make tacos and have some gin with lime sparkling water (my skinny G&T). I also really wanted an ice cream cone, but figured I shouldn't be walking or driving around too much.
So, I spent the rest of my Friday night with chicken tacos, Tanquerey, and Friday Night Lights.
SPOILER:
I was devastated when Coach Taylor didn't get his contract renewed with the Panthers.
I really, really don't like Mr. McCoy. And that J.D. needs a good spanking.
What we go through to stay physically active! Hang in there--maybe they'll come up with the right treatment. And definitely hang in there with FNL! I had similar feelings of anger and frustration after Season 3, but 4 and 5 take some major turns, with some fresh new cast members. And I always loved the character progression of Buddy Garrity, who became more and more of a "good guy" as the story went on.
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