Tag Archives: MRI

Starting Requip Again – Stopped Physical Therapy

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Yesterday was my last time for Physical Therapy on my knee for now. I called my insurance company, and they only allow 15 PT visits a year, unless THEY approve the extra ones, and I’ve used 7 of them already. So, I figured I’d better leave myself with some, in case I have other problems before the end of the year.

I asked her about using the mini trampoline we have, and also a little stepper and an exercise ball. Her concerns had to do with balance, but other than that, she thought they would be fine. She said the stepper was a particularly good one for a PWP, because of the repetitive alternating motion. Of course she cautioned me to go slow about adding minutes to it, and to rest every other day or every two days. She’s very emphatic about reminding me that the Parkinson’s means I have to rest my muscles more than other people would need to. But she emphasized that I need to be on a regular exercise program the rest of my life.

I did start on the Requip again yesterday. Even though I’ve been doing all this exercise and my legs are definitely stronger, I’m still walking very slowly. It’s called Bradykinesia, and it’s always been my main Parkinson’s symptom. Requip has some pretty uncomfortable side effects, as most of the PD meds do, it seems, so I really tried to do without it. But I just don’t think the Zelepar is enough on its own. Dr. S. told me to use my own judgment on starting it back, so I’ve decided it’s time.

I did get nauseated before lunch yesterday and I had a headache last night. Plus, this morning, I got light headed while I was taking pictures for our eBay listings. I stood still too long, I guess. Anyway, I had to stop and sit down, as I broke out in a cold sweat and could feel myself getting woozy. The worst side effect for Requip, though, is compulsive behavior – if that starts up again I won’t be able to use it, for sure.

The PT worked me pretty hard yesterday, knowing it was my last visit, and I was very uncomfortable last night. I ended up taking 2 Lortab to stop the pain in my legs. At least that meant I got a good night’s sleep! They don’t seem to be as sore today, so that’s good.

I’m having the MRI today at a different place, called a Stand Up MRI. That will be a new experience. It makes me wonder if that was chosen to get a different view of my knee, as there is a regular tunnel MRI place in the same building with my doctor.

I just realized that I forgot to call the Orthopedist’s office yesterday to make the follow up appointment. I’m really having a hard time remembering to do everything that needs to be done nowadays. Hubby tries to help me keep it all straight, and I make lists like crazy. I’ve even started using the task reminders on my Outlook program to try to help. Of course I have to remember to put the reminders in the program LOL!

I got an email from the other PT patient who has Neuropathy last night, and of all things, we live in the same town!!! I’ll be doing some research on her particular type of Neuropathy and adding links to it, if I can find anything specific for her. I wonder if she lives anywhere near the EPA toxic site, the way we do????? She’s in far worse shape than I am, and the doctors don’t know what’s causing her problems, either. And she’s young. I’ve added her to my prayers, and I hope she and I can continue to correspond.

It was a day of changes yesterday, but hopefully they will be good changes. Only time will tell.

Wonderful Weekend!

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We used our Date Day Friday to work our way up toward Huntsville, where our younger DD’s family lives. We haven’t been to see them at their home since last Summer, thanks to all that’s been going on with me and with my Daddy. So, we had a wonderful time getting to visit. We even got to watch our twin granddaughters play in their Softball game.

My knee behaved itself, although I was careful to use the cane up and down her steps and at the ball park. When we got home, I have a message to schedule the MRI, as insurance has already approved it. Our older DD has a couple of job interviews lined up, the Will stuff is moving along nicely, and our eBay sales have picked up, now that I’m listing new items almost every day.

We even had rain today, which was so badly needed around here.

Speaking of weather, however, reminds me to say a prayer for all those poor people who have lost everything – even their town – in the Midwest, from tornado damage. May God’s hand be felt close to them. He’s always there, but sometimes we just don’t realize it. I pray that they will feel His strength and comfort in this horrible time they are all going through.

I’m sorry I’ve not been able to get back to reading everyone’s blogs yet. It just seems like my list of things to do gets longer, instead of shorter! LOL And I do appreciate you checking on me, particularly since I’m not reciprocating.

I’ll be calling my insurance company tomorrow to find out where I stand on the number of PT visits I’m allowed, but I do have a PT appointment for tomorrow, anyway.

I’m looking forward to a great week, and I hope you have one, too!

Quadriceps Are Giving Me Fits

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Well, I think the Physical Therapist came close to killing me last Thursday LOL. The tops of my thighs, where the quadriceps muscles are, were so sore Friday through Sunday that it was all I could do to get in and out of the car or sit down or get up from even the handicap toilet. I spent the whole time on strong pain pills, and much of it with the hot pad in use.

So, when I went for therapy yesterday I was very quick to let her know that whatever she did Thursday was too much. She cut way back and basically just did a few warm ups and then put me on the ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and moist heat for a long time. She doesn’t want me to walk at the track but every other day for one lap, avoiding the days when I have therapy. She says as weak as the quadriceps are that she’s afraid I will lose my balance or start to fall. Without the quads being strong, she says I’ll damage my knee. She was also surprised that I was able to walk even the quarter mile around the track once, even with the cane. She says I’m compensating in some way for the weak quads, which means I have just completely forgotten how to walk normally. I really try to do it “right,” but I must not be, according to her.

She did say that the other PN patient she has is doing better, and she did give her the URL for this blog. I’m going to be disappointed if she doesn’t write, as it will do me good to talk to someone who has a similar problem.

I was a good girl this morning, and only did one slow lap with the cane, concentrating on the technique for each step. Then I did my home exercises while DH walked his 2 miles. He lapped me 3 times before I could get around once! ROTFL

I go back to the Orthopedist next week, and I’ll decide after I talk to him whether I should try to get an appointment with my Neurologist sooner than scheduled. I suspect he will agree with me on that. He was planning on getting an MRI of my knee once I had the PT, as that’s what my insurance required before they would authorize the MRI. I am so thankful that I had this opportunity to go to Physical Therapy. It’s a shame that insurance companies are so stingy with authorizing it. I can’t get it for chronic conditions, so having Parkinson’s Disease or Peripheral Neuropathy wouldn’t get me permission. But wrenching my knee did!! Strange twisted logic – it’s OK for me to fall because of weak muscles sometime in the future????

The deadline for our BLOG VILLAGE HEALTH Carnival is this Friday, but I haven’t decided yet which post to enter from this blog. Too many to choose from, I guess. If you have a post you could enter, I’d appreciate your participation.

Getting Back to Normal?

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I’ve gotten a lot done in the last few days. We’ve had the appraiser out to the house, the taxes are ready to sign and mail, and I’m almost finished with the tax bookwork for our paid caregiver. I finally gave up and went to the Orthopedist about my knee and shoulder, too. The X-rays showed the degenerated cervical disk I already knew about, and arthritis in my knee, which wasn’t surprising. Dr. J is guessing that I have a torn miniscus, but it will take an MRI to determine that. From what I’ve been able to read on the Internet, that seems like a reasonable diagnosis to me, particularly since it was injured when I was shifting Daddy up in the bed.

I’ll have to go to Physical Therapy and stay on Extra Strength Tylenol 3 times a day before my insurance will agree to the MRI. That’s fine with me, as far as the therapy goes, as I’m sure it will be helpful. The Tylenol doesn’t even faze the pain, but I’m following his directions and taking it regularly.

We’re still walking at the track early in the mornings, but it’s been way too cold the last few days. Alabama is having record cold weather right now. So, we’ve been doing exercises from videos. DH is REALLY following the tape, and I’m bouncing on one of those little trampolines and doing as much of the arm movements as my shoulder will let me.

I’m still just taking the Zelepar, hoping that the exercise and whatever the doctor does for my knee will be enough. I just don’t want to try the Requip, if I can possibly help it.

We had our usual Date Day Friday and enjoyed looking at lots of Estate Sales. We’ve never been able to be an Early Bird before! It was strange to get there before most of the stuff was gone. And we did manage to pick up a few good buys, I think.

It’s been ages now since I’ve taken pictures and put anything on eBay, but I’m going to try to get back to that this week. We have an almost overwhelming amount of “stuff” we’ve bought in the last few years, and I haven’t been able to work seriously on our online sales for almost 2 years. With so much of the Estate business started now, I’m ready to get back to NORMAL.

Nothing in My Brain!!

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We got the MRI results today, and everything in the brain scan looks normal!! That’s a big sigh of relief for both DH and me, as we’ve neither one said the words brain tumor out loud, but we’ve both been thinking it, and I’ve been Googling all sorts of possibilities.

I just made the follow up appointment, and that’s going to be another two week wait. That’s the most maddening part about this whole process – all the waiting. But I was determined to get the very best Neurologist we could possibly get on our insurance list, and that means a busy, busy doctor. It’s kind of like a restaurant with no cars out front at lunch time. You wonder what’s wrong with the place. You may have to wait a while at a good restuarant, but the wait is worth it.

We went to the Thrift Store today. It wore me out, but I sure did enjoy getting back to a normal routine and getting out of the house. We also visited for a little while with a lady from church who’s in the hospital, so I’ve had a full day today.

Yippee!! We both can breathe a little easier tonight!!

Went to Bed Early – Woke Up Early

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It’s so aggravating when my sleep schedule gets mixed up like this. I made myself stay in bed until 5 by the hardest, but I had the beginnings of a headache by then. I took 2 of the Tylenol arthritis pain meds, so my neck wouldn’t bother me all day and got up. Now I’m on the computer and yawning. Go figure.

Anyway, my legs and back were aching some last night from all the walking yesterday, but other than that, I’m OK. I did have a little trouble after the MRI yesterday. I was very wobbly after the test and had to ask for some steadying help to get back to the dressing room. DH knows me well and had a bag of M&M’s waiting for me, so I finished the Powerade and ate the peanuts and by then I was OK. We stopped and got one of the new Chick Filet’s chocolate shakes on the way home, too. He knows how to pamper me.

I did some research on brain tumors last night. I really haven’t allowed myself to think in that direction up until now, but getting the brain scan kind of pushed my thinking that way. Knowing I’ve been diagnosed with an angioma in the past, plus having the increased cerebral spinal fluid before, makes it much more of a possibility. We won’t know anything until maybe Friday, so I’ll just stay busy today.

MRI Scheduled!

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April, from Dr. S’s office, called yesterday afternoon, and I’m scheduled for the brain MRI today at 2:30!! I was determined not to spend any time waiting around for HealthSpring to approve the tests, but I sure am glad they did it sooner, rather than later.

I ‘ve had this type of MRI done before. In fact, that’s why he wants this one. When I had it done years ago, it was because I was having severe migraine headaches. I had a terrible headache the day of the test, and it was all I could do to keep from throwing up with all that hammering. At least now, with the Topamax, I don’t go into the test hurting. That previous MRI showed increased cerebral spinal fluid pressure, with a wide white space between the two halves of the brain. It will be interesting to see what this one shows, because the Topamax is the only thing that’s keeping me from having migraines now. I was living off of Goody powders before he put me on those. I’m on the steroids (Entocort) now, too, for the colitis, so that may make a difference, too.

Anyway, this is the MRI where they put your head inside a football helmet thingy, and you have to stay completely still through the whole thing. I don’t know if they will be using dye or not. They did last time. I’ll have to fill up on fluids today, just in case, so the IV will be easier to get, if they need to.

A Personal Journal

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I’ve been waiting for six weeks to see Dr. S to find out what he thinks is wrong with my legs. I tried to remember everything I could that he might possibly need to know about my past history. I still forgot to tell him about the Bolt Factory and the functional dysphonia diagnosis I had before I quit teaching. I also forgot to tell him that I taught Chemistry for a few years, but I really don’t think that has anything to do with it at all. I did give his nurse my notes about that when we took the old back films to them. But I’m still forgetting to tell them about Uncle Bill!!

He did the kinds of hammering around that I expected and said that I definitely had diminished responses in my legs, but the upper body responses seemed normal. He was sorry that the EMG I had already had did not include any tests of the upper body and wants to repeat that test. He watched me walk, asked DH if I were that slow with everything I did, which I’m not. I did tell him I feel the shakes at times with my hands. I definitely have trouble handling pills and money, and my memory is not as good as it used to be, either, but then I’m not as young as I used to be, either.

I told him about the MRI Dr. Stan had done years ago that showed increased CSF pressure and the negative Babinski test, so he wants a repeat of the brain MRI.

He showed us what a Parkinson’s walk typically looks like, and that’s not what I’m doing. I’m not walking like the typical Peripheral Neuropathy either, so that’s the puzzle of it. I told him about my concerns that it might be psychosomatic from worrying about DD so much and being with her through all her PN hospitalizations. He said that would be the diagnosis of last resort, if I understood him correctly.

Anyway, now I’m trying to be patient while HealthSpring takes their beaurocratic time processing the request for a brain MRI and a repeat of the EMG to include the upper body as well. He wants to do a series of blood tests, too, to check for B12 deficiency and toxic metals I’m guessing.

I liked him and I have confidence in him.