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Foot Update - What Is It Like Living In A Wheelchair

To put it simply – It sucks and I hate it. It’s been almost exactly a month from my last foot update and I was correct. I ended up in a wheelchair before the end of this pregnancy.

My feet have been hurting me since August and no doctor has been able to tell me why. Oh sure they have had plenty of guesses along the way such as cysts, fracture, and pulled/torn ligaments but none of it was actually diagnosed. So let me catch you all up on where we’re at and what I think is going on.

This last week was NUTS with appointments, I literally had one every day starting with the Podiatrist to receive my orthotics. When he saw me he was shocked that I was in a wheelchair. We talked about how I no longer can put weight on my feet because it sends me to my knees with shooting pain. I had an x-ray done on them (approved by my OB, I’m far enough along now for it not to cause any problems for the babies) and I showed the results to the Podiatrist. He was baffled by the results, mostly because they showed absolutely nothing. I don’t have a fracture, or any deformities, or dislocations…nothing, EXCEPT he told me by the x-ray it looks like I have feet of an 80 year old woman. I asked him what he meant by that and he said your bones look like they are in an advance stage of osteoporosis. I asked how that was even possible I’m on a prenatal and an extra vitamin D tablet because I’m carrying multiples, so I am getting my Vitamin D but I also know you can overdose on that so I’m making sure to only be taking the safe amount. My fun didn’t end there, he was worried about the swelling so a 45 minute appointment turned into a trip to the hospital to get an ultrasound done on my leg veins to make sure I didn’t have a blood clot. He also schedule some blood work to check if I had gout, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc. Long story short, five hours later I went home no blood clot in sight.

The next day I was scheduled for an MRI which was uneventful but while I was doing that I got a call that the radiologist from the hospital wanted me to come back and repeat the vein ultrasound. Why? Because I have S-L-O-W moving blood which means I don’t have a clot right now but I could be forming one so they wanted to repeat the test after 48 hours. So guess what I did the following day…I went right back to the hospital for a 2 hour ultrasound. Again I was released and told I looked fine. With all these appointments I’ve been told five times that I have feet of an 80 year old woman with osteoporosis, I told myself ok this is a sign. So what does any good patient do when they are unsure of what’s going on? DR. GOOGLE of course! I’ve spent innumerable hours googling medical journals about osteoporosis in the young, pregnant, women, etc. and I came across a really interesting article about Transient Migratory Osteoporosis. Basically this disease comes on suddenly, without prior trauma resulting in pain of the feet, ankles, knee and hips. It progressively worsens, intensifies with walking and other weight-bearing activities and may become disabling. X-rays will show regional demineralization indicative of osteoporosis and MRI will show bone marrow swelling (both of which mine do…) and is most common in pregnant women. After much reading I’ve learned that there’s no cure for this and it typically resolves itself within 6 to 12 months and usually postpartum. They do not know why this happens. It’s completely different from Osteoporosis as Osteoporosis does not cause pain until a fracture occurs whereas Transient Migratory Osteoporosis causes severe pain and can move from one joint to another. I have every symptom of this disease and it started exactly as stated so I called every one of my doctors… the family doctor, my OB, and the Podiatrist and told them “I know doctors hate when patients try to diagnose themselves but I want to explore the idea of Transient Migratory Osteoporosis.” I have now been referred to an Orthopedist as they think I’m on to something. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to schedule an appointment with one as the offices are closed today.

I’m excited to be on the right track to an answer and diagnosis but I’m extremely frustrated knowing there’s probably nothing I can do for it except wait it out. I’m afraid it won’t get better until after pregnancy and I’m only half way done. I read most women with this go on to have C Sections because it’s just too hard on the hip joints and can cause dislocations and fractures. I know I’m already high risk for a C Section because of the twins but this is just another blow. Luckily this is usually a onetime occurrence and just because I have it this pregnancy doesn’t mean I’ll have it again in future pregnancies. Lord give me strength.

Let’s talk about this wheelchair. I’m grateful for the family who donated it to the church as I’ve been lucky to be able to use it for these past two weeks; however, I do not live in a ranch and it’s hard to get around up and down the stairs. Houses were not made for people in wheelchairs. I cannot reach the top cupboards, I can’t get through the bathroom doorways (yes, I took my door off…) I can’t get dressed by myself, I can’t get my own food or drinks, I can’t drive, I can’t get my wheelchair in and out of the car, I can’t do anything!! Thank God for my husband who I constantly ask “can you do me a favor?”


We’ll see what the Orthopedist has to say about my theory but I really think I’m on to something here…

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