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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