My arthritis was not a consistent problem. Many weeks would go by without any pain. Then the pain would be really great. I can remember too much pain when riding in a car down a bumpy road. I remember not wanting to ride in a boat on a rough windy day when my own children were really small. I remember hating to stand at the kitchen sink peeling potatoes as it hurt my back and feet. I remember feeling very inadequate when just preparing a meal was too hard. I remember not being able to lift my grandchild. My pain never remained consistent until about 2010. And even since then, I've had long periods where my arthritis was an inconvenience.
My first time to an orthopedic surgeon was in 1993. This was for pain in my left foot. A lump appeared between my third and fourth toe. If it had been between the 2nd and 3rd toe it would most likely have been a Morton's Neuroma. The surgeon at that time, and subsequent surgeons never knew what to call it, or what it was. Although we could physically see it, an ultrasound did not record it. A CT Scan revealed spurs on several bones in the foot, but did not explain the lump. The surgeons indicated the lump most likely was a synovial cyst. While walking, the area where this lump was, occasionally seemed to pop - and the pain was immediate. However, after a minute or two, it would subside and I would continue to walk. The area remained tender for a day or so. The surgeons were reluctant to drain the cyst, biopsy it or do anything. I eventually found that I could not walk barefooted and could not use a shoe with a thin sole. Birkenstock sandals and shoes became my only footwear. At the time, no doctor indicated that synovial cysts or bone spurs could be related to arthritis. In about 2010 a surgeon suggested I have a cortisone shot to see if it helped. It didn't relieve the sporadic pain, but it did make my foot feel like I was stepping on a golf ball.
"A ganglion cyst is a soft tissue lump that may be associated with any joint, but most often occurs on, around, or near joints and tendons of the hands or feet. These cysts are caused by leakage of fluid from the joint into the surrounding tissue." Wikipedia
A couple years later I was sent to another specialist regarding pain in my back. No x-rays were done; just a physical exam. The doctors conclusion was - I had better mobility in my back than most of his other patients.
I have no explanation why most of swelling went away. My doctor indicated sometimes we never find answers. I was referred to a Dr. who custom made me orthotics. This doctor said he believed that the fascia had detached in my left foot and the right foot had rips and tears. Eventually, most of the pain in my feet went away, but a pain in my knees started - primarily with my left knee. I discussed this with the doctor and I suggested that the orthotics I was wearing was causing strain in my knee. He indicated that he did not think that could be the problem, but that was not his area of speciality.
Helene M. Langevin, MD states Fascia is the connective tissue that is abundant throughout the entire body and covers all nerves, arteries, veins, and internal organs of the body. In other words, fascia is everywhere throughout the human body. If you are wondering what it looks like, picture the thin, white, filmy layer of tissue that covers the muscle of a chicken breast, once the skin has been pulled back.
My first time to an orthopedic surgeon was in 1993. This was for pain in my left foot. A lump appeared between my third and fourth toe. If it had been between the 2nd and 3rd toe it would most likely have been a Morton's Neuroma. The surgeon at that time, and subsequent surgeons never knew what to call it, or what it was. Although we could physically see it, an ultrasound did not record it. A CT Scan revealed spurs on several bones in the foot, but did not explain the lump. The surgeons indicated the lump most likely was a synovial cyst. While walking, the area where this lump was, occasionally seemed to pop - and the pain was immediate. However, after a minute or two, it would subside and I would continue to walk. The area remained tender for a day or so. The surgeons were reluctant to drain the cyst, biopsy it or do anything. I eventually found that I could not walk barefooted and could not use a shoe with a thin sole. Birkenstock sandals and shoes became my only footwear. At the time, no doctor indicated that synovial cysts or bone spurs could be related to arthritis. In about 2010 a surgeon suggested I have a cortisone shot to see if it helped. It didn't relieve the sporadic pain, but it did make my foot feel like I was stepping on a golf ball.
"A ganglion cyst is a soft tissue lump that may be associated with any joint, but most often occurs on, around, or near joints and tendons of the hands or feet. These cysts are caused by leakage of fluid from the joint into the surrounding tissue." Wikipedia
A couple years later I was sent to another specialist regarding pain in my back. No x-rays were done; just a physical exam. The doctors conclusion was - I had better mobility in my back than most of his other patients.
In 1999, I crashed my motorcycle and broke my ankle and three ribs. A spinal x-ray showed bone spurs on many of the vertebrae. I do recognise that many people have bone spurs without any pain and some people have pain without bone spurs. However, I suspect my pain was a result of the bone spurs.
About 2004, I developed a Baker's cyst in the back of my left knee This expressed itself as a stiffness or swelling. An x-ray revealed that this was a very small cyst, but was very deep in the knee. The doctor at that time indicated it would not be something she could drain herself and most likely I would have to be put out because of the location. Given it was small and an inconvience, I didn't have anything done.
A Baker's cyst is caused when excess joint fluid is pushed into one of the small sacs of tissue behind the knee. When this sac fills with fluid and bulges out, it is called a cyst. The excess fluid is usually caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis that irritate the knee. Web M.D.
In 2010, my pain began increasing significantly. My legs hurt to touch. I could still continue to walk long distances, but an accidental bump to my legs hurt badly. Touching or rubbing my legs was enough to make me cry. Standing was extremely difficult - I could walk, but couldn't stand in one spot for even a short time. Even with this pain, I took a motorcycle trip with my son and his wife from Saskatchewan to the Maritimes and down to New York City. Crawling in and out of my tent was difficult. Hiking was difficult, especially first thing in the morning. But once I was on my bike and moving, it was a great time.
In the later part of 2010 my legs began to swell and life began to be very difficult. I could not wear anything higher than an ankle sock, I had to get different pants as the pant leg had to be large. My doctor at the time, could not figure out what was happening. I was sent to a heart specialist, a kidney specialist, every type of test was done. Surprisingly, my childhood and early adulthood problems with kidney inflammation had pretty well stopped in my early 40's. The only thing my doctor could come up with was possibly thyroid problem and a total depletion of vitamin B12. The pain in my feet in the morning was extreme. I kept a cane by my bed as the first steps were the worst. Standing to take a shower was difficult. Because of the swelling, I fell down my stairs on three occasions. I would go to take a step, but my swollen legs wouldn't bend. Walking any steps became problematic. The walk from my car to my office was difficult, but once I was there I could do my work. I decided I had to sell my house. I could not longer take the risks with the stairs, I no longer could mow the lawn, shovel the snow, etc. I moved to a condo on a main floor. Unfortunately, I was unable to sell my house (it took 4.5 years to sell the house). Eventually, my swelling reduced, and I moved back to the house. It was a rough neighbour hood and it did not feel safe to leave it unoccupied.
I have no explanation why most of swelling went away. My doctor indicated sometimes we never find answers. I was referred to a Dr. who custom made me orthotics. This doctor said he believed that the fascia had detached in my left foot and the right foot had rips and tears. Eventually, most of the pain in my feet went away, but a pain in my knees started - primarily with my left knee. I discussed this with the doctor and I suggested that the orthotics I was wearing was causing strain in my knee. He indicated that he did not think that could be the problem, but that was not his area of speciality.
Helene M. Langevin, MD states Fascia is the connective tissue that is abundant throughout the entire body and covers all nerves, arteries, veins, and internal organs of the body. In other words, fascia is everywhere throughout the human body. If you are wondering what it looks like, picture the thin, white, filmy layer of tissue that covers the muscle of a chicken breast, once the skin has been pulled back.
Fascia is filled with millions of nerve endings and also contains smooth muscle cells, so it can contract if injured or traumatized, and also cause skeletal muscle (like biceps, quads, or upper traps) to tighten (hypertonicity). When there is sufficient trauma or strain to an area (quick unexpected stretch, strain, prolonged bad posture, surgery, direct blow), the smooth muscle in the fascia contracts (tightens), and the nerve endings start producing inflammatory chemicals.3
The inflammatory chemicals make those same nerve endings even more sensitive, so that now it takes only takes a very mild strain to cause more inflammation, muscle spasm, and pain. Most of us function normally every day with a certain level of this “fascial dysfunction” and hardly notice anything more than a degree of “tightness” or “soreness” in a particular area of our body. Usually, the stronger you are, the more of this fascial dysfunction you can “manage.” However, when enough fascial tissue is affected, you will begin to feel pain – and that is usually when you seek help.
Comments
Post a Comment