[I Are Baboon]

so it hurt on the outside when he pushed the foot inwards? that is consistent with a LCL injury. was there an endpoint, or did/does your foot just keep on swinging inwards, hinged sideways at the knee? if there was an endpoint it may not be torn completely.

He pushed until I felt pain. He didn't try to swirl my foot and knock me in the face with it. .

But the point about unnecessary MRI's, as someone who skis, runs, mountain bikes, road bikes, plays deck hockey and works out four times a week, if I want an MRI to determine the exact amount of damage and plan a course of action including a concise rehab schedule, I'll expect to be given an MRI. WTF am I paying for insurance for?

 

[Toshi]

if your orthopedic surgeon feels you need an MRI you'll get an MRI. you can't just walk in and demand one.

for all i know your particular injury + your lifestyle warrants an MRI. my point is in general that not all knee injuries that may involve ligaments warrant an MRI.

 

[MtnBikerChk]

my point is in general that not all knee injuries that may involve ligaments warrant an MRI.

noted.

 

[Da Peach]

I was sent home with a "sprain" diagnosis as well. It hardly swelled up at all. After a few days being crippled I got looked at by an ortho surgeon. He figured partial tear of the ACL and some meniscus damage and provided a perscription for the MRI (which I paid for at a private clinic, though my group insurance at work.)

Once I finally got my results: full ACL rupture, minor tear of the LCL, minor tear of MCL and, as I recall, a tear in the "white zone" of my meniscus.

A few weeks went by and I got arthorscopic "cleanup" surgery. We've got an ortho surgeon friend of the family, so I was pretty lucky. I watched the monitor as he snipped off the still-attached end of my ACL and sucked it up like a noodle. I also watched the examination of the meniscus. Turned out it was 100% intact.

I guess I healed, or was the MRI analysis incorrect?

 

[Acadian]

if your orthopedic surgeon feels you need an MRI you'll get an MRI. you can't just walk in and demand one.

oh yes you can...

but it's gonna cost you.

 

[dump]

yup.

btw, my MRI was about a 30 minute procedure...
The machine made some stange sounds ... not sure what I was expecting it to sound like, but this sounded certifiably low tech ... kinda like a dryer w/ a bowling ball in it.

 

[DirtyMike]

MRI Machin es, make ALOT of noise, couplemyears ago when they did an MRI of my head, they wouldnt do it if I didnt wear the earplugs. Its crazy loud with your head in that tube.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Well here we are in day three and I am really not feeling any better today. I am more sore right now that I was last night. Dammit. I guess that's a good thing because I'd hate to waste a physician's time with knee that's on the mend.

 

[splat]

I bet they are going to Amputate!

 

[TreeSaw]

Well here we are in day three and I am really not feeling any better today. I am more sore right now that I was last night. Dammit. I guess that's a good thing because I'd hate to waste a physician's time with knee that's on the mend.

Drink more beer...it'll make you feel better.

And, for the MRI, mine took about 30 minutes. The one I had was just a limb one (not the full body kind) so I could read while I was in.

 

[Riding]

Hi IAB, sorry to hear about your injury.

Please insist on a follow up. There is no real way they can tell what's going on w/o having an MRI. I went through something similar ... oh, it's just a sprain. After 1 year of rehab, it turns out it was misdiagnosed... tore my ACL, and found out ONLY after it popped out again 1 year on.

I had surgery and approaching 2 years since the original injury and it's still not completely healed.

Phil, I concur! DO NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT AN MRI....and don't rush it. There's no reason to cut you open when they have technology that can see inside of you. I've already been through this twice! Once on my ankle and once on my knee. And look at me...do you want to end up Fat, Unhappy with your fitness level, and only Drinking beer all the time?

Alright, let me rephrase that. Do you want to end up unhappy with your fitness level having MTC yelling at you for being Fat and only Drinking beer all the time?

 

[Riding]

You'd know since you're the doctor, but that policy put me out one whole year.

And cost my insurance 2 surgeries uinstead of 1 MRI(yeah I had the MRI after the surgery anyway). And let's not forget about MY quality of life.

 

[Riding]

if your orthopedic surgeon feels you need an MRI you'll get an MRI. you can't just walk in and demand one.

for all i know your particular injury + your lifestyle warrants an MRI. my point is in general that not all knee injuries that may involve ligaments warrant an MRI.

This is something that Doctors tend to forget. We are paying customers and if I ask for an MRI, they better try to get one for me because I'll have no problems going to another Doc. There are plenty in Boston.

The whole healthcare industry is a joke when it comes to customer service and business management. It sort of like bike components where the component is either strong, light, or inexpensive and you can only pick 2. Except with Doctors, it's either you get a Good Doc, Good Customer Service, or the it's run like a God Business, except you never get three, often you can't even get 2 and sometimes you might not even get 1.

Alright, I'm off my soapbox, Make sure you get an MRI before surgery. At the worst it will cost you $2k, but if you work at the hosptal, I'm sure you can swing something. Give me a call if you want any more info about my experiances.

 

[I Are Baboon]

...having MTC yelling at you for being Fat and only Drinking beer all the time?

She would, too.

 

[Toshi]

This is something that Doctors tend to forget. We are paying customers and if I ask for an MRI, they better try to get one for me because I'll have no problems going to another Doc. There are plenty in Boston.

The whole healthcare industry is a joke when it comes to customer service and business management. It sort of like bike components where the component is either strong, light, or inexpensive and you can only pick 2. Except with Doctors, it's either you get a Good Doc, Good Customer Service, or the it's run like a God Business, except you never get three, often you can't even get 2 and sometimes you might not even get 1.

Alright, I'm off my soapbox, Make sure you get an MRI before surgery. At the worst it will cost you $2k, but if you work at the hosptal, I'm sure you can swing something. Give me a call if you want any more info about my experiances.

there is a reason that medical treatments and diagnostic tests are available by a physician's prescription. there are reasons for this.

 

[Westy]

Last time I was at my doctors getting blood pulled I asked if I should get a cholesterol test. Doc says "nah, you look healthy"

 

[MMcG]

IAB - you back yet?

What's the scoop muchambo?

 

[MtnBikerChk]

IAB - you back yet?

What's the scoop muchambo?

no word yet.

 

[Toshi]

Last time I was at my doctors getting blood pulled I asked if I should get a cholesterol test. Doc says "nah, you look healthy"

while that was poorly phrased he might have a point. if you don't have a family history of heart disease, don't smoke, don't have diabetes, aren't hypertensive, and are under 45 then your risk of a MI is very low. with such a low risk of an MI then the risks of medication should you be tested and found to have high cholesterol may not be warranted.

http://health.utah.gov/diabetes/pdf/telehlth/heartdisease_dm_pres_feb07.pdf

sometimes it IS better to not know.

 

[MtnBikerChk]

He called - doc's initial impressions are at least a partially torn ACL & LCL - the MRI lab already called to schedule.

ADDITIONALLY, his calf is swollen so he is going right now for an ultrasound to make sure it's not a blood clot.

He is being fitted for an immobilizer and the doc is already talking surgery ASAP.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

He called - doc's initial impressions are at least a partially torn ACL & LCL - the MRI lab already called to schedule.

ADDITIONALLY, his calf is swollen so he is going right now for an ultrasound to make sure it's not a blood clot.

He is being fitted for an immobilizer and the doc is already talking surgery ASAP.

Knees are ugly anyway, make sure he gets a bad ass scar (or 2!) outta the deal...

 

[splat]

the doc is already talking surgery ASAP.

Is that for the Frontal Labotomy ?

 

[dump]

Sorry to hear that. Heal up IAB

 

[Jeremy R]

Sorry to hear that. Heal up IAB

Yeah man,
sorry to hear.
Knee injuries are rough.



Not only is he injured, but now his wife has to do all the manly things around the house..........oh wait.......
Ha, Heal up!!

 

[Westy]

Is that for the Frontal Labotomy ?

Reverse his stoshectomy.

 

[splat]

By this time I'm sure your leg is all sorts of Funny colors and shapes , lets get some pics up in thread ics:

 

[I Are Baboon]

While I was in the exam room, the doc was phoning in all his notes to himself. I heard him say "My opinion: Torn ACL and LCL." Then I read the presciption he wrote for the knee immobilizer: "Left ACL tear."

God dammit.

He took out a fake knee to show me exactly what was going on. He has no doubt it's at least a minor tear of both ligaments. The MRI will determine whether or not I need surgery. I've got the MRI at 8:00AM Saturday.

 

[stevew]

no word yet.

i was hoping you were going to fix this.

 

[TreeSaw]

Sorry to hear it Phil! Take it easy and bring MBC a beer

 

[I Are Baboon]

Sorry to hear it Phil! Take it easy and bring MBC a beer

She just brought me one! Seriously. She's a good wife.

 

[MtnBikerChk]

i was hoping you were going to fix this.

Me too.


Although I do take credit for calling this one from the start.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

That sucks Phil. A torn meniscus was the only thing that showed up on my MRI, when they went to fix it, they discovered my ACL was gone, so they ended up repairing that too.

 

[TN]

sorry to hear about the knee.
knees scare me.

 

[MtnBikerChk]

I called my 91 year old grandmother today in FL....know what she said? "Better his knee than his head!"

LOL

 

[Toshi]

I called my 91 year old grandmother today in FL....know what she said? "Better his knee than his head!"

LOL

true, one Knuckleslammer is more than enough for the NE

 

[Nick]

"Left ACL tear."

lthumbsdown: That is the suck.

If its going to be surgery, just get it over with asap. Spring riding blows anyway.

 

[TreeSaw]

She just brought me one! Seriously. She's a good wife.

Nice!

 

[DirtMcGirk]

If they call for ACL/LCL rebuild time, get your ass into PT before you get cut. Get as strong and ready as you can, it really does help with getting you back in the game ASAP.

When I did my ACL/LCL rip, I was in PT the next week. I was hitting it three times a week while my doc was in Hawaii for a month. He came back, cut me, and I was back running almost 4 months ahead of schedule. I pushed on it harder than the doc and PT wanted me to, but I got it done and got back in the game.

Take it easy man, roll on down with it, and get better.

Oh yea, and don't go salsa dancing without your immobilizer on. Trust me on this.

 

[Da Peach]

Yep, you're going to hear all the same advice from everyone... I might as well pile on.

Getting strong before surgery is good advice.

So? Who wants to start the "Patellar vs. Hamstring Tendon" debate?

Go Hamstring!

(and good luck IAB!)

 

[I Are Baboon]

I'm not going to wait. If I need surgery, I'm getting it done ASAP.