So here I am, nearly six months after the accident (Christmas Eve will be the six-month anniversary), and I finally have what might be the beginning of an answer to my pain. It would have been lovely if the idiot orthopedist I went to originally had listened to me when I told him where the majority of the pain was, and sent me for an MRI of the coccyx right away. Instead, he sent me for the wrong MRI, which had to be repeated. Then, that MRI didn’t show the entire coccyx, so back I went again this past Friday. Meanwhile, I have been to a physical therapist, massage therapist, acupuncturist, and literally went to a chiropractor an average of 4 times per week for months, with no discernible relief, often with worse pain. I’ve taken far too much Vicodin than I should (but not nearly the amount I wanted to take), which resulted in nausea, listlessness, and moodiness. I’ve been contemplating getting cortisone injections. I’ve gained weight because I am not on my treadmill every day, as I was prior to the accident. My dr. says I should swim, but I don’t have a pool, and with my schedule, and transportation being what it is in this county, this is not really feasible. I can’t take off work for a few weeks to get this all straightened out once and for all, which frankly, would be the best bet.
So now the results of my MRI show that I have a five- or six-year-old fracture in my coccyx, but the muscle striations show that part of the bone involved in the original fracture was recently bent in a vertical position. My chiropractor is attempting to locate an orthopedist who specializes in this type of injury. This is something I could have started investigating this summer, and receiving treatment for, when I wasn’t working. What a waste of time, the insurance company’s money, gas used going to and from appointments, hours lost from work, and a profound loss of quality of life for myself, my family, and my husband and me.
I can’t imagine what we would do if I was at a point where I was so debilitated that I was forced to take unpaid leave from work. It is something I have started resenting not being able to do. As far as I am concerned, that orthopedist is nearly equally responsible for my pain as the woman driving the car. He should have paid more attention to what I was telling him, especially when I asked him outright: “Shouldn’t I get an MRI of the coccyx?”
The guy is a moron. So, now what? Only time will tell, but I hope it changes my tale — and my tail — soon.
Tags: accident, Add new tag, agony, back pain, chiropractor, coccyx, frustration, MRI, orthopedist, waste of time
