I have no legs! I have no legs!

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It all started back in October. I went to see the doc because of a nagging pain in my right hip and lower back. Back in August, just before school, I went camping for a week. I figured I’d just hurt myself sleeping on the ground and/or loading/unloading my kayak (it’s a big heavy beast).

Anyway, the doc took x-rays of my hips and lower back. He said my back did not look too bad, but my hips were totally wrecked! He gave me an Rx for some NSAIDs and sent me on my way…

I was okay for a week or so, and then I started having trouble walking. I figured it was just because I had to do a lot of walking on my job and on campus, (it’s very hilly)… The doc gave me some prednisone and I was a lot better for a few weeks.

The doc also referred me to a rheumatologist. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts I could not get an appointment until January 2. In the meantime, I just tried to tough things out.


On December 14, I was doing a final in an Economics class. I really was not walking too badly that day… I spent about an hour and a half doing the exam, all scrunched up in those little amphitheater style seats… When I got up to turn my test in, my legs felt very…. Wrong.

I managed to stagger over to the professor’s desk. But when I tried to get back to my seat, I hit the floor. Some guys helped me up and asked if I needed an ambulance. I told them I’d be okay in a few minutes.

I had a fold-up cane in my backpack, and using that, I managed to get down to the bus station and back to my truck. I went to see my GP the following Monday. He gave me more prednisone and my walking got better, but I still needed the cane. Still, I was able to get by until my appointment with the rheumatologist.

The rheumatologist, ordered blood test, MRIs, the works. The MRIs confirmed that my hips were wrecked and showed a bit of degeneration in my spine according to my rheumatologist and orthopedist. My GP says my back looks normal for an active male my age….

Anyway, after all this time I have no diagnosis. All the blood tests came back negative for disease. In the meantime, my legs have become more and more numb, weak, and useless. At this point, prednisone helps with pain, but it does not help me walk better.

Right now, I can barely hobble around my house on crutches. I cannot work and I cannot drive anymore.

I saw my GP on Thursday to talk about pain management and where to go from here. He still says my back is not bad enough to explain my problems. He referred me to a neurosurgeon and said if that does not yield results, I need to get a bone biopsy. He thinks I have bone cancer.

I gotta say, I can feel whatever is wrong with me eating my hip joints. I think it probably is cancer.

If it is, I’m not going to treat it. I’ve seen too many people die of cancer treatment. I’m not interested in being tortured for the last few months of my life. I’d rather concentrate on palliative care, and make the most of what time I have left.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself. It might not be cancer. Maybe I'll just be a paraplegic for the rest of my life. Whatever it is, I need an answer soon.



In the meantime I'm just trying to use the opportunity...

Have they considered MS?

It's not more encouraging, but it's a possibility.

^^^

No.

The doctors are so freaked out by the condition of my hips that they can't think of anything else--except, ironically, my orthopedist. He thinks it could be spinal stenosis...

Hopefully the neurologist will be able to confirm or deny this. The thing is it could still be cancer (spinal tumors) causing the stenosis.

Yikes! I feel your pain. I have a history of gout. Every so often, the joints in my legs and my knees get so painfully filled with fluid that I can barely walk. Once I was laid up for a week. It was pathetic how I had to scoot around the apart on my behind. I hate having medical issues and I know you do, too. Best of luck with your neurologist.

I'm assuming the thread title was a reference to "Kids"?

Oh no! I remember your thread from a couple months ago when you thought it could by Ankylosing Spondylitis. I posted in it since I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and they are somewhat related. Have they ruled that out now? It is a bad thing to have but better than bone cancer. Did your C-Reactive Protein test come back in normal range, thus ruling out autoimmune disease conditions?

I hope your next round of tests/specialists gives some answers and a way forward.

^^^
They have pretty much ruled out every inflammatory and autoimmune disease they can test for.

I definitely have spinal stenosis ... The question is why. My GP thinks cancer because he doesn't believe my hips could be so bad without some sort of disease. My joints do feel like they are getting worse faster all of the sudden.

However, I've had trouble with my hip joints since high school when I played football. And I've put a lot of wear and tear on all my joints over the years. From my late teens to my late twenties I was a hardcore weight lifter. I used to water ski all the time and ride ATVs too. I also worked for twenty years as an automation tech/millwright and did a lot of physical stuff--climbing, crawling, kneeling--there as well.

It could just be that a bone spur in my spine hit the wrong place. I hope I find out one way or the other soon.

Your doctor referred you to a neuro before having you get the bone biopsy? What is wrong with him that he would actually mention bone cancer to someone and then make them wait to get tested? Feel free to PM me, if you want to talk. You're in my thoughts.

You're in my thoughts as well.

It's like that of many doctors - to focus on the blatant symptoms only. I hope you recover soon.
Has it improved any, or stayed the same?

^^^
Actually I'm getting progressively worse and the drugs are having less and less effect.

Hopefully not, but if it is, and like a lot of people refuse things like chemo, which they are now saying actually makes cancer worst!, why not at least try some of the natural "cures" that maybe work, maybe dont, but at least wont make you suffer, got to be worth a try so google:-

Vitamin D and cancer
Apricot Kernels and cancer
Marijuana oil and cancer

Pardon me for saying something about doctors that might seem harsh, but it would seem to any logical person that if treatment is not working, and ideas are not fitting, then perhaps the way they are approaching it is wrong.

I'm not saying that's your case. I'm just lamenting because it happened to me, albeit over something much less serious.
I don't know if you care about prayers (many on here seem not to) but you're in mine.

Sweet Pea hugs

OMG! I've gone through some injuries but nothing like yours - I don't think I can say I know how you feel... all I can do is join you in hoping for the best!

Good vibes your way... hang in there and don't give up!

Yeah.... I think the real problem here has been the pace of things.

In spite of the fact that I live in a reasonably large metro area (500,000 people) with a university medical school, there's a shortage of certain specialists here.

From the time my GP referred me, it took 6-8 weeks to see the rheumatologist (I only began having severe problems about 2 weeks from the appointment).

Once I saw the rheumatologist it took another week and a half to get MRIs. Then a week to get in to see an orthopedic surgeon....

In the meantime, I'm just getting worse faster than I can get in to see doctors!

I'm in the hospital now and hopefully I'll get to see a neurosurgeon today. Unless tests reveal a surprise, I'm probably going to have spinal surgery soon--then we'll sort out the rest of the issues.


To all who've posted, I certainly do appreciate any prayers, good vibes or sweet pea hugs you'd care to offer....

As for the rest (you know who you are), lay off the voodoo dolls, please!

I'm sending healing wishes your way. Hopefully the surgery will reveal a fixable problem. It seems like the reason this has dragged on so long is because nobody really knows why it's happening. Surgery can reveal the exact nature of the problem. Hopefully this is the low point after which you can start to truly heal.