I made an appointment to see my primary doctor right away. They were able to get me in within two days due to a cancellation. At the appointment my pain level was really high and after climbing up to the exam table, getting the once over of the leg by my doc, climbing down and standing, due to my inability to sit properly I nearly passed out as the pain level was through the roof in several places behind my upper leg. She said she could not tell how severe it was and referred me to the organizations non-surgical ortho doc. several days away. I was spasming so badly in her office she offered me a shot of Ketorolac Tromethamine (Toradol) in my right buttock. She also gave me a prescription for Tizanidine for muscle spasm.
I went home that day, knowing that something was really wrong, called my son, who lives in Asheville, and his response was of major concern spoken with authority. While my husband didn't think it was as major, my son had a bad feeling about it. He was incredibly angry that the doctor didn't order an MRI that day and implored me to call her office and have her write an order for one immediately and to go ahead and call an MRI agency and make my own appointment. Honestly, it all seemed so difficult for me. I have been healthy my whole life and navigating medical calls and appointments was looking like an arduous task ahead. He spelled it out for me, about being lame the rest of my life, walking with a limp, never having my healthy leg again. His words cut right through me! My kid, the one I spent his life caring for, guiding, consoling, disciplining was now in the role for the first time of instructing me with firm voice and tough LOVE! My sister, who lives in Kansas City was mirroring his same concern and at the same time she was trying to guide me on now to arrange my own MRI.
I was able to get my MRI referral and make an appointment with an independent imaging company the next day. My husband drove me and by this time he was beginning to suspect that my injury was more complicated then a hamstring pull or belly tear. (the belly is what the middle ground of our hamstring is referred to, typically the location of a regular sports injury tear, when some of the fibers have torn cross-ways).
I spent my half hour in the MRI tube, joked around with the technician about how I had injured myself with a cartwheel, and upon finishing, I looked at her in the eye and said, "okay, I know you cannot tell me anything, but should I be worried?" She looked back at me and said, "It is good you listened to your pain." Then upon leaving the facility, with my disk in hand, the other tech yelled across to my husband, "she deserves a really expensive dinner out tonight, but no dancing!" Chuckles abounded, I was worried.
I put that disk into my computer as soon as I got home. After figuring out how to open the files, I was able to see the 200+ images. Of course I could not tell what I was seeing with the exception of one thing. The bad leg was completely white on the images. Swollen tissue compared to the other leg and white stringy webbing. I sunk, I knew it was not a good thing I was seeing. The next morning, Friday first thing, my doctor's office called to confirm that I was keeping my appointment on Monday with the Orthopedic Doc. Her nurse was very concerned and just blurted it out ---- "you have a complete hamstring tear and will possibly need surgery, please keep that appointment!".
Hamstring research commenced - now I knew my life was about to change, I called my son and my sister and thanked them for making me act.
You just never know what will happen when you do a cartwheel AND listen to your kids when they speak with wisdom!
Thank you for reading. I have much to tell going forward, stay tuned and I welcome your comments and good humor. Rachel - Scooter Girl.
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