OT Misinterpreted Mri Results?

[allstar_cheer_diva93]

Sooo I injured my knee and had an MRI done to see what was wrong. My dad is in the military (we are stationed in Fort Bliss, TX), so I go to a military hospital to get seen (it's just like a normal hospital, except majority of the people who work there are in the military) but they do not see military dependents for MRIs in that military hospital anymore. They sent me to a center in El Paso (which is right out side Fort Bliss) and my doc at the orthopedic section of the military hospital told me to get a disc from the place so he can look at the MRI with me at my next appointment. (The MRI place sens stuff over to the military hospital but it ALWAYS gets lost.) Well, I picked up the disc from the MRI place and the radiologist also gave us an overview of what they saw... They're trying to tell me that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is wrong with my knee!! But it feels like there is absolutely NO way this can be true!! I have been told be an orthopedic doctor and a physical therapist that I have more than likely torn my meniscus. And the 2 docs I saw before them both suggested that maybe it's my meniscus but they both said that's not their field so they don't want to tell me that it's truly a legit possiblility when they just don't know, so they sent me to someone who should know. (Which I appreciated their honesty!) The first doc I saw sent me to physical therapy. The physical therapist said I'm showing the symptoms of a meniscal tear. I continued physical therapy for 2 weeks but HAD to stop going because my knee just hurt SO bad no matter what I did and by the time I got home from PT, my knee looked like a grapefruit. So then, my physical therapist called that doctor and said it would be a good idea to see orthopedics and get an MRI. I don't know how is it everywhere else, but in the military hosptital, the only people who are allowed to send in a consultation for MRIs are the orthopedic surgeons. So we scheduled an appointment with ortho and he was doing all that shifting and moving of my knee and said he can actually feel my meniscus sliding out of place! So I'm really just confused because the radiologist is telling me nothing is wrong, yet I've had 2 doctors who are very educated in this field tell me that they are really thinking it's a possible meniscal tear. I do have an appointment with ortho again on Tuesday. I'm scared to hear what he has to say because I'm starting to feel like it's all in my head. I kind of feel crazy.

So with that being said, I was just wondering if this or something similar has happened to anyone? If you've ever had an MRI done and the radiologist was wrong? Or if that's even a strong possibility, because I know that a radiologist's job is to interpret xrays (which by the way, I have had 2 done for this reason, both came bace perfectly normal also), MRIs, CAT scans, etc. So at this point I'm just very confused.

My knee feels like there are porcupines loged inside there. And it's ALWAYS swollen. All the docs I've seen about this have made a comment about how much fluid is in my knee (which I guess is unusual? I don't know what they mean by that?). And this wouldn't even be a big deal if I could cheer or even get around okay. I can't even walk to classes without almost being in tears by the time I get to my next class. I just want to get my life back.

 

[oldcheermom]

I don't have an answer for your situation, but will share what happened to my great-niece. When she was two, she fell and her left knee swelled up. The swelling didn't go away, and her doctor said it was from the fall. After about six months and various doctors saying it was from the fall, her knee was still swollen and hurt. She started swinging her left leg around when walking and falling when running. I finally went to an appointment with her, and this wise doctor sent us to a rheumatology specialist. She was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis after all that time. She is now almost nine and still suffers with flare ups. The past month has been rough with knee swelling and pain. I bought her crutches so she can still get around at school because her knee hurts too much to walk on. Her doctor adjusted her meds and she is doing fine right now. She is even doing an exhibition with her Pop Warner cheer team tomorrow!

I'm not saying that is what you might have, but please hang in there and don't give up. I'm sorry you have to go through this and deal with the pain. Hopefully, some wise doctor will figure out what is wrong and make you feel better. Take care.

 

[allstar_cheer_diva93]

I don't have an answer for your situation, but will share what happened to my great-niece. When she was two, she fell and her left knee swelled up. The swelling didn't go away, and her doctor said it was from the fall. After about six months and various doctors saying it was from the fall, her knee was still swollen and hurt. She started swinging her left leg around when walking and falling when running. I finally went to an appointment with her, and this wise doctor sent us to a rheumatology specialist. She was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis after all that time. She is now almost nine and still suffers with flare ups. The past month has been rough with knee swelling and pain. I bought her crutches so she can still get around at school because her knee hurts too much to walk on. Her doctor adjusted her meds and she is doing fine right now. She is even doing an exhibition with her Pop Warner cheer team tomorrow!

I'm not saying that is what you might have, but please hang in there and don't give up. I'm sorry you have to go through this and deal with the pain. Hopefully, some wise doctor will figure out what is wrong and make you feel better. Take care.

Awww I'm sorry to hear that! My mom has a friend who's daughter also has Junior RA. I hope she has a great time at the exhibition tomorrow!! I wish her the best of luck with everything. Do they think the fall is what caused the arthritis?

Thankfully, I do not have arthritis. They took blood at one of my appointments and all the things they tested for (which included arthritis) came back negative. Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your story! This was inspiring and your neice is so strong and I admire her <3

 

[oldcheermom]

The fall didn't cause the JRA, but it brought the swelling to our attention, so it was actually a good thing. So happy you don't have it! And thanks right back at you!!

 

[OhBbyItsTee]

The same thing pretty much happened to me! I hurt my knee at a competition and they thought I tore my acl so I went to my orthopedic doctor and he said it was just a sprain. But I could feel my knee shifting when I jumped and it was just so unstable. After 2 MRI's and about 7 doctor visits we finally switched to a different doctor and ended up having to have surgery to repair my acl. I thought it was all in my head too but if it really hurts that bad keep pushing for answers! Goodluck with your knee!

 

[angelndscz]

Go on vaca to San Antonio... Visit the Wilford Hall Emergency Room and you will get to see every type of specialist in a short amount of time. I took my son there while on vaca to SA and he his fever brought on a heart mumur we had never even knew about because other doctors thought it was too mild to mention. Wilford Hall brought in the pediatric cardiologist just to be sure and every student doctor came by to have a listen. I grew up on the military and am currently active duty and it was the best medical care we ever recieved.

 

[allstar_cheer_diva93]

The same thing pretty much happened to me! I hurt my knee at a competition and they thought I tore my acl so I went to my orthopedic doctor and he said it was just a sprain. But I could feel my knee shifting when I jumped and it was just so unstable. After 2 MRI's and about 7 doctor visits we finally switched to a different doctor and ended up having to have surgery to repair my acl. I thought it was all in my head too but if it really hurts that bad keep pushing for answers! Goodluck with your knee!

OMG Thank you for sharing this!!! I'm so sorry you had to go through all that, I totally know how you feel! But I'm so glad I'm not alone! It's just frustrating when you KNOW something is wrong with you but no one knows what it is. /:

Go on vaca to San Antonio... Visit the Wilford Hall Emergency Room and you will get to see every type of specialist in a short amount of time. I took my son there while on vaca to SA and he his fever brought on a heart mumur we had never even knew about because other doctors thought it was too mild to mention. Wilford Hall brought in the pediatric cardiologist just to be sure and every student doctor came by to have a listen. I grew up on the military and am currently active duty and it was the best medical care we ever recieved.

First of all, thank you for your service! I can only say what the military life is like through a dependent's POV, I can't imagine being the one in the military! I appreciate all our men and women. If you don't mind me asking, what branch are you in? My dad use to be a Marine but is now Army. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope your son is okay now! We are going to try to stay closer to El Paso unless we absolutely HAVE to go that far. SA is about 9 hours away from us. Money is also an issue, we can't really afford to pay for medical care. As you know, TriCare covers everything because we are military, so we won't be going that far unless someone at the hospital reccomends it. But if we stay local and no one can figure any of this out, I will definitely keep Wilford in mind!! Thank you!!

 

[angelndscz]

OMG Thank you for sharing this!!! I'm so sorry you had to go through all that, I totally know how you feel! But I'm so glad I'm not alone! It's just frustrating when you KNOW something is wrong with you but no one knows what it is. /:

First of all, thank you for your service! I can only say what the military life is like through a dependent's POV, I can't imagine being the one in the military! I appreciate all our men and women. If you don't mind me asking, what branch are you in? My dad use to be a Marine but is now Army. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope your son is okay now! We are going to try to stay closer to El Paso unless we absolutely HAVE to go that far. SA is about 9 hours away from us. Money is also an issue, we can't really afford to pay for medical care. As you know, TriCare covers everything because we are military, so we won't be going that far unless someone at the hospital reccomends it. But if we stay local and no one can figure any of this out, I will definitely keep Wilford in mind!! Thank you!!

I am in the Air Force, stationed in Korea. My husband is retired Air Force and is home in Florida being "Cheer Dad". Yes, I can understand the money issue. I know sometimes it is hard to get a second opinion in the military and sometimes you keep running into road blocks. That was why I mentioned San Antonio. Nine hours is a long drive.
My son is fine now, thank you for asking. I was posting from my cell phone earlier, but he had pneumonia when we took him to Wilford Hall. I did not drive to Texas initially with my husband because I had to work. My husband drove there, staying overnight at a hotel on the way. He let the kids swim in the hotel pool, and I think the A/C in the hotel room make him sick afterwards. I have 3 boys (and my daughter) and they like to run the A/C too cold, especially when I am not with them. When I flew in the next day, he was sick and his fever shot up in the middle of the night so we drove on base to Wilford Hall. We were in town visiting relatives for great aunt's birthday. I was just really impressed with the medical services we received. Normally when you go to a military emergency room with a sick kid, you kindof get treated poorly as if you should have waited till the morning to make an appoinment. Wilford Hall treated us very well and went above and beyond what they had to do. Because it is a hospital where they also train the student doctors, they have some of the best doctors and medical equipment available.

 

[angelndscz]

I just did a google search and saw an article where Wilford Hall ER closed. Most military ER's in the US are closing, so this is probably true. They are downsizing military medical facilities. I am just surprised WH closed theirs. Budget cuts.

 

[angelndscz]

Oh, good news, they just moved to the Army Hosptial instead - Brooke Army Medical Center. Here is the article.
http://www.kens5.com/news/End-of-an-era-Wilford-Hall-ER-closing-123037028.html