Medical Update - back and forth

Well, what a week!!!!! Business-wise, we had far too many bodies in five days for it to be manageable - but we managed. It's been a hell of a week.

My leg/hip problem has taken on saga proportions, and is becoming very interesting (for me and the doctors, at least) indeed. It was diagnosed as Iliopsoas Tendinitis last week. The Iliopsoas is a double muscle which comes from the lower spine, sort of through the hip, and connects with the top of the main thigh bone (the Femur). It’s main function is to assist in raising the knee. The MRI I had, showed inflammation of the insertion point where the Iliopsoas joins the Femur. The meds I was given (Ecofénac 150) should have sorted out the inflammation quickly, but, in fact, the ailment worsened to the extent where I have recently had to resort to crutches for any distance of more than about ten metres, with concomitant pain and leg wobbles!!!!

So, it was back to Dr. Hasler (my orthopaedic specialist) who investigated the whole thing from the beginning again, and came up with the theory, that it might actually be reflective pain coming from inflammation of the Sacroiliac joint in the hip area. To make sure, I was referred to the Nuclear Medicine unit of the Kantonsspital (Cantonal Hospital) here in Chur for a bone scan. This all took place this morning. Kurt dropped me off there at 7:45 a.m., and by 8 o’clock, I was on the gamma-ray scanner table, being injected with a nuclear tracer called Technetium, which is absorbed by the bones, and reveals any skeletal abnormalities to the scanner.

While I was on the table, the ‘phone rang, and the radiologist answered to find Dr. Hasler wanting to find out if they had discovered anything yet about me. The radiologist expressed amazement at this, because Dr. Hasler has a day off today, but wanted to know results as soon as any were available!!!!!

It started off with a ten-minute scan of the hip area, and then I had to wait for two hours while the skeleton absorbed the tracer. I went down to the restaurant in the hospital, which affords the most spectacular views of the Rhein valley and mountains around Chur. I was to drink a lot so that the excess tracer would be flushed out of my body – I did think of wine, but decided I’d better stick with water and coffee.

The two hours went by very quickly. I had taken with me a book I had just bought called Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes. It’s about a man who decides in his thirties, that he wants to run, and, like me, is not just satisfied with marathons, but has to aim for the ultramarathons. In so many ways, I can identify myself with this author, and it’s most gratifying to know, that I am not the only nutter in the world!!!!!

At 10 o’clock, I was back on the gamma-ray table, and the photo shoot began in earnest. First of all, a ten-minute scan of the hip area again, followed by a half-hour full-body scan, and then a scan of the hands alone. I could see the developing images in a screen in front of me – all most interesting!!!!

After that, there was a short wait for processing, and an interview with the nuclear specialist, whose wife had practised for a year at the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town a while ago. Before he even began discussing things with me, he pointed out, that I must be a very special patient, as Dr. Hasler has never given out his mobile ‘phone number before, nor, indeed, ever insisted upon results being made known to him as soon as they become available. All the staff in the unit also referred to me as “the marathon runner”. I felt so special!!!! Obviously Dr. Hasler had mentioned it in his letter. I did point out, though, that my first full marathon was to have been in Zürich on 20th April, but that I have had to cancel my participation on that due to my not having been able to train enough, thanks to my leg.

Anyway, I had a long chat to the nuclear specialist, and he showed me, that the source of the pain is, indeed, in the leg in the region of the insertion point of the Iliopsoas muscle onto the Femur, but that there could possibly be a small inflammation of the Sacroiliac joint which is not visible in the scan images (I guess the latter is just to support Dr. Hasler!!!!). It was all very interesting indeed. He told me, that if he had his way, he would have me in a cast from toe to hip so that I could not move!!!! – doctor humour, I guess. I tittered a little, and then the casualty people came and took him off to intensive care to have pieces of furniture removed from his skull – one just does not make jokes like that to a runner!!!!!!

On Monday at 1 p.m., I have an appointment with Dr. Hasler, and then we will see where it goes from there. At least, as far as I can see, we know now exactly where the source of the ailment is, and can concentrate the healing process on one area. I’ll keep you informed. There is definitely mini-series-potential in this case!!!!!!! My rôle, of course, will be played by Brad Pitt.

Here is part of the bone scan from the back of my body, which clearly shows the red, inflamed area on the lower right side, corresponding to my problem point. I just hope the healing can be achieved quickly so that I can get back onto my feet and train for the 2010 MdS!!!!