slambari on Wellness 15 years ago
09/07/2008, 05:12 AM
When I first walked into Dr. Mitchell's office, I was fatigued, depressed, could barely walk without a walker, was limping due to left knee pain and lower back pain.
I had back surgery in late 2006 which helped with severe sciatica, however; although the back surgery was successful in
helping reduce the amount of pain I had been suffering, I still
couldn't walk very far without extreme lower back pain.
When I had a vehicle accident where I skidded into another car, my care was then hit from behind by another car that was going in a much faster speed. This caused a more intense hit from behind and also caused me to hit the care in front of me once again.
I saw my PA that day just to get it on record not expecting any major problems, just aches and pains that would go away within a few days.
The next day I developed fluid in my left knee which caused excruiating pain. I saw my rheumatologist who took ultrasound pictures that showed the amount of fluid around my knee.
It caused my whole left leg to hurt. My rheumatologist gave me a steroid shot in the left knee which helped for a few days.
Before the accident I had no problems with my knees other than osteoarthritis pain.
My PCP sent me to an orthopedic doctor. I saw his PA who gave me a steroid shot in the left knee. I received about 2 days worth of pain relef and then the pain was back. I returned and then saw the orthorpedic doctor and told him about the swelling above my knee and he noted that there was fluid there. He suggested a series of 5 injections of synthetic joint fluid, which I undertook.
At the end of the session of 5 injections, I felt some pain relief, but was still having to occasionally use a walker.
Afterwards, I was told that I was too young for knee replacement (which was the next surgical step).
Since I did not want any surgery, I finally took my supervisor's advice/referra; and went to see Dr. Mitchell at his clinic. Within 2-3 days of treatment, I had no or little knee pain, less lower back pain, and was basically a different person from the one who initially walked into his clinic.
The change in demeanor, the lack of limping and lack of significant pain had a lot to do with that. I wish I had gone to the ASC before back surgery. I probably wouldn't have needed back surgery.
I am a different person now. Even my supervisor and peers can see the positive change and have remarked on it.
Even though I'm tired when I go to the clinic because I go after work; when I leave the clinic I am no longer tired but feel energized.
I intend to keep seeing Dr. Mitchell since he is the only doctor who has really helped me significantly reduce the pain I had been living with for at least 3 years, especially after my vehicular accident.