The 7 Week Test
It's been almost 7 weeks since I hurt my shoulder. Yesterday I had my MR Arthrogram. Let me explain the procedure...
Lay down on an x-ray table. Initial x-rays taken. I try to get my arm out of the hospital gown. Not too easy. Doctor comes in, preps my shoulder. He asks questions like, "Where are you from?" and "What happened?" He numbs the now-orange area by injecting lidocaine or something similar. I didn't ask. I did ask about the dye though. the technician was top-notch. The doctor placed a very long needle and I felt the tug as it slipped through the joint capsule and tapped gently on my bone. It was uncomfortable but made bearable by the very practiced technique of the doctor/technician team. He injected the dye and saline. He removed the syringe, leaving the needle buried hub-deep in my shoulder as more x-rays were taken. It was strange to look over at it still in place. More dye and saline. And we were done. With that part.
He told me to move my arm around in a circle. I could only do it 4 times and that was with gritting my teeth. I couldn't proceed. It was good enough and they moved me to the MRI room. The machine was smaller, narrower than I remembered. I did fine but my hand went to sleep and my arm would slightly, involuntarily twitch. I didn't want to redo the scan. It was good enough. The technician pulled me out of the MRI machine, adjusted my shoulder so that it was above my head. Ouch. He put me back in there, but this time it was much shorter. It was good enough and we were done.
I survived. And today I can't move my shoulder and I have a big bruise. Easy peasy compared to those stronger than I who have gone through much worse. I am ready to see what's wrong in there!
Lay down on an x-ray table. Initial x-rays taken. I try to get my arm out of the hospital gown. Not too easy. Doctor comes in, preps my shoulder. He asks questions like, "Where are you from?" and "What happened?" He numbs the now-orange area by injecting lidocaine or something similar. I didn't ask. I did ask about the dye though. the technician was top-notch. The doctor placed a very long needle and I felt the tug as it slipped through the joint capsule and tapped gently on my bone. It was uncomfortable but made bearable by the very practiced technique of the doctor/technician team. He injected the dye and saline. He removed the syringe, leaving the needle buried hub-deep in my shoulder as more x-rays were taken. It was strange to look over at it still in place. More dye and saline. And we were done. With that part.
He told me to move my arm around in a circle. I could only do it 4 times and that was with gritting my teeth. I couldn't proceed. It was good enough and they moved me to the MRI room. The machine was smaller, narrower than I remembered. I did fine but my hand went to sleep and my arm would slightly, involuntarily twitch. I didn't want to redo the scan. It was good enough. The technician pulled me out of the MRI machine, adjusted my shoulder so that it was above my head. Ouch. He put me back in there, but this time it was much shorter. It was good enough and we were done.
I survived. And today I can't move my shoulder and I have a big bruise. Easy peasy compared to those stronger than I who have gone through much worse. I am ready to see what's wrong in there!
Oh, god that's awful. I always wonder if people with medical backgrounds are as horrified by some of these procedures as the rest of us are or if you guys are more like, "Well, there's a needle sticking out of my arm. OK." I hope you finally feel better soon!
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