Adventure -- busting out all over....

Adventure -- busting out all over!

 

Kyle had been complaining that his right hip was hurting....he started complaining on Friday, 12th April.  He complained on Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning....we thought that maybe it was the box on his bed....there is no "box spring", it's just a box and not a very good one at that.....

 

....so we just watched him -- I find myself "watching" him a lot!  Call me paranoid -- and all who know me, know this is true -- I worry, and watch for changes, small or large.  He would complain in the morning, and before he got into bed, but his gait didn't change, he went about his day as usual. 

 

Tuesday, 16 April.....Kyle stumbled getting off the bus, and then as I was walking behind him up the stairs into the house, he was having trouble stepping up with his right leg, and his leg was shaking.  He had to use both hands on the rail, and so.....I worried.

 

Wednesday, 17 April.....the school called and said that Kyle was favoring his right leg, and when he stood up after group, they heard a "pop" or "crack", and then he needed help getting into the van to go to the fire station.  He required help getting on and off the bus going to breakfast.

 

This is not typical for him.  So, I called our primary care doc (PCP) -- and they said to call the ortho doc at Children's -- which I had already done.  The nurse at Children's said they couldn't get him in that week and that Dr. Krengle was booked for several weeks, but she would see what she could do -- she said that he needed to be seen, so to bring him the E.R.

 

We got to Children's around 1 p.m.

 

X-ray of the hip

 

x-ray came back clean -- no fractures or torn muscle....this is good news,

we realize we are in the midst of another puzzle.  Kyle is a puzzle and there is rarely and easy answer.

Waiting....waiting....waiting

and watching "silent" movies, since we couldn't change the TV station and the sound didn't work.

Flex and Extension x-rays of the C-spine

He looks impressed, right? 

 

Flex and extension x-rays come back clean.

 

By now, he's getting hungry -- but can't eat, because they have no answers and are struggling to decide what to do next.

 

An MRI is decided.....an IV is started Kyle goes to sleep....the 45 minute study turns into 2 hours, plus recovery time....by the time he gets back to the ER, he's in a collar.

 

They've decided to err on the side of caution -- which of course -- we approve...

The collar was used to prevent to much relaxtion from the anesthesia, thus putting more pressure on the spinal cord, in case the spinal cord is involved.

Back in the ER -- it's now 9:12 p.m.

The ortho fellow, Courtney, and an ortho attending, Antionette, come in and say that the MRI looks the same as the last one -- a year ago.  But they are going to keep him overnight for observation.

Kyle in his Redmond Fire hat -- that he kyped at the fire station when he was assembling packets earlier in the morning.  And he insisted it come to the doctor with him.

 

We knew he was feeling pain, because when we picked him up at Denny's (yes, he was at school -- but it was breakfast day) and we asked if he wanted to see the doctor -- he said, "Yes."

See the clock -- it's now 10:18 p.m. and we were waiting for a room.

 

Finally got to a room at 11 p.m. and woke up the other family who were already asleep....they turned on the lights, talking, and asking questions.  Finally settled about 1 a.m.  I crashed on the couch....Kyle was awake all night long....he finally slept around 4:30 a.m. and Dr. Krengle came in at 6 a.m.

 

Dr. Krengle is the ortho-surgeon, and who is following Kyle.  He said, that the MRI looked the same to him and to the radiologist, but Dr. Browd, the neurosurgeon thought he saw some inflammation, so they did IV steroids -- 3 doses before we went home.

 

Dr. Krengle said, "It's not his c-spine.  Now we need to figure out what it is."

 

The Neuro team came in -- "It's not his c-spine, so we are only an advisory capacity to ortho -- they will take the lead on his care."

 

The Ortho team came in -- "It's not his c-spine, but we will wait for the neuro team to clear him before we take off the collar."

 

All this before 9 a.m.

Our excellent nurse, Maddie, unhooked the IV tubing after his last dose of steroid....but left the IV in, just in case.  Kyle need a photo....to show his class.

Kicking back and drinking his apple juice.....he wouldn't eat the bread that Maddie brought him, but he ate the bread we brought with us.....go figure.

Jon and Kyle -- kicking back....waiting....waiting....

 

The PT came by and watched Kyle, tested him, watched him move, watched him on the stairs and her assessment was that it was definitely in his hip -- pain and weakness with "purposeful movement" (like the stairs, sitting to standing, and standing to sitting, etc.).  She was going to make a report and they expressed that it was indeed in his hip.

 

About 1:00 p.m. I told Maddie, that since the Ortho team, the Neuro team and Dr. Krengle had all told me it wasn't the c-spine, and since no one would make the call to remove the collar, that I was going to take it off -- there was no purpose for him to keep wearing it.  She called the resident who immediately came, reviewed the chart and signed the order that we could take the collar off.

Here is our Amanda!  She is working at Children's this quarter, and she happened to be on our floor this day.....so Kyle waved whenever she walked past....and she popped in to visit.  Kyle hugged her when he saw her in the hall.  It was a big comfort to him!

 

We finally were released to come home around 2:15 p.m.  We are to see Dr. Krengle within 2 weeks and have a CT -- I'm baffled though.....since they have decided it's not the c-spine -- I'm confused as to why they are going to do a CT of the c-spine.  I asked how they were going to determine the cause of the hip pain.....the scheduler was going to check with the nurse to see how that will be addressed.

 

I'm glad they are checking everything....but I wish they would check where the pain is, and find where and why it's originating.

 

Kyle used his walker for a couple of days -- because he is a fall risk.

 

Now....a week later, he's done with the walker, and seems to be having less pain....

 

the puzzle continues.....