Posts by Bryan Barnes2

rustyowl4 said:Hello everyone. About six months ago, I underwent surgery to reconstruct my ACL and repair my medial meniscus. I just had an X-ray done ahead of my follow-up appointment in a few days, and I was wondering if anyone could help me make sense of these results;

Initial subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces in the medial compartment of the tibiofemoral joint, which appears to be a sign of localized stress or overloading.
Early-stage osteoarthritis present in the patellofemoral joint.
A fabella located within the dorsal soft tissues.

It is quite difficult to interpret this properly without seeing your previous scans for comparison.
Essentially, this suggests some early degenerative changes—wear and tear on the bone and cartilage—which isn't particularly surprising given the nature of the initial injury that tore the ligament in the first place.

Jacob Long As expressed by:
Bryan Barnes2, thank you so much.
It isn't exactly a tragedy—it’s more likely just a matter of aging—or perhaps an issue regarding the resume.

Yes—that appears to be the case.

And she actually believes—quite sincerely, I might add—that they’re going to run those rheumatoid arthritis tests for her...

Do you happen to know if those tests are expensive—and more importantly—do cardiologists typically order them through insurance?

If a specialist has recommended the search—and I tend to trust that kind of expertise—then I don't expect the FTC to raise any red flags. Even if the costs end up being high—though, realistically, they shouldn't be, even if I can't pinpoint the exact figures right now—it should be fine.

What steps can one take to preemptively address rheumatic conditions while still young? Given my own history with autoimmune issues—which is quite a weight to carry—I find myself feeling rather anxious about the future.

Not necessarily—if the underlying cause is autoimmune—which means you won't inevitably face joint issues, regardless of the specific autoimmune conditions you're managing.
🙂

Dennis Davis5—stay hydrated, avoid being out in the heat, and please—for your own sake—steer clear of those random pills. 😉

velvetranger12, please take another look at what Ivanicapec wrote. You’ve been given quite a collection of solid advice here—truly useful points.

Congratulations—you’re going to be parents. 🎉

On a side note, the pull-out method is a rather unreliable way to handle contraception.

Jacob Long said:I'm a total wreck right now
Can anyone make sense of my mom's knee X-ray results?

Wide lateral portion of the femorotibial joint space, early osteophytosis on the upper edge of the patella. Prominent eminence intercondilaris

It’s all in block capitals, so I can't tell where one thing ends and the next begins—anyone actually follow this stuff? 🤔
Is this something we should be worried about?

She was given some 5mg Valium and Ibuprofen
And then told to come back in 15 days for more tests... what kind of tests would they even be looking at?

Are the changes limited to just one knee? No issues with other joints?

This looks like gonarthrosis—essentially degenerative knee changes resulting from aging and various factors (excessive body weight is often a culprit, as are past injuries).

Which tests? Perhaps something like a rheumatoid factor test or similar—standard procedure to rule out systemic arthropathies. It is difficult to speculate on what the doctor had in mind.

Yes, this sounds quite serious.
I agree with Sandra Vaughn50—it doesn't present like Parkinson's.

rapidnomad322 said:If anyone can help—what does an Articular Distortion diagnosis actually mean? At the ER, they mentioned it might be a ligament tear, and I'm wondering if the diagnosis itself indicates the severity of the tear (mild, moderate, or severe)? I have my follow-up appointment this Monday, but I’d love some clarity in the meantime.

I realize this isn't a lab result, but people here tend to be quite responsive.

Thanks! 🙂

It's a sprained left ankle—the diagnosis won't specify if a ligament is actually torn.

No problem.

slyraven82 said:I need some help interpreting these results. I’m a father at 49 and dealing with thyroid issues (Hashimoto)—because of several complications and high anti-TPO levels, my doctors sent me for extra testing, since they've seen how one autoimmune issue can often trigger another. Looking back at more serious health hurdles, I've dealt with breast cancer (early stage, successfully removed via conservative surgery), a minor stroke, and cervical spine surgery where an artificial disk—carbon fiber—was implanted.
Generally speaking, I feel fine 😁 😁

My anti-TPO levels are currently at 1300 (should be under 35), but my thyroid hormones and TSH are finally looking okay—I'm using bioidentical hormones.
The Rheumatoid factor came back normal:
What’s really worrying me is the ANA result: Positive, speckled, titer 1:360 (reference range: negative, titer Could anyone offer some insight?
Thanks in advance 😁

Did they determine the specific ANA antibody subtypes (anti-ds DNA, SS-A, SS-B, Scl-70... ), or check complement levels (C3, C4, CH50)?

ANA is a fairly non-specific antibody—it can show up in many different autoimmune conditions, but it can also be a false positive in healthy individuals (according to medical literature, up to 5% of healthy people have elevated ANA levels).

However, given that you feel good (which is ultimately your most important guide), and seeing an isolated elevation in ANA alongside the previously mentioned TPO, I don't see any reason to panic just yet.
You will continue to monitor things and stay under observation. Based on what an endocrinologist might suggest, you'll likely undergo some additional testing.

restlessangler said:Diagnosis: SCLE (Lupus)
Regular checkups.
I'm curious about this creatinine in the urine and the creatinine clearance.
Thanks for the reply

http://s10.postimg.org/4mmnbkdrd/image.jpg

You'll need to repeat the clearance test by collecting another 24-hour urine sample. Based on this current report, the clearance is decreased, which would theoretically suggest slightly impaired kidney function (likely related to the primary condition). However, without a second clearance reading, we are essentially just speculating. The protein levels in the 24-hour urine are normal, which is a positive sign!

Taylor Brown said:Recurrent disc herniation at the L5-S1 level on the right side... does anyone know what this actually means? Translation??
MRI results 😉

Essentially—this would mean that, unfortunately, the disc herniation has returned at the L5-S1 level—which was likely the site of your previous surgery.

vividgull44 said:Look, I know it wasn't, but the symptoms didn't even start showing up until then because this condition is incredibly sneaky.
The doctor suggested it, but he wants me to go through laser treatment first since that's considered the foundation, right?
How long did you all have to wait before actually getting the procedure?

I mean, I want to do it, but I really need to read some firsthand accounts first.

It really is.

The doctor suggested it—but they want to start with laser treatment first, since that’s the foundation.
How long did you have to wait for your procedure?

If I recall correctly, I was seen fairly quickly—the waiting lists are much shorter when you're using private clinics and paying out of pocket. For instance, I only waited about a week (though, I should mention, my case wasn't involving retinopathy—so, lucky me).

Perhaps someone else here might have some firsthand experience regarding the progression of the disease itself.

Best of luck!

vividgull44 said:My 59-year-old father was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy three months ago. Unfortunately, his vision in the left eye has deteriorated significantly, and now his doctor says the right eye is becoming an issue too.
The retinopathy is currently in a pre-proliferative stage.

He’s been referred for laser photocoagulation, but choosing a clinic is proving difficult since several different facilities were recommended. I am specifically looking for information regarding the "General Electric" clinic in Chicago, which also has locations in Boston and Nashville (since I am from Canada).
Is this the same medical group operating under the same legal entity, given that they share a website? Also, what are the typical wait times for this procedure and other similar details?

Any insights regarding personal experiences with the disease itself or the general prognosis would be greatly appreciated.

Diabetic retinopathy doesn't just appear out of nowhere in three months; it is a gradual process that develops over years as diabetes progresses. Please, try not to panic—you have enough time to get things organized, as nothing is going to shift overnight.

Regarding General Electric, I believe some of their doctors from the US actually travel once a week (or so) to Canada to perform surgeries. The clinic is excellent—I was actually a patient there myself (though not for DM retinopathy)—and I have nothing but good memories, so I recommend them. You should contact them directly; they are helpful and ready to provide information.

If the changes in the eye (specifically those small vascular changes) are treated via photocoagulation, it should theoretically halt the progression of vision loss—though there are no guarantees. I am not entirely certain, but I believe laser treatment may need to be repeated periodically, because it addresses existing issues rather than stopping the formation of new ones.

Have you considered VEGF therapy alongside the laser? These days, it is often a standard choice in conjunction with laser treatment.

wearybison8 said:I’ve been struggling with this for over a month now—using drops around my eye—and the moment I stop the treatment (per my ophthalmologist's advice, of course), the tearing returns within 24 hours. It's blurry, and there's pain when I move my eyes or look at light—it hurts like crazy, honestly—so I'm constantly popping Ibuprofen and walking around the house in sunglasses. 🙄
I went back to the eye doctor, and they just extended the prescription for another week.

It feels like if these Maxidex drops don't fix it by now, they won't.
Every time I visit, the doctors mention "further testing" with an immunologist, but they haven't actually sent me for anything yet—I've already had two failed attempts at tapering off the drops.
The label warns against long-term use, but I'm already six weeks in and terrified they'll extend it even longer. 😢

Has anyone else dealt with this? Specifically, how long did it take before you finally got those follow-up tests or received a diagnosis?

As far as I know, I don't have any autoimmune diseases.
I don't wear contact lenses.

A lot of autoimmune conditions manifest through ocular changes—think chronic conjunctivitis, episcleritis, or uveitis. Because of that, I would definitely suggest pushing for a thorough immunological workup.

Are you experiencing anything else besides the eye issues... maybe joint pain or skin changes?

Aaron Miller36 said:Over the past year, I have undergone two arterial bypass surgeries on my leg and one thrombolysis procedure—essentially using medication to dissolve a clot. Since my most recent surgery back in April, I can walk slightly further without pain—about 100 meters—than I could before, but my lower leg feels rigid, the knee is swollen and varicose, and there is a strange sensation on the inner side of the knee. I am also dealing with calf cramps; the area is painful to the touch and hurts in the morning, even when I haven't been active, along with ankle pain that wasn't an issue prior to the surgery. At my last checkup, I was told I need to walk at least 1.9 miles daily (which takes me several hours—I walk regularly twice a day now while on medical leave, but I worry about how this will work once I return to shift work). They mentioned my calf veins are in poor condition and won't improve much—noting that if they clog, I could lose the leg entirely. Currently, I am taking Strauss drops—I buy them myself, though they are quite expensive—and hoping for some relief. I would appreciate your thoughts—perhaps from a vascular surgeon, or advice on where the best vascular specialists are located in the US, or any insight into these drops or other treatments—are there any other options left?

The fact that you can walk further than before—even if it is just 100 meters—is progress. Yes, walking is essential to encourage collateral circulation—basically building alternative pathways for blood flow. You have to keep moving even when it hurts; the longer, the better. There are certain medications, such as cilostazol (which, as far as I know, isn't available in the US), but those drugs generally only manage symptoms—they don't actually fix the underlying arterial disease.

Are you taking statins for cholesterol, or ACE inhibitors for blood pressure? And please, stop smoking!!!... If this is atherosclerotic disease rather than something like Buerger's disease, those medications are absolutely mandatory.

slyowl54 said:I tried digging around for a thread like this, but apparently, this corner of the internet is lacking...

So, I recently went under the knife to get an ICD implanted, and honestly, the whole thing was pretty standard stuff—nothing too crazy, really. It’s basically just like getting a pacemaker put in.
I was wondering if anyone else here has been through the ringer with this, and what it's actually like trying to adjust to life with one of these gadgets buzzing around inside you...

That’s correct—the device functions similarly to a pacemaker, except it utilizes an electrode capable of delivering an electrical impulse directly to the heart tissue to provide defibrillation.

Life with an ICD shouldn't fundamentally change your daily routine. It really all comes down to the frequency of use—whether the device actually triggers. The shocks (which occur when it detects a malignant arrhythmia—otherwise, it just "sleeps") can be quite jarring; if they happen frequently, they can certainly impact one's quality of life. For some, the device never even activates—so after two or three years, it might even be removed—for instance, in cases involving transient cardiomyopathies, such as those related to postpartum issues or alcohol consumption.