So Angry At Doctors

[Justmehere]

My leg is cramped up, and won't unlock. I have no idea what is going on. I had a big therapy session yesterday where a lot of weird pain in my legs was stirred up. I can't stand, move, or walk very much. This has never happened before.

I called my doctor. The on call doctor told me to massage my leg. I have never seen him before, only his partner, who had been a great doc in the past. I told him it's extremely sensitive to touch, it hurts to touch it in any way. I told him that I can't do this. He asked if I had anyone to help me. I told him no, I don't. He then demanded I then get a friend or neighbor to massage my leg. Irritated, I asked how would that be easier if I can't stand even my pants touching my skin on that area of my leg. He didn't answer. Instead, he asked if I'm able to go to the bathroom. I said yes, and the pain get there makes me cry. Then he said, "well, if you are able to get yourself to the bathroom piss in the toilet, then you are able to have a friend massage your leg."

I started to cry, and told him that's like telling someone who want walk a block to go do a marathon.

He said I was a liar and I hung up on him.

I can't take it anymore with doctors. It's been three days or horrible doctor experiences every day. The session with my T was an emergency session because I became suicidal about it all.

Now this. I'm trying to not be angry, but I want to scream. I still can't freaking stand and the pain is horrible. I've been sitting here in the bathroom for 12 hours and I need this nonsense by doctors to stop.

My anger is through the roof. Doctors have long been a trigger but this is a whole new level of trigger. It seems like nothing will ever get better.

I know his comment is rude, and that my anger is also above what the situation calls for. I just don't know how to take it anymore.

Edited to add: I'm at urgent care, trying not to scream, being told the problem with my leg is probably stress and a side effect of medication.

The horrible suicidal thoughts are back, and they link to a family member who was a doctor who also abused me.

I don't know what to do anymore.

 

[afuneralinmybrain]

It's okay, dear, it's okay. You don't deserve to be talked to like that. Do you have an insurance company you call to ask about other doctors?
I had a less severe encounter with my doctor. I told him my knee kept dislocating and he said he wouldn't do anything about it. I asked him if he could refer me to a specialist, he refused. I asked him if I should take any vitamins to help, he ignored me. I exploded at him in a rage and hurled a few "F" words. He just stared at me in silence. God, that felt good. Not that I'm telling you to cuss out your doctor. Although he definitely deserves it. Okay, maybe cuss out your doctor.

Remember, you don't deserve that treatment. *Internet hugs*

 

[Chava]

F*ck that doctor. I am NOT a doctor, but it sounds like a bad spasm...involuntarily contracted muscle, right? Massage or manipulation of a spasming muscle will fill my body with more pain. It possible to pull a muscle in that position too by trying to stretch it out or manipulate the knot out. Drink lots of Gatorade, make sure you're well hydrated. That's not to sound simplistic...it's just really important in these cases. Magnesium helps, too. You can get those supplements at any nutrition store or pharmacy. If the pain is super bad can you go to ER or see a different doctor? The only thing that helps my muscles unlock when they are really bad is flexeril (a muscle relaxant). Then I can do things like stretching or a little myofascial release, but only after the painful contraction has settled a bit. A physical therapist tried to work out a glob of tightened muscles in my back...it was painful, but I assumed it would help. It blew up into whole upper body pain and headaches that lasted four days. Anyway, I don't know if a heating pad or hot bath would help, or like gentle massage like a jet spray of water...but I relate to the pain and also frustration. Try to move what body parts you can maybe to fight off tensing all over, or even use a heating pad on an area that doesn't hurt.

And go get other help if you need to. I hope urgent care has some other options for you. Sorry your doctor was an A-hole at you...sounds like he couldn't be bothered and that he doesn't know what a bad muscle spasm is. Relentless or uncontrollable pain makes me have total meltdowns where I can't handle any stress, so try to be gentle with yourself but also go screaming for help if needed...your body is telling you it's too much.

 

[ghotiff]

I'm glad your getting some useful help now.

I think what happened is that you had a problem that he couldn't solve. His personality maybe is one who can't admit to failure, so when you pushed back that it wouldn't work he then blamed you so that he could protect his ego.

Does that perspective help make sense of what happened.

 

[asldjfasldjf]

As someone who suffers from chronic pain and fatigue, know that even if your symptoms are "psychosomatic," they're still serious and deserve due respect. Unlike many doctors try to imagine, your brain and body aren't two separate things. At the least, you should be prescribed something to help with the stress, if not something for pain.

Also you might want to check out a book called "Total Recovery." It talks about the scientific similarities (nay, identical nature) of physical and emotional pain. Just an idea.

 

[desiderata310]

Glad you made it to ER.
I was going to suggest electrolytes and warm bath with Epsom salts / heating pad. Having dealt with plenty of muscle spasms like that I know they are so horribly painful. The doctor was a dick. No doubt about that.

I hope the ER can help. Take care and let us know how it goes.

Once you get it unlocked and feeling better, I would suggest foam rolling that sucker lightly because there's gonna be a ton of lactic acid build up in that muscle. BUT I would only do it very lightly. It's a form of massage and since that muscle can be very touchy for a while I don't want you to lock it back up.

 

[desiderata310]

And bananas!! Eat bananas!

 

[Samantha_38]

I am not a doctor..."yet". I'm a student in a doctor of physical therapy program and a certified athletic trainer. Calcium can be a big issue for muscle cramping too. I did not see it mentioned above. It is the reason why there is an increased risk for cramping while pregnant, because the baby takes the mom's calcium and calcium is extremely important in maintaining the correct "charge" around your nerves/muscles that cause the stimulus telling the muscle to contract.

As for right now, contrary to popular belief its actually a new thing to put ice on a muscle in spasm. I know it sounds completely opposite because many people think heat, but I've seen good results with ice as well. So if heat doesn't work, its worth the try.

Any sort of stretching you can maybe do would help too, but I understand that may not be very possible.

I agree with the comment regarding it was probably the doctors ego and not you. That doesn't allow him to treat you the way he did however. I hope you found help at urgent care.

It sounds like you may be experiencing at least some psychosomatic problems. I do experience this, and it's terrible. There's a big stigma with it, and I'm telling you that it in no way makes it any less real. Your muscle is clearly REALLY in spasm, but its possible your brain (emotion) is putting it there not some other cause. It does NOT make it any less real or less painful, it's only important to identify it because trying to fix the problem is done completely differently. In that event trying to do some grounding and other calming things may help too, which is one of the hardest things to do when you're in pain.

Since it could be either or both causes I'd do both the common treatments for muscle cramping and some grounding and breathing and those sorts of things.

I hope you feel better soon.

 

[desiderata310]

really? Ice for a muscle cramp? I'll give it a shot next time