An Unexpected Detour

Yesterday was our Kiwanis Club Annual Pancake Breakfast. Here’s me, showing off a perfectly cooked over easy egg:

And about 30 minutes later I was in an ambulance headed for the Emergency Department of our local hospital.

Don’t panic, I’m fine, but it’s a bit of a story so buckle up.

For quite some time now I occasionally have a burning sensation, like pins and needles (but worse) on the outside of my left thigh. It generally comes on after I’ve been standing for a while and it goes away once I get off my feet. The last time it happened was when I was at the MMA conference at the end of January and I was fine once I sat down for a bit. I never even mentioned it to the people I was with, that’s how much it was a non-issue.

I did mention it to my doctor when I saw her shortly after that episode. She checked my leg, said it was probably nothing, and gave me a prescription for anti-inflammatory medication that she wanted me to take for 2 weeks. But then her nurse called and said I actually shouldn’t take that medication since it was contraindicated for someone taking methotrexate, which I take for rheumatoid arthritis. The recommendation was to take Advil when it bothered me.

And it hasn’t bothered me since.

You see where this is going, right?

After about an hour or so of cooking eggs I felt the burning start to come. It wasn’t terrible and the line for food was long so I basically ignored it, trying to find a position that was comfortable, shifting my weight from leg to leg to see which felt better. Dale saw me grimace a few times and told me I should take a break but that line was wrapped around the room and I figured I could power through.

Turns out, I was wrong. The pins and needles sensation turned into a full blown leg on fire with stabbing pains. I got myself in back to the kitchen and was leaning on Dale and someone brought a chair but every time I tried to sit down the pain was so intense I thought I was going to pass out. I was sweating and embarrassed and just trying to breath through the whole thing. I felt certain I was fine but also knew this was highly unusual. Against my will, but with Dale’s encouragement, a friend called 911 and the paramedics arrived. They got me on a gurney (it wasn’t pretty and I know I yelled out when they lifted that leg) and the pain all but disappeared. I mean, not completely, but the relief was immediate and so very very welcome.

Still, they insisted I go to the hospital and get it checked. Blood clots were mentioned, among other things, and I ultimately agreed.

The Emergency Department was busy but I was treated fairly quickly, probably because my situation wasn’t severe and they wanted the space back for someone else. My blood work was fine, the doctor examined me and determined that an ultrasound or x-ray wouldn’t give them any pertinent information, gave me 2 naproxen, and said it was probably sciatica. I was told to follow up with my primary and sent home in less than 3 hours.

Dr. Google and I have consulted, however, and I think it’s Meralgia Paraethestica. Every symptom and description of that tracks with what I’m experiencing. It’s not serious, thankfully, but I do want to see a doctor who can help me. Health care in America being what it is, I’m hoping that will happen.

So that’s the story of how I had to leave the pancake breakfast in an ambulance. And I didn’t even get any pancakes or bacon!