MRI Results and Carrying On...

In my last post I talked about how the specialist had ordered the baseline MRIs for my hips and knees to get a better look at how extensive the osteonecrosis was/is; and we had those done the day following my doctor's appointment. Well, since we didn't have a follow-up appointment scheduled with my specialist--since there wasn't anything he can do at this time, so we're just supposed to wait in hopes that my adrenal glands start working, I can get off the steroids, and then we will call him and 3 months following that, he'd order new MRIs to look at things and compare. Anyways...My mom and I were both anxious to know what those baseline MRIs showed though, so I talked with my orthopedic doctor up here (the one who looked at my initial MRI of my knee and who found this specialist down at the Huntsman) and he said that we could make an appointment with him and he would look over the MRIs with us.
So as my mom and I were waiting in the room for my orthopedic doctor to come in, we're both just sitting there anxious....and all I could say and think was: 'I don't know what to think?!' My mom asked me if I was sure I wanted to know the results and I told her 'yes'. It was one of those--I just have to know! You know what I mean?! Well, the doctor came in and went through the MRI with us...
Good news first....My hips and pelvis aren't too bad! I mean they have the osteonecrosis in them, but it's more patchy/spots in different places; so not near what my knee was looking like!
Bad news next...He opened the MRI of my left knee (my right knee was the one we had the initial MRI of when we found the osteonecrosis and it was very extensive), and said: 'it looks just like the right knee!' Dang it!!!
So, that is what we've found out since my last post! The good part is, hopefully (crossing our fingers and praying), if I can get off the steroids, my hips and pelvis could heal on its own--if I can get off the steroids soon! However, when I asked if my knees/lower legs would, he said probably not...there's too much damage I think already done. Although, miracles can and do happen!!! So, we won't give-up, and we will hope that first, things will heal on their own, second, if they can't heal on their own, we will get to a place where the doctors can do something to help! It can happen! :-)
My family and friends have been AMAZING though and have helped me through all of this hard news and just through the pain and everything! Even when I know it has been hard for them as well! This week was my birthday, so in the past week my mom's taken me shopping for some new clothes (for my birthday and for winter..she's been so amazing helping me with clothes and different things since mine can't fit due to the weight gain from the steroids), she decorated my "room" (I'm down in the front room right now, but I got a new comforter, sheets, a lamp, and things for my room; so she put them all up downstairs so I can still enjoy them), we had all of my family and my friend Jenna came over on Sunday to celebrate and have cake and ice cream, Monday (my birthday) I woke up to signs and decorations and a fun present (a huge card, solar dancing flower, and a birthday pin to wear) out front, I went to lunch with my two oldest sisters (Janeice and Jodi) and we went shopping, Tuesday Jenna came over and watched a movie, and then  Tuesday night my friend Kari (she decorated my front yard and everything) came and got me and we went for ice cream! It's been great and I seriously can't thank all of them enough!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
Right now though, to be honest (which is what I want to be able to do in this blog), I am completely exhausted, I hurt, and I just want to stay in bed resting!!! Due to being on the steroids, another side effect is that they lower my immune system, so I'll get these little cuts (on my finger, a sore inside my nose, or whatnot) and they get infected and aren't healing; so I had to go to the instacare to get on some antibiotics. So for now, I decided I'm just going to take it easy and stay in bed resting!
The next step is next week...I go in on Tuesday September 25th for the retest of my lab work to recheck my adrenal glands and see if they are working! Hopefully they are, and then, hopefully the doctor will let me taper down on my steroids further so we can get off them!!! Here's to hope, faith, and prayers!!! :-)