for my torn meniscus, it took two months to get it diagnosed (3 doctors). that was the worse, not having any idea why suddenly I couldn't walk without excruciating pain.
after MRI revealed it (plus baker's cyst, inflamed patella and arthritis), I did physical therapy for 4-5 months. And I did exercises at home 'religiously')
I improved a LOT. But over the last month or so of PT, I realized I was not showing any improvement, so I stopped, and I suddenly felt a lot better.
which is strange, unless perhaps they pushing me too hard.
anyway, now I can walk some, and some days are better than others.
I will go to a different pt place this month, where the guy does a massage which is to die for. And hope that will get me all the way to being as I was.
I also take Flaxseed Oil, and Glucosamine Chondroitin and MSM, which is supposed to help build cartlidge. Some doctors say you can't build cartilege, or if you could, it would take years. I feel better since I started taking it - so don't know....
Re your question- torn meniscus is not cartilege but tissue.
(are these the same?)
That is terrible that physical therapy resulted in an injury to yr hip -
Have you had an MRI? That should be done if you haven't. I don't know why it took the 4th doctor I saw, to finally recommend the MRI and diagnose me.
I can imagine how frustrated you are. I would suggest you keep trying to find a dr who can diagnose you. Once you know what is wrong, hopefully you can find some method to heal it.
"I can't get anyone to take this seriously enough to do anything to find out what's actually going on" - I can well believe this. I suggest you ask everyone you know if they can refer you to a good doctor.
It's really hard to know when you have a good dr or not. My friend had back surgery scheduled (she was in great pain), and fortunately before she did it, she sought another opinion. The 2nd doctor told her
1. don't get surgery.
She hadn't even had an MRI!
2. The 1st dr was going to implant something, called a coflex. The 2nd dr said he had done many operations to take out the coflex, which he does not use. And it turned out that the 1st dr gets paid by the manufacturers of the coflex.
My friend is now scheduled for an MRI, and meanwhile, she is seeking a 3rd opinion.
Good luck to you, pls post if you learn anything.
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