Karen A. - Testimonial

A few words from our organization's Vice President, Karen Arnold 

After a year of thinking I was going crazy and several doctors sayingthey thought it was all in my head, I finally got the answer. From Nov.2001 until Oct. 2002 I searched for why I was in so much pain. X-rayafter x-ray showed nothing wrong. Finally one day my husband wentwith me and he insisted they find out what was wrong. They finallyordered an MRI and not 6 hours later our phone was ringing with theresults.

When the doctor said you have Avascular Necrosis and I have set up an appointment with an Othro surgeon for you tomorrow. I was shocked --what was he saying? I had never heard of what he said I had. He tried to explain but all I kept hearing was Othro. surgeon. Once I saw the surgeonit was a matter of 3 weeks before my left hip was being replaced. It went from all being in my head to a collapsed hip.

Then it set in and I cried, I shouted I wanted all the doctors to payfor my year of pain but there wasn't time for all of that. I neededto find out all I could about this disease and what a hip replacementwould do to me. That is when I found this wonderful group. I guessyou could use the old saying " and the rest is history". (Although myAVN is still very present.)

Hugs & Love,

Karen