erinsemail
08-22-2006, 11:24 PM
My father is 67 years old and resides in Southwest Louisiana. He has traveled only to Pennsylvania and Georgia in recent months, briefly.
6 weeks ago, he began having severe hip pain. Within 1 week, he required crutches to walk. Because he already has one artificial hip, he suspected his other hip was "about to go". Instead he was dianosed with an internal compund fracture in the joint/socket. He did NOT fall or hurt himself physically.
The orthopedist has stated that he has a cyst in his hip that has likely been there for years and is consistent with normal arthritis.
After 3 weeks, he began running 101 degree fever nightly. A change in pain medecine did not help. At week 5, he was taken to the emergency room because his pain was so severe. He is normally pain-tolerant. It was discovered here that his white count was 42,000. He was admitted to the hospital and his count climbed to 71000 within 7 days.
An aspiration from the hip and basic blood and urine tests reveal no infection. A bone marrow biopsy revealed no leukemia and no multiple myloma. The doctors think he has cancer somewhere in his body but they are not able to locate it.
A scan revealed fluid on his lungs and swollen lymph nodes. 2 liters of fluid was removed and random tissue samples were taken. No cancer.
CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis reveal nothing more significant.
Doctors do not feel his hip joint fracture is the cause of his increased white count.
No antibiotics have been given as of yet.
After several days in the hospital, my dad is feeling short of breath and has a slightly low Oxygen level. They have him on Oxygen.
What could this be? Please help me help my dad. The medical team is great, caring, and dedicated to the effort but they too are running out of ideas.
I am submitting this in the Arthritis issue section soley because I have been reading up on this and want to see if this could be the cause.
Thank you greatly for your kindness!
6 weeks ago, he began having severe hip pain. Within 1 week, he required crutches to walk. Because he already has one artificial hip, he suspected his other hip was "about to go". Instead he was dianosed with an internal compund fracture in the joint/socket. He did NOT fall or hurt himself physically.
The orthopedist has stated that he has a cyst in his hip that has likely been there for years and is consistent with normal arthritis.
After 3 weeks, he began running 101 degree fever nightly. A change in pain medecine did not help. At week 5, he was taken to the emergency room because his pain was so severe. He is normally pain-tolerant. It was discovered here that his white count was 42,000. He was admitted to the hospital and his count climbed to 71000 within 7 days.
An aspiration from the hip and basic blood and urine tests reveal no infection. A bone marrow biopsy revealed no leukemia and no multiple myloma. The doctors think he has cancer somewhere in his body but they are not able to locate it.
A scan revealed fluid on his lungs and swollen lymph nodes. 2 liters of fluid was removed and random tissue samples were taken. No cancer.
CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis reveal nothing more significant.
Doctors do not feel his hip joint fracture is the cause of his increased white count.
No antibiotics have been given as of yet.
After several days in the hospital, my dad is feeling short of breath and has a slightly low Oxygen level. They have him on Oxygen.
What could this be? Please help me help my dad. The medical team is great, caring, and dedicated to the effort but they too are running out of ideas.
I am submitting this in the Arthritis issue section soley because I have been reading up on this and want to see if this could be the cause.
Thank you greatly for your kindness!