I had read every article, book, research paper, information booklet and personal account of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) that I could find, Neurogenic Heterotopic Ossification (NHO) and Manipulation under Anesthesia (MUA) had suffered the same fate. (If my memory was better I could probably lecture on all three of them!)
As such, I was fully aware that the MUA was a “try it and see” scenario, it is not the standard treatment protocol for NHO. It involves using force and specific manipulation techniques to achieve full range of motion in joints that are stiff and not moving freely not ones completely encased with bone and not moving at all. There existed a potential risk of breakage which would have made my already bad situation worse.
An MUA is completed as an out-patient procedure, I had to report to the hospital for 9:00 a.m. in the morning and providing it was successful I was to immediately go to the physical therapy department for a post-operative therapy session and then return home. As a result of the punctured lung I sustained in February, the anesthesiologist was very thorough in his questions and assessment. At one point I was concerned that he was not going to approve me for the use of general anesthesia but he requested an x-ray of my lung and was then sufficiently satisfied. I was advised of all the potential medical risk and my hand writing was improved enough that I was able to sign my consent forms. I was wheeled into the operating room just after 3 p.m.; before being given the anesthesia via an intravenous catheter, I asked the anesthesiologist if I should count backwards (clearly I watch too much television!), he said that I could if I wanted to but I do not think I made it pass 99. When I woke up around 4:30 p.m. I tried to move my hips and I could not, I did not need the orthopaedic surgeon to tell me that the MUA was not successful.
I was groggy, hoarse and a bit nauseous but not in any more pain than usual. I tried to convince myself that I was not disappointed, that I knew the odds were against me but I had tried and now I have to move onto plan B. The truth is, many persons were not in favour of or optimistic about the MUA as a treatment option for me – it was difficult to comprehend how one could manipulate and successful move that amount of bone – so why did I consent to the procedure? I wanted a miracle…
