I went to Johns Hopkins on November 30th for an appt with Dr. Frank Frassica, Orthopaedic Surgeon.  Everything about this visit was overwhelming.  Driving thru Baltimore, past the Inner Harbor to get there.  Then the logistics of getting to the building & floor where my appt was held.  Learning about parking & $4 parking tickets.  Meeting the Dr & his TEAM of people – Physician’s Assistant & Medical Students, learning the ropes.  Getting blood work done & a needle biopsy on my very first visit.  I would soon learn this is the HOPKINS WAY … do as much as they can while you are there!  No need for another visit, if they can do it today!

My story begins in September/October 2005.  I started to experience leg pain in my right, inner thigh.  When I sat on the commuter train, the pain was more & more prominent.  Since I was over 40, I thought it was an aging thing.  I finally started seeing different Dr’s to try to determine the cause.  I had X-rays of my back, hips & legs.  I was in “the elimination game”.  All turned out OK.  Finally, I saw  Dr. Blam an Orthopedic, who recommended a MRI.  When I went to get the MRI, I only lasted about 12 minutes … I learned from this experience, I am caustrophobic, ugh.  I eventually had an open MRI in November that showed a soft tissue tumor in my thigh.  The next stop was Johns Hopkins on November 30th.