It's been a week of injections for me...

**Cindylou** · 01-17-2010, 09:31 AM

This was get pricked by the needles week for me. I had my appt. w/ my cervical doc and he recommended first trying an ESI on my neck, and if that didn't give me relief, then we would do another MRI, and consider radiofrequency ablation again. Lucky for me they had a cancellation the very next day for the ESI procedure so I booked it and got my driver lined up. I always get light sedation for it, even tho the nurses always try and talk me out of it, which annoys me. During the phone registration you are told to have a driver, and nothing to eat or drink after midnight, and so I follow those instructions only to get there and have them tell me it's such an easy procedure (which it absolutely can be for most folks) and I don't need the sedation....even tho they have to start an IV regardless. I see no reason to be put in more pain while you're trying to get out of pain. In any event, my neck feels awesome right now, so I hope this ESI lasts for a good while. :thumpup:

Another day I had my yearly follow up with my hip/knee doctor. My bad left knee has been giving me alot of grief (big, swollen Baker's cyst behind knee cap) and it buckled on me last week while going up the stairs, and I fell flat on my face. My right hip is still a huge issue for me too, and I still think it is contributing to the tightness across my low back and my lack of range of motion. So he ordered an x-ray of both. My knee is a mess with arthritis and I have arthritis in my knee cap as well. (I have had two prior surgeries on it since the 70's from a skiing accident) So he gave me an injection in my knee to see if that will help. Hopefully it will.

My hip x-ray was another story. He said it looks fine which is what he always says about it even tho I have pain in it. So the treatment plan we agreed on was for me to go to an imaging center and they will do an injection there with something different than steroid (gosh, the name of the injection is escaping me at the moment) and I am to pay close attention to pain relief for the first two hours after it. If I get good relief than he will consider going back in arthroscopically to look around and see what may be going on that isn't showing up on an x-ray and MRI, and loosen my capsule that I believe he "over corrected" when he did the surgery the first time 3 years ago. When my husband asked him this very question a good two years ago, if it was possible my pain was coming from him suturing up the capsule too tight, he did admit it could be a possibility. I also told him in no uncertain terms that I wanted him to go in and look at this hip, no matter what. X-ray's and MRI's DO NOT SHOW EVERYTHING. A decent doctor will tell you this upfront. This injection for my hip is scheduled for this Tuesday, in two days. I feel good that I am being pro-active on this, and have got to get to the bottom of this hip issue. I have never had any hip issues ever, until I got that tear in my labrum, which he repaired, and my hip has still never been the same. I will not just sit back, be in pain, and accept what doctors tell me anymore. It's my body, not theirs, and by God, time's a ticking. I still have alot of living left to do, and I will do it, come hell or high water. Period.

**Katie** · 01-17-2010, 10:38 AM

" I will not just sit back, be in pain, and accept what doctors tell me anymore. It's my body, not theirs, and by God, time's a ticking. I still have alot of living left to do, and I will do it, come hell or high water. Period. "

This is definitely the quote of the week!!!!

You go girl! I need a bit of that spunk injected into me, I think

Are you up for the job??! While you have been through a lot this week, it sounds like it has all been for the good. I laughed so hard at your last paragraph...you are turning into a raging granny

In a very good way, of course!

Love you!

**BRUTUS** · 01-17-2010, 11:04 AM

Cindy,
You are a brave soul after all you have gone thru. My back pain must be minimal in comparison to you but you are truly an inspiration...although I am not very religious and was raised Catholic I will pray for you. You have more courage than many Marines I served with. I truly wish you well-
R/
Andy

**Cindylou** · 01-18-2010, 09:39 AM

Awe, Katie and Andy. Love you too Katie! I guess this Grammy has still got some piss and vinegar left in her, yeah? hehe Your comments humble me Andy. Thank-you. Of course I have my down times and you all have seen them, more times than I can shake a stick at. But then I pick myself back up, dust off, and start the fight again.

At the end of the day, no medical doctor has enough time, nor cares enough (believe me on this one), nor can always remember you and your current issues to do for you what you can and should do for yourself, to get to your goal.

I'm looking forward to my right hip injection tomorrow. It says on the sheet: Arthrography-Right Hip/MSK Injection. Not sure if that is the same as a corticosteroid injection? Perhaps Justin can comment.

Funny story: years ago when the kids were all still young we took all 5 of them to Six Flags in Arlington Texas for a day of outdoor recreation. Remember 5 kids, so I didn't have time to do my hair that morning, so I tied a red bandana around my head. I thought it looked pretty hip. When we got to the ticket counter after waiting in a long line to get in, a security officer walked over to me and said I could not be admitted with my bandana on my head, because it was a gang symbol. Mind you, I was in my early 40's, surrounded by 5 children! Well, I was pissed and vain as well. My hair was a mess under the bandana. I refused to take it off unless the officer would escort me to the closest shop in the park so I could purchase a baseball cap. Well, he complied and we walked to the shop where I purchased my cap and then handed him my bandana. My kids told me they were proud of me. My point to them tho, that I clearly wanted to make, was not to necessarily defy authority, but always be willing to compromise, if the circumstances support it.

**Justin** · 01-18-2010, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by Cindylou

I'm looking forward to my right hip injection tomorrow. It says on the sheet: Arthrography-Right Hip/MSK Injection. Not sure if that is the same as a corticosteroid injection? Perhaps Justin can comment.

Hi CL,

An arthrogram is a joint x-ray. They will probably follow the arthrogram with a steroid injection, but I'm not 100% sure in your situation. Here's a link to a quick read that might be helpful: Arthrogram (Joint X-ray) WebMD.

The light at the end of the tunnel is coming! Keep your head up CL.