Friday July 31, 2009 Update on the shot and a calf issue

It's now been 9 days since the cortisone shot in my hip and I would say that it worked. There is still an occasional twinge but nothing like before. I am getting backaches if I lean over too much (it happened at work last Sunday and earlier this week when I washed the cars) but maybe it won't happen now that more time has passed. I am working tomorrow and Sunday and then won't be working for a couple of weeks since we're going away on vacation!

Meanwhile, however, during PT this Wednesday, my right calf has tightened up terribly. The PT guy rubbed it and massaged it while I was there which helped slightly. But yesterday it was REALLY tight all day, and occaisonally the small area on the lateral side of my right knee, on top, was tightening too and looked a little swollen. Last night I took a Flexeril and a bath before bed so my calf would loosen up. I woke up and it was slightly looser than it had been. Today, I didn't have usual PT guy but a PT woman instead who checked things out and had me stretch the calves (both) on an incline gadget. That really stretched it but it is still sore. There is a good size bruise there too from rubbing it so much! But at least the knee spot isn't so bad today. Hopefully I'll make it through the 4 hours of work tomorrow and the 4 hours of work Sunday.

Next week brings PT on Monday, a follow up on the shot with Dr. Rogell on Wednesday, and PT Thursday and Friday, which should be the end of it. I don’t think I’ll need any more as the hip feels much better----and if I continue to do more of the exercises!

Wednesday July 22, 2009: The Hip Cortisone Shot

It wasn't too bad, although not exactly pleasant. I was led into a room that reminded me of an operating room----and to think the last operating room I was in, I don't even remember---. The doctor, a Dr. Sherman, came in and introduced himself and briefly discussed the procedure as did an assistant. I did remember to ask about how long to wait for PT and the answer was 24 hours-and to take it easy for them. I didn't have to change---just had to move the sweat pants and undies (nothing like being discreet) down to my thighs once I was covered by a blanket. I could see my hip on a monitor. They put in some kind of dye to be able to see things clearly. Betadine was swabbed on the area too and then some numbing agent. The shot itself was very quick and not particularly painful at all. I didn't watch the monitor while the shot was being administered. So that's all done. Reports will be sent to Dr. Rogell, Dr. Miller, and Dr. Maki.
And I could take my Mobic again with dinner. Halleleujah!
Now I just have to wait for the cortisone to kick in and the Mobic (Meloxicam) to kick in.

Tueday July 21, 2009

Today would've been my father's 90th birthday. Hard to imagine him that old since he died shortly after his 73rd birthday.
Tomorrow is the xray guided cortisone shot. Since I can drive myself home, I guess it won’t be terrible! I had PT yesterday and today, today making up for the appointment I managed to miss on Friday. While getting the shot tomorrow, I have to find out how long I have to wait before having PT again. With this information, I'll call the PT place tomorrow afternoon and make more appointments. Next week I'm working SUnday and the following Saturday so they should be easy to schedule.

Thursday July 16, 2009: PT again

2nd PT session with the correct PT guy. Did a bunch of exercises with a ball as well as having some e-stimulation, which according to Web MD:
Electrical stimulation, including transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), implanted electric nerve stimulation, and deep brain or spinal cord stimulation, is the modern-day extension of age-old practices in which the nerves of muscles are subjected to a variety of stimuli, including heat or massage. Electrical stimulation, no matter what form, involves a major surgical procedure and is not for everyone, nor is it 100 percent effective.

I also got kinesio tape, like the beach volleyball players used last summer at the Olympics.

Kinesio Taping gives support and stability to your joints and muscles without affecting circulation and range of motion. It is also used for Preventive Maintenance, Edema, and Pain Management.

Hoping I won't have a reaction to the adhesive on it but I was told it's Japanese and may use a different adhesive than American ones. It can be on for 1-2 days and you can shower with it on.

Tuesday July 14, 2009: Hip PT starts

Happy Bastille Day! I had my PT evaluation today, and it turns out it was with my previous PT guy, but that was only for today. Lots of muscle tightness, which the PT will loosen up and I will be doing some strengthening exercises too. I was also given a set of exercises to do 3 times a day (in addition to the 1X [at least] a day exercises I do for my new knee. Appointments have been made for Thursday and then Monday of next week. The cortisone shot at the hospital has now been scheduled for that Wednesday (no Mobic for at least 5 days prior!!!!) and will make more PT appointments once I find out from the doctor who does the shot how long I have to wait before starting PT again. When in the parking lot, I called Henry to say I was on my way home and he told me CFO called to say I needed a follow up appointment with Dr. Rogell so I went back into the building and made that appointment for August sometime (before our vacation). PT guy also said my new knee is looking good and acting well!

Thursday July 9, 2009: The verdict is in!

The verdict is in. It is hip arthritis, wear and tear. I will be having 4 weeks of PT 3X a week, with the evaluation next Tuesday at my usual PT place, but not with the PT guy had the last time, but the guy who was becoming the new boss/head when I was there in the fall. I also have to wait for the hospital to call to schedule a cortisone shot injection. With hip cortisone shots, it has to be x-ray guided so it has to be done at the hospital! Hopefully they won’t take forever to call to schedule it. Not surprised this was the finding, but am surprised about the PT which I’m sure will be helpful, just time consuming!

Monday July 6, 2009: MRI day

Firstly, happy birthday to my nephew Oliver.
I called at 9AM the phone number I was given on Thursday for the MRI place and discovered it wasn't my usual place. However, they had an opening at 1:30, so I made the appointment and then made an appointment at the ortho's for Thursday afternoon to get results. The MRI place, in Brewster, is actually in a shopping center next to a UPS store! Not the same amenities as my usual place-no music, no stars to stare at during the scan, but the scan was done. It was the most uncomfortable MRI I ever had. No contrast, but in order to get the hips in the right position, my feet had to strapped together in a pigeon-toed position for the entire scan. Not fun, but when I had the xrays at the ortho's last week, my feet had to be in that same position so I guess it was necessary. Also my lower back hurt and the hip bursitis area wasn't comfortable either. I was given the CD with the scans on it and the report will be sent to the ortho office by Thursday.
Then this evening, I managed to slip on the bathroom floor but didn't land on the new part of the knee, only the thigh and the area right under the knee cap. I've iced it and hopefully will not have a future problem because of it!
More on Thursday after my ortho appointment (which isn't until 3PM).

Wednesday July 1, 2009: Welcome to July

A new month, a new orthopedic problem. Since we were in Boston on June 12-13, my hip has ached a lot, enough to the point that has woken me up and kept me awake. Yesterday I finally gave into the pain and called the ortho office. Dr. Schweitzer is on vacation and wouldn't be available until late next week for appointments. I could get an appointment with another one of the orthos there (after telling the scheduler what the problem is) and got an appointment for this morning. So I went. Xrays were taken immediately (the reason why I chose to go to the ortho office rather than the rheumy office). The doctor came in with them. They show there is something going on in the left hip (ha, just typed knee first--probably after years of typing problems with the knee, lol) but he can't tell without an MRI if it's arthritis in the hip or a labral tear there or both. So one is in the process of being scheduled. He could tell I have hip bursitis but at least my ITB is okay. If the MRI shows arthritis, then I can have a shot of cortisone. He also mentioned a round of Synvisc, which is a off-label use of it. I said I'd only do that if insurance okays and pays for it since I'm sure its cost is similar to Supartz (which was about $400 a pop, including fees for the administration of the shots). If there is a tear, then arthroscopic surgery is done to clean up the debris. He did say I have excellent flexibility (something I've been told by a lot of people) and my bones on the xray look good and strong.
So hopefully tomorrow I'll get a call about the MRI schedule. I'm hoping to have it early next week. After I get the appointment made, I have to call the ortho office to make my follow up (results) appointment.
I would like to thank my parents for inheriting the bad knees gene (thank you, Dad) and the bad shoulders and hips gene (thank you, Mom)!