Monday Feb. 22, 2010: Cortisone shot day

I got my shot in my left knee this morning in preparation for my trip. The office again was running late. That never happened before. I don't know if they're trying to get more patients in an hour or what (or their new computer system is causing problems-which is was last time). Anyway, he gave me the shot. We discussed and poked at the other knee. I described where and when that knee is hurting (going down stairs and bent when I drive mostly) and he said that is kneecap/patella issues---arthritis----and possibly in another spot where it's hard to tell because it's still numb there from the PKR (nerves haven't regenerated completely-smaller area than at first). He said when it gets troublesome, we'll check that one out. He doesn't like to go in arthroscopically to see what is going on because that in itself can stir up problems. It is feeling better. I am no longer having the muscle cramps since I seem to have figured out what motions trigger them (although when they first started 10 or so days ago, they'd just cramp up for some reason) so I avoid those motions. I don't see him again until my pre-op in April so he told me to have a nice trip:)
So Friday I have the MRI for the implant scan---closed machine but my head will be sticking out. And they have it in their records (noted when I made the appointment) that I am slightly claustrophobic so they're prepared if there is a problem.

Monday Aug. 3, 2009: The bruise

I called the regular doctor's office this morning and got myself an appointment for the afternoon. PT people were shocked at the bruise! I remembered to tell them I have my appointment on Wednesday with the ortho.. Meanwhile, this afternoon, primary doctor was surprised at the size of the bruise. Agreed stopping Mobic was a good idea (for now at least). Blood was drawn for a platelet count and a potassium check (because of the tightening muscle). BP was really high there-higher than I ever have seen it, 162 over something. So she said before prescribing medicine for that (it had been high usually for the last 1.5 years), I should get a home BP monitor and take readings 3 a day for 3 weeks and then bring it to look at. I thought we already had one but when I got home, Henry said it was not working so I had to get another. I've taken my BP now twice, once at 4:30: 121/76 and then at 8PM after running down 5-6 stairs from up here in my office to downstairs in the living room, and it was 123/78. That's a whole lot lower than at the doctor's! I go back on August 24 with the monitor.

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!