Even more fun with knees
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 01:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rolanniSo, back from the knee doctor, who tells me that the fact that my knee is starting to hurt again this soon after the codeine shot means that I win. . .gel shots.
Providing the insurance company agrees, that is.
Moving on the assumption that the insurance company will agree -- and no way I can afford these shots if they don't -- the plan is to have me come in once a week for three weeks in November.
I seem to remember from our previous conversation about failing joints that several people on the f'list have gone the gel-injection route. Anybody want to give me an overview of what I can expect? I find it interesting that the doctor admits that nobody knows why it works, or what happens to the lubricant when it. . .dissipates. However, it does seem to retard the wearing away of cartilage, with no other apparent side effects. They think.
Herm.
In other news, still trying to decide if going to see the 9 at the buck-a-head showing tonight starting at 8:50 is a smart move. For sure I wouldn't get to sleep before midnight. On the other hand, I know where they keep the caffeine. Decisions, decisions.
Providing the insurance company agrees, that is.
Moving on the assumption that the insurance company will agree -- and no way I can afford these shots if they don't -- the plan is to have me come in once a week for three weeks in November.
I seem to remember from our previous conversation about failing joints that several people on the f'list have gone the gel-injection route. Anybody want to give me an overview of what I can expect? I find it interesting that the doctor admits that nobody knows why it works, or what happens to the lubricant when it. . .dissipates. However, it does seem to retard the wearing away of cartilage, with no other apparent side effects. They think.
Herm.
In other news, still trying to decide if going to see the 9 at the buck-a-head showing tonight starting at 8:50 is a smart move. For sure I wouldn't get to sleep before midnight. On the other hand, I know where they keep the caffeine. Decisions, decisions.
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no subject
Date: 2009-09-23 05:57 pm (UTC)WRT seeing "9", if you haven't seen it, do so. It isn't as good as "Up", but it's still well worth full-price tickets.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-23 06:57 pm (UTC)http://www.faithlutheranchurch.org/00sermons/01-09-00.htm
no subject
Date: 2009-09-23 06:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-23 06:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-23 06:31 pm (UTC)Also goes for spines.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-23 06:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-23 06:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-23 07:41 pm (UTC)The proximate cause is arthritis coupled with normal cartilage wear. Knees are apparently not designed for the ages. I suspect the arthritis was helped along by the fact that I constantly fell on my right (now rechristened my "bad") knee when I was a kid -- courtesy of being switched from a left-hander to a sorta right-hander. I have knots of scar tissue on that knee.
I should probably lose 20 pounds and take some of the strain off; both of my jobs being sedentary, I don't see that happening any time soon, unfortunately.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-25 03:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-25 10:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-25 05:24 pm (UTC)I'm having the second knee done this year because I've hit my out-of-pocket for the year, and I don't know what my insurance is going to be like in the next couple of years (my former employer is "improving" things out of all recognition). So I'm getting it done now while I can afford it. The money angle trumps the medical. Again.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-24 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-23 07:02 pm (UTC)As to the medical procedure I give the following information (from the "for what it is worth" department). I had to have floating body removed from my knee. My orthopedic surgeon was having the gel injections at the time (himself) and was a big fan. if they are willing to experiment on themselves perhaps it is not so bad and may be useful?
Knee injections (Hyalgan or Synvisc)
Date: 2009-09-23 09:49 pm (UTC)After each injection, you feel a lump in your knee, but it does not feel uncomfortable; it is "just there". About the time the next injection comes due, you have reached the point where you don't feel the first one. Then, with the second one, there is that feeling of "something there" again, but no real pain. Ditto for the third injection. I would say that about two weeks after the third injection, you don't really feel anything any more. Relief from the arthritis pain may take several weeks to fully realize, but hopefully it will come.
Yours,
M.C. Thomson, Harrisburg, PA
Re: Knee injections (Hyalgan or Synvisc)
Date: 2009-09-24 04:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-23 10:03 pm (UTC)Talk to your orthopedist. Maybe he/she is using the new Synvisc.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-24 12:15 am (UTC)Why did I put it off? Didn't want to face the "big" shots, of course. Now my doctor was VERY good. He did a novocaine injection on each knee first (which stung a little) then waited three minutes, and then did the jello shots. Each shot took about fifteen seconds. There was virtually no pain on the first shot. The second, I felt some aching on one knee, nothing on the other. The aching was worse on the third and fourth, non-existant on the fifth. Your mileage may vary. What I'm trying to say is it was NOT bad, and absolutely not anything to worry about or a reason to not take the shots.
Now, I did NOT see any improvement until about a week after the last shot. I hear this varies person to person. With a little luck, I should be good until next summer. Will I take the shots again? You betcha! I wish you the best and think you will be delighted with the results.
P.S. I didn't notice any "lumps" in my knees at all, or any feeling that there was something there. Mostly I just notice, actively, a lack of the pain that has been constant for the last five years.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-24 12:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-24 12:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-24 05:00 pm (UTC)Thank You!
Date: 2009-09-24 03:29 am (UTC)Re: Thank You!
Date: 2009-09-24 12:29 pm (UTC)In defense of Dr. G...
Date: 2009-09-24 12:39 pm (UTC)Keeping fingers crossed for both our insurances!
Knees
Date: 2009-09-24 06:29 am (UTC)I have noticed some improvement, but still have pain.
I think replacement is in my future.
Tisha
knee shots
Date: 2009-09-25 04:37 am (UTC)