Posted 5/27/2022 6:53 PM (GMT -5)
CCinPA
Thanks for your response.
The doctor wants me to try the shots first with braces (if needed) and eventually PT. (I was in too much pain to even try PT) If the cortisone doesn't work he suggests the other shot and if that doesn't work we'll see. He said he had a protocol where he can use both of them and it seems to help difficult cases. They really don't want to do surgery on me because I have had 3 bouts of pyoderma gangrenosum. 1 was a really small spot and didn't expand much. The other 2 times it was pretty bad. All of them occured on surgery incisions. So knee replacements are to be avoided.
The doctor called today and said headache is a side effect from the shots... 24 to 48 hrs. The pain med that's mixed into the cortisone can make your urine smell off for up to 5 days... And he said that happens frequently. He also said to elevate my knees first 48 to 72 hours as much as possible because you get better results. And finally he said they are a steroid so I might not be able to sleep very well for the first 48 hours. Boy was he right. I was awake all last night -til 430 am. My head was pounding like a drum but my mind was racing. He finished off with he was willing to do these every 3 months. He'd prefer to do them every 4 months but if he has to he will go down to 3. He said we may have to play with the timing of the shots and the Remicade infusion and that I might have to take some pain meds to push thru until the next shot.
But gosh... My knees feel so much better today. I could straighten them out and I didn't moan in pain. They don't feel full of fluid today. I think this might work. I just hope the shots last 6 months. I do wonder how the Remicade infusion will impact it. After my infusion I literally can't walk for a week because of the joint paint. Maybe I will be one of the lucky ones though. Maybe I should ask about the pills too? What do you think.
And finally... My thumbs and hips are bad too... But after the shots even they feel better. I wonder if the shots stay completely in your joints?
He used a "freeze spray" where he gave the shot. The shot itself was quick and I didn't feel him "moving it around". The whole area was icy cold-I couldn't feel anything... He said I am bone on bone on the inside of my knee only and the other side is completely healthy. My sister said her doc does it with a sonogram, no freezing spray, and he moves the needle around alot and it's pretty painful.... But her arthritis is on the outside part of her knee joint. The rest of my siblings....(4 others) All inside wear with the healthy outter side of knee joint... Like me. They all told me they don't get the numbing spray, no sonogram to direct the shot, and it hurts like the Dickens.
Right about now I am so Thankful for this doctor. I have to admit... I was sorta worried at first. He looks like he might be 30 if he's lucky... But he seems to know what he's doing and has good reviews.