Spiky Bugger
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2014
- Messages
- 6,225
Again, long background…I (we) go to a large Ortho group. Started with the KHD (Knee/Hip Dude). In HS, he carpooled with a guy I dated, so we kinda connected. (When the mutual friend hit town, KHD even took us to lunch at his country club.)
A few years ago, when spine damage became evident, I was sent to one spine guy, but he wanted surgery and I didn’t.
Then recently, it was the ASD (Arm Shoulder Dude) who gave me the steroid injection and gave me an arm I could use! Injection IS wearing off, but it has been a huge improvement!
On to the SD (Spine Dude) because my calves and feet are in BAD shape. After about an hour or so of sitting in one position and driving, my feet could no longer feel the gas or brake pedals. SD says the way to go is another steroid injection, later on, in the spine. Here comes the problem…
SD says that I can only receive three, maybe four, steroid injections in a year and the shoulder jab that ASD gave me has already used one of those and I’d have to choose.
Didn’t sound right. I went to online sources…Mayo, Cleveland, PubMed…and asked I my Physical Therapist.
The medical sources ALL said that the limit was “three per year PER AREA,” and there should be at least 12 weeks between jabs.
My Physical Therapist wrote, “I’m not sure on the cortisone rule, but I would be careful about how many. At this point it’s more risk vs benefit. If you were like super active or wanting to get back to pickle ball or something I’d say chill on the injections because they decrease tendon integrity and can contribute to tears or injury. I don’t think I’ll see you on the court so I think if one of the MDs says yeah sure it’ll be ok, and they help your quality of life, then there’s the answer.”
I don’t play pickle ball. And it IS a quality of life issue for me and my ADLs:
•If I treat ONLY my spine, I will be unable to bathe, dress, or feed myself w/out assistance. Transferring will be dangerous, grooming a joke and post-toileting cleaning-up a nightmare!
•If I treat ONLY my shoulder, I will be always attached to my rollator (walker); I will be a real fall risk at all times, especially night time potty runs; I will be unable to drive, and if my hero loses HIS license, we will both be housebound or relegated to those senior transport services…and they don’t CARE about my bathroom issues.
I see the ASD Thursday. It has been ten weeks since the first jab and I can wait a bit longer for a second one there. It is “tender,” but no horrid pain like before.
BUT…WHERE DO I START IN ORDER TO GET WHAT I WANT?
1-Tell the nice lady who works with KND and SD that unless there is real concurrence in Medicine World that three shots total per year is the limit, I will be getting three in both areas…and while I want to do it there, my ability to function is my primary concern…and ask HER where to start.
2-Wait and see ASD, tell him what SD said, and put HIM in the position of confronting someone.
I’m old. Too old to give a rat’s ass about pickle ball. And I can handle SOME pain, as long as I can function.
Any ideas?
A few years ago, when spine damage became evident, I was sent to one spine guy, but he wanted surgery and I didn’t.
Then recently, it was the ASD (Arm Shoulder Dude) who gave me the steroid injection and gave me an arm I could use! Injection IS wearing off, but it has been a huge improvement!
On to the SD (Spine Dude) because my calves and feet are in BAD shape. After about an hour or so of sitting in one position and driving, my feet could no longer feel the gas or brake pedals. SD says the way to go is another steroid injection, later on, in the spine. Here comes the problem…
SD says that I can only receive three, maybe four, steroid injections in a year and the shoulder jab that ASD gave me has already used one of those and I’d have to choose.
Didn’t sound right. I went to online sources…Mayo, Cleveland, PubMed…and asked I my Physical Therapist.
The medical sources ALL said that the limit was “three per year PER AREA,” and there should be at least 12 weeks between jabs.
My Physical Therapist wrote, “I’m not sure on the cortisone rule, but I would be careful about how many. At this point it’s more risk vs benefit. If you were like super active or wanting to get back to pickle ball or something I’d say chill on the injections because they decrease tendon integrity and can contribute to tears or injury. I don’t think I’ll see you on the court so I think if one of the MDs says yeah sure it’ll be ok, and they help your quality of life, then there’s the answer.”
I don’t play pickle ball. And it IS a quality of life issue for me and my ADLs:
•If I treat ONLY my spine, I will be unable to bathe, dress, or feed myself w/out assistance. Transferring will be dangerous, grooming a joke and post-toileting cleaning-up a nightmare!
•If I treat ONLY my shoulder, I will be always attached to my rollator (walker); I will be a real fall risk at all times, especially night time potty runs; I will be unable to drive, and if my hero loses HIS license, we will both be housebound or relegated to those senior transport services…and they don’t CARE about my bathroom issues.
I see the ASD Thursday. It has been ten weeks since the first jab and I can wait a bit longer for a second one there. It is “tender,” but no horrid pain like before.
BUT…WHERE DO I START IN ORDER TO GET WHAT I WANT?
1-Tell the nice lady who works with KND and SD that unless there is real concurrence in Medicine World that three shots total per year is the limit, I will be getting three in both areas…and while I want to do it there, my ability to function is my primary concern…and ask HER where to start.
2-Wait and see ASD, tell him what SD said, and put HIM in the position of confronting someone.
I’m old. Too old to give a rat’s ass about pickle ball. And I can handle SOME pain, as long as I can function.
Any ideas?
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