 |
| Our Spectacular Ancient Crabapple Tree |
So a little over a week ago I finally had my cortisone shot. It was an interesting, and painful experience. But I'll cut through the suspense right now, it worked! Not 100%, I still have some pain, but I'm 80% better. I can walk, I don't need my walker except first thing in the morning, and most of the time I'm ok with just the cane or nothing at all. So it was definitely worth it, and I will do it again if I need to.
My appointment was last Friday at 1 pm. Lee came with me because I needed a driver (and emotional support too!). The whole experience involved mostly waiting, and then a very intense 15 minutes.
We waited in the waiting room for a little while and then pretty soon they had a cubicle available for us, so then we waited there. They took my blood pressure, checked my oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter, and checked my blood sugar levels as well. My blood pressure was relatively high but they weren't concerned, I think as long as it was under 200 (!) they didn't care. And when I'm nervous it is often high.
My blood glucose was 145, which is high for me (I'm pre-diabetic but I take meds and I'm usually close to 100). I have no idea why it was high, I had eaten but it had been several hours. The shot was going to make it spike again for a few days anyway; again they weren't concerned.
Then we waited again, probably for around 45 minutes. I get it; by that time of the afternoon he's probably running behind. And frankly I'd rather he take his time and do it right!
Finally it was my turn. They escorted me into a room across the hall. They had me lay on a table on my stomach with a pillow situated so that the place where the shot would go was a little elevated. It was a little awkward but not really uncomfortable. The shot was going into my lower spine (the nerve pathway between L3 and L4 to be precise). They cleaned that area on my back, put surgical cloth around the place where the shot would go. Then the doctor says the classic "now you're going to feel a little pressure". Pressure my ass! It felt weird, and it HURT! I was like "ow, ow, ow" and the nurse was like "deep breaths!" I was biting the pillow under my head trying not to yell!
So here's the cool thing about it. I knew the doctor was watching where to put the needle on a fluoroscope. I would have loved to have been able to see it, but it was out of my view. But I could feel the drugs going into my nerve pathways. I don't know how to describe it, except they went into my pelvis (very painful), around the inside of my upper thigh, then down the outside of my thigh until it got to my knee. Then it went around my knee and kind of skipped down to the inside of my foot and that was that.
I knew right as it was happening that it missed some places where I have pain, parts of my hip and the outside of my ankle.
The shot contained an epidural and a steroid. Once it was over I kind of staggered back to the cubicle where Lee was still waiting. They explained to me that the epidural was diagnostic and would only last for 2-8 hours, but would give me immediate relief. The steroid would work more slowly, reaching its peak benefit in anywhere from 2-3 days to 2-3 weeks.
We drove home with my leg feeling very tingly and strange. For the next 3 hours I was supposed to walk around and keep track of my pain levels and after the 3 hours were over I was to call them and report my pain level, which I did. 80% pain relief!
So over the next week I've slowly observed my leg improving. On Saturday I was able to go for a 13 minute walk. I started using my walker less and less. Each day I added 5 minutes to my walk, and yesterday I went on a 35 minute walk with very little pain.
I took a Chair Yoga class last Monday. It was a good experience, not too much, and a chance to move my body in ways I haven't moved it in over 2 months (I'm taking it again today). This week I'm going to try a Water Aerobics class. And I've made an appointment with my physical therapist. I want more exercises to help me get stronger safely.
The next big hurdle will be if I can ride a bike. I took the Sirrus in for a tuneup. I'm going to pick it up today and then sometime this week I will slowly and carefully try riding it. If it feels ok I might do a group ride the following week, with one of the Minnetonka Bike Club groups that do slower and shorter rides.
I'm so happy that the shot worked, even if it didn't work 100%. I'm going to do whatever it takes to make the shot last as long as possible. I've got a followup doctor's appointment in a week. I'll report back then!
 |
| Sophie Chilling By the Front Door |
