Post Shot Consult

 

Yes That's Me on a Bike Ride!

I had my post shot consult at Summit Orthopedics yesterday. Although the doctor I met with was a surgeon we are both totally on board with avoiding surgery as long as possible! Secondly, did you know that I actually got 2 shots 2 weeks ago? I didn’t! But the doctor showed me the picture of the injection site and there are definitely two injections, one in L3 and one in L4. No wonder it hurt so much!

We talked about my remaining pain, and just as I suspected, it now makes sense to have another shot, this time in L5, which should address the nerves that were missed. We went over the why and wherefore of doing L3/L4 first and it makes sense to me; that’s the big nerve bundle, and that’s the one where the major impingement is so reducing the inflammation there first gives us the most bang for the buck.

You can only get 2 shots at the same time, and you can’t have another shot for at least 6 weeks. So they are putting in the request for authorization to insurance now and will call me to schedule the next shot as soon as they have it authorized. Its a credit to how much better I feel that even though those first shots were extremely painful I’m gung ho to get that second shot asap (which should be about 4 weeks from now).

Now the part that’s not so great. The shots tend to last anywhere from 2-4 months on average. Of course that means that for some people they last longer, and for some, not as long. And you can’t get shots proactively; it doesn’t work that way. We have to wait until the benefits start to fade and then schedule another shot. And you’re not supposed to get more than 3 shots a year.

This makes planning for our cruise to New Zealand in January a little difficult but the doc said we can work with it.

We also talked about other things I can do to enhance and prolong the shot’s positive effects. He likes everything I’m doing (PT, water aerobics, biking) and thinks I should consider acupuncture and therapeutic massage as well. So I will!

He encouraged me to take ibuprofen and Tylenol as needed. I don’t know why I’m so resistant to taking pain meds. I do take Tylenol occasionally but not very often.

We also talked about how it’s normal to lose so much fitness by sitting around for over 2 months. It’s one of the hardest things for me mentally, in post-shot land. Things that were easy before this happened are so hard now! I have so little endurance, and abs? What are they? Well I’m working on it, that’s all I can do.

Overall I’m very happy. I have good days and bad ones but things are still improving and I’m enjoying every pain-free (or almost pain-free) moment I can get.

Lynn and Her Leg - After The Shot

 

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