All the regular dramas keep spinning out their plots. A few new ones appear on the horizon, or at least new variations on old ones. The weather keeps bouncing from one extreme to the next. Chickens get tended, suppers get cooked, houses get cleaned. Sometimes.
I am sitting at the computer with an ice brace on my knee. That's probably not what it's really called, but that's what it is. It has 2 pockets that hold long reusable ice packs, and it has flaps and velcro to wrap the terrycloth side around your knee and hold it all in place. Ice seems to be the key. I got my first Hyalgen injection Monday. They normally give you a needle full of lidocaine to numb it nicely and then shoot the Hyalgan into the joint space. This is tricky, but they look at it with an ultrasound to make sure it's in the right spot and sploosh! This was my first shot of the stuff. It took 3 (THREE) needles full of lidocaine to be able to numb it enough to try to shoot the stuff in. The first time they withdrew the needle because the new PA couldn't get it in there right. It hurt like hell, but I was tough. He kept hitting the bone. There is so much arthritis in there that it's mucking up the works. The regular doc took over, and injected a second lidocaine in there, all around the knee. As her poked and prodded the knee cap area and I flinched and jumped and said "Ow, ow,ow" he just shook his head and asked for a third lidocaine needle. So, it was finaly pretty dang numb when he finally went to shoot the good stuff in. It was a harrowing experience. But of course, the lidocaine made my knee not hurt, so it was all good. I finished up and left for home. When I first got here, it was feeling a little achey, the lidocaine was wearing off. I made supper (a nice [home canned] turkey and noodle casserole with a fresh baked artisan baguette) and by the time we were sitting down to eat, it was starting to hurt. I expected it to...you can't jimmy around with needles and knees and not expect some kind of repercussions. lol By the time the Irishman went to bed, it was killing me. I came in here and put the tens unit and heat on it. It felt better for a minute. I went to bed and spent the entire night whimpering and crying out every time I moved my leg. My darling husband got up at 5 and fixed me an ice pack and brought it in, and offered to stay home and take care of me. (I declined). I could barely move my leg.
The night before, he had gone out to the garage and brought in my old crutches. I absolutely could not walk on that leg. Taking my weight off the knee helped and they're propped up here in the corner. I didn't sleep much last night, and after he brought the ice packs in and we put them on my knee, I got another pillow and propped myself up some so that my back wasn't so twisted, and actually slept for a couple of hours.
Today my son drove me to town to get some groceries and toilet paper. Staples. lol We had breakfast out and I was not feeling too bad. After I got home and put things away, I decided I'd go lie down again and put the ice on my knee and the heating pad on my back. I've been having some nasty back spasms the past few days and they were starting again. I slept for about 3 hours. The knee has felt pretty good all evening. So, I thought I'd ice it down before going to bed and see what happens. I've cleaned up my kitchen after a nice supper of bbq'd ribs, mashed potatoes and gravy and a delightful big green salad. (I've been wicked hungry for salads lately). And though my knee felt a little stressed, it hasn't been awful (knock wood) and I'm afraid to even talk about it as not to jinx it. lol
My son has had a few days of, and has really been great about helping me with the chickens and stuff--especially great, since there's still SO much snow out there and it's slippery. My husband has been wonderful as well, very supportive and sweet. I did venture out this afternoon, slowly and carefully, and went down to the mailbox and out back to see my girls.
I had today off, but go back to PT tomorrow. And then again on Thursday. I won't have to cook supper tomorrow as I have a lot of leftovers in there.
My sister-in-law is doing well and starts chemo and radiation next week. Her sister is here for another 4 days...I may try to go down there this weekend.
And that's been the story for the past few days. I kept meaning to get back here and blog about my pathetic little life, but just couldn't focus. lol
Not sure what kind of nasty weather is coming, but I guess we'll know tomorrow. Possibility of more snow the next 3 days. We had quite a lot of rain today, and I'm not complaining about that. But I am surely ready for spring.
I surely am.
Namaste.
7 comments:
Wow, I've been a nurse a long time but your post really taught me something today, you're the best! And I hope getting to the other side of this.
So sorry to hear what you're going through Annie -- my housemate has been through all of this and after a knee replacement she went to see an ignorant GP who stuck a needle into the knee and it broke on metal. She said that was excruciating.
Do take care, and it will get better.
All my love, dear one.
I hate to read that you are having so much pain Annie! You are one tough cookie and I repeat again, you are my hero.
HUGS!!
So glad to hear that the knee seems to be feeling a little better. (Anything would be an improvement from a couple of days ago, huh?) As you say, you can't go through what you did and not have a reaction. Fingers crossed and saying a prayer that this all helps. I know it's hard for you to do, but don't stress yourself unnecessarily. You've got to give your body time to adjust and heal. So glad your hubby and son are such a support for you. That means a lot!
I'm so sorry that you are suffering - I know exactly what you are going through. When you said that you moved in bed so your back wasn't so twisted it rang a bell with me. I've had horrible knee pain for several years - and sleeping was the worst - during the day it might ease some - and then - and then - emergency back surgery when pains began shooting down my whole leg. Well, seems that the knee pain was related completely to the ruptured disk in my back and the 1 1/2" extra shard of bone that had formed and was pressing into my spinal column. Remove shard, fix rupture - NO MORE KNEE PAIN. I never would have dreamed that all the knee pain was from my back - and sleeping with my back twisted is what made it worse.
I am pain free - even though there is arthritis in the knee - absolutely no pain - and I'm glad I had the surgery, though recovery has been slow - it has been pain free.
Glad to hear from you, but am so sorry there's non-stop troubles. You have such strength to keep plugging along. Wishing you less pain SOON, and some healing and peace for the whole family. And be gentler with your expectations of yourself, okay?
I am so sorry you had such a horrible experience. I am an xray tech and have worked the last 7 years for an Orthopaedic surgeon that specializes in knee replacements. I have assisted many times ( handing items to the Dr. and PA ) many times while they have given shots. NEVER have they had to give 3 doses of lidocaine to anyone prior to a knee injection. All I could think was oh my gosh when I read your post. I hope they explained to you that it takes about 6 weeks after your last injection for maximum effect to be felt with those shots. If your knee swells you should call your Dr. as some people do have reactions to them . Best of luck to you.
Tina
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