Those of you who've been around here for awhile know I've whined about my knee giving me trouble. For a good eighteen months or more, it hurt far more than it didn't. I went up and down stairs like a kid, step-together-step. I couldn't take a tub bath. If I lifted a ten pound bag of kitty litter I'd hurt the next day. If I walked a few blocks, ditto. And my orthopedist, who mostly treats sports injuries, but who did give me synvisc on my request, refused to give me a cortisone shot. My only hope with him was a complete knee replacement. Which takes months of recovery and which would require full-time aid for my husband during that time.
For the first time in my life, in December I asked my PCP for a referral for a second opinion, which he gladly gave me. The new orthopedist said of COURSE he can give me a cortisone shot, so I had one shortly before I went on the cruise. As those who were with me can attest, I walked. I walked a lot. Up and down stairs. On the memory walk. To the Hemingway House in Key West (though that was a bit of a stretch, eh, Janet!) AND MY KNEE DIDN'T HURT. Now, more than a month later, I climb stairs without thinking about it. I am back to walking a mile or so on a good day. I can squat, for heavens' sake. The swelling is gone. I know it won't last so I'm trying to do all those chores that need doing while I can, although I fully plan to get another shot when needed. I had NO idea it would help THAT MUCH! Suddenly, I don't feel OLD anymore!
And I did research about whether or not cortisone shots are dangerous. I gather that over long periods of time, as with kids, they may damage tendons. I'm not gonna LIVE that long! I'm living today for today! And I may never get a knee replacement.
As I may have mentioned before, I have had both knees replaced. Last fall I discovered a soft-tissue swelling in one knee. The Orthopedist said it was the body's reaction to breakdown of the plastic portion (after 14 years), and that this needs to be replaced. Since it is less than a full replacement he felt I would be able to take care of my wife after 2 weeks. So, I'm going to schedule it for early July when both daughters can be here to take over the care. My only hesitation is that I have absolutely no pain in the knee, just the swelling. I am able to exercise 3 times a week with no problem. I'll see him next month and then make my decision.
Glad to hear you're doing well. Surgery is always a last resort. I postponed mine twice, and the exericse helped it enough that I didn't have the surgery. DC was quite a test, but it's still holding up.
I'm so glad that your knee is still not hurting. When I saw the title of this discussion, I was afraid you were going to say that all the walking on the cruise had made it worse. Yes, Hemingway's House was a bit of a stretch, and you did so much more than just that - stairs and all!
Glad to hear your good Knee News.. I dread needles..but mercy if anything helped that good.. its worth it. Marsh, I hope your procedure is uncomplicated and PAINFREEE.. Spritely. now doesn't that just sound great?? A good day to all you cruisers. I'll bet it was great fun.
We will indeed, Mary. I confess, I keep dreaming of cruising - and I never thought I would!
I wanted to mention that this orthopedist was very gentle. He swabbed the skin with novocaine, and there was novocaine IN the shot, too, so it only smarted for a few seconds. It did hurt as it went in and his assistant, an adorable Asian girl said BREATHE and I did and then it was over. I remember a cortisone shot years ago in my elbow which hurt almost worse than the elbow, but then it did improve immensely. This, the same.