Ortho visit/ I like this Dr. | Arthritis Information

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Ortho put in cortisone injections both knees ( which are hyper stiff and sore at the moment).....and a injection into the bursa on the side of my hip. I do have hip bursitis.

I still have stiffness and pain in my lower back, but when I got home today I layed down ( been very wore out) and when I woke up I was laying on my RIGHT HIP...have not done that for what seems like forever. Ortho talked about surgery on knees, we decided to put that off for now. He also talked about ordering me a burst pred pack...He knows I am scared of pred because of 1 bad experience...I told him if these shot don’t work I will call him and maybe try a short pred pack. He said that maybe the pred would help calm my many joints that are inflamed. so the plaq would have a easier time to start working, he also told me that the best treatment will be finding the right "combination of drugs, he mentioned Methetrexate and Humira and others. He made an appointment for me in 3 months he took alot of time going over all my swollen joints, I told him I was growing weary and overwhelmed and he looked at me and said " I can see that in you also". Made me feel validated, like he just didn't see me as a bag of joints and bones, but was interested in my qaulity of life.

I see my rheumy in January. I really want the plaq and cortisone shots to work.

I do want to say my ortho is a very attentive, compassionate, caring doctor. I am really lucky, my rheumy is also equally wonderful.

inflamedOnline2008-12-18 21:13:07

The soreness and stiffness should go away in a day or two. I love Orthos. Never met one i didn't like. They seem to me the most compationate doctors. Maybe they see us with RA and they know we can keep them busy. But orthos never see people unless they are in pain. So maybe this makes them more compationate.

I also think the best bet in getting a good dx. Is your eye doctor and an ortho. They can give your RD alot of insight as to what is going on. Glad your rheumy is equally good.

Hope the shots work for you. You are much braver than I. I refuse cortisone shots. Needle phobia, and heard they kinda hurt, soo... that does not appeal to me.
 
My sister had to work up enough nerve this week to go to the foot Dr and get a couple of cortisone shots in the heels of her feet. My mom said she was really dreading going, but she need relief from the pain... even if it meant a painful shot.
The shots helped me tremendously. I have had them in the knees  I think 4 or 5 times and in the hip once..
 
The hip shot lasted nearly a year. I think I will ask for another soon.
 
As far as the pred burst pack, its well worth it.
 I can't take pred for longer than a week, but the burst pack puts the brakes on and lets your poor joints rest and begin to heal.
Try it.. its generally  20 mg  ther first  couple days then every day lesss.
 
good luck
[QUOTE=kathy_in_wlsv]The shots helped me tremendously. I have had them in the knees  I think 4 or 5 times and in the hip once..
 
The hip shot lasted nearly a year. I think I will ask for another soon.
 
As far as the pred burst pack, its well worth it.
 I can't take pred for longer than a week, but the burst pack puts the brakes on and lets your poor joints rest and begin to heal.
Try it.. its generally  20 mg  ther first  couple days then every day lesss.
 
good luck
[/QUOTE]
 
Are the side effect less on a burst pack?... I mean the bad side effects, anxiousness, sleeplessness, moon face...etc..?

I believe they are less if you get put on a medrol pack. You would only take it for 7 days.

It takes a while to get the moon face.
Hi, am glad that you're getting some relief and that the appt. was productive.  A burst pack won't give you many symptoms at all.  You might find yourself hungry and maybe a little irritable or wired but that should be about it.  Take care.  Lindy
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