Shots are no fun.

I hope when you awaken from your nap that the headache and knee pain are gone, and that you will plan an enjoyable outing.

It will be worth if if it takes care of the pain. Feel better. (((((Satine))))

Hope you get relief soon! Thinking about you.

I went six months, between shots, this time. Had to have two 3 weeks ago, cortisone and hyaluronic injections.

Terrible fear of shots, but my doctor seems to do pretty good with injections. Thankfully!

I normally develop a headache in the evening, but gone by the next morning.

So sorry you are going through this! I know what it's like--I've had three knee operations and one back operation...after having gone through the cortisone shots. Those things are painful. Get some rest and I hope they help.

I have had so many injections and replacements....not fun! I had the best luck with Synvix One ... not sure of the spelling....it is a one time injection and so far, it is helping me to hold off another replacement for several years. I do remember having those headaches after cortisone shots....and blurry vision.

Surgeons are so busy....it is the norm to have to wait that long for a consult...then several months for the actual surgery. I hope you get some relief...hurting is not easy to endure....let alone for so long! I had a friend who had a sister in England and she waited three years to have her replacement...at least, I never had to wait that long here in the US.

I am so sorry. I hope they help you with your pain.

Oooh, nasty! Are you saying you will have knee surgery in March?

I took my MIL for these shots several times. She had severe RA. Knee surgery was still pretty primitive then, and her one attempt was not very successful.

I've had two hip replacements with little difficulty. I know that *knees* are a whole 'nother thing, though!

Thanks for all the thoughts. I am feeling a little better but still have a bit of a headache. I did go to the grocery store because I had to but I walked like a zombie with stiff knees and holding on to the cart for all I was worth.

I have not heard of synvix one. I thought they were always in a series of three each a week apart.

I could probably get in sooner with a different Dr but this one comes so highly recommended that Im willing to wait if I can. I had a very good I experience with the PA as he was thorough and explained in language I understood each of the xrays and what they were showing. He spent at least 20 minutes with me and I had confidence in him. In my area it is getting a bit harder to find specialists who will accept Medicare even though I have a good supplemental policy. I am willing to try the hyaluronic treatment if I can tolerate the injections.

Thanks again for the responses. Sometime it feels pretty lonely when you are going through something like this and live alone. Thanks friends.

I have been getting the Hyaluronic injections every 6 months for a few years now and they have been doing a good job. My MD. gives me something like novocaine before the injection, so it doesn't hurt very often. Yes, once in a while one will hurt but not always. And, yes, the injections are one a week for 3 weeks. My knees are mostly pain free for 5 of those 6 months....creak a lot , but I have no balance so having a replacement would not take away my walker. I'm just thankful that I can get around as well as I do, and always looking for ways to improve.

My heart goes out to you sweetie. Hugs

satine -- Is surgery not an option?

Chisue, surgery is a last option. I am not bone on bone so they want to try other options first. I really have to blame myself for putting this off until the pain was intolerable. I have tried all the regular treatments of cortisone, celebrex, pain meds etc. I have a real aversion to surgery as I have had more than my share. Also living alone means either a rehab or nursing facility following surgery. See what I mean--excuses and procrastination. Also I didn't feel comfortable with my ortho surgeon and it took a while to find a new one.

I feel better today and am trying to accept that surgery will become the right choice at some point.

Have a good day.

You have my sympathy and hope you are feeling better. I had a broken hip from a fall which never healed well so can be painful if I do too much walking. It happened in 2009, cortisone shots won't help. Though those did help with the pain of the degenerative joint disease in my back. DH has very bad knees, from over 30 years of marathon running, and the doctor keeps telling him to get replacements but he refuses. And also refuses the shots. Some days he can barely walk and he is only 63. I wish he would get the surgery. Good luck if you go that route.

(((satine))) I'm thinking of you extra special today.

My (now ex) husband was barely walking and got the surgery done on his knees. He felt 10 years younger. I wish your husband would get the surgery too caflowerluver.

satine, I appreciate your sharing your experiences with us and am so sorry that you are dealing with this.

I wonder if you could answer aquestion? You mentioned that you weren't comfortable with your orthopedic surgeon....can you explain why? What was it about him that either lost your confidence or never gained it in the first place?

I'm probably going to be going down this path before too long and I know that finding a doctor that I trust is imperative.

I'll be thinking about you, and wishing pain free days ahead.

Rhizo, the ortho I had before was very abrupt and seemed bothered when I asked questions. I understand they are on very tight schedules but I feel that in order to do well a patient has to feel comfortable with the doc. I had no questions about his expertise and he did repair a torn menisus and did some scraping of bone spurs on one knee. The new doctor is in the same practice and has a very good reputation.

I decided when I was diagnosed with colon cancer several years ago that I would not tolerate rude, cold, unfeeling doctors treating me. I was in the hospital trying to find an answer to my severe anemia and I was dozing in bed when someone walked into my room and stood at my bedside. As I opened my eyes the man standing there said "how old are you" and I responded "how old are you". He said I'll ask the questions and I responded "who are you" and he then told me his name and said he was doing my colonoscopy the next morning In the..or the next morning he walked up to the bed, said Mrs. ----you have colon cancer. He showed me pictures and said call my office for a followup and walked away. I decided right then and there that I won't ever allow myself to be treated as a nothing ever again

I worked with a wonderful surgeon and never saw that GI doctor again.

Sorry this is so long but I feel so strongly that having the good connection with your doctor really goes a long way when you are dealing with medical concerns.

satine? break down and use the electric motorcarts at places like wal mart, Costco, and sams...even target has them, as does home depot, ect...I use them all the time...you can get out at least for a while....

I've had my share of surgeries, too. I'll just say that recovery is faster and easier the younger you are. If it's inevitable...do it as soon as you can.

(I think med schools -- and the insurance industry -- are trying to teach at least a little display of compassion for the patient. Given most surgeons' huge egos, this may be difficult.)

My goodness, satine! Your story is terrible!

I've had three shots so far in the past year, none of them hurt much. My doctor numbed the site first, was expecting it to hurt like heck but it didn't. The last one I got was a little uncomfortable but not really painful. Did they not numb it first?

Hi Kathsgrdn. Yes he gave me a shot of novicain at each of the 4 sites but it hurt like heck. He told me the next series should not be as bad because there will be less inflammation. Sure hope he is right. Maybe Im just a big chicken.

I'm sure that you aren't a big chicken Satine, it hurts me to even think about needles in my joints. We feel what we feel, some folks have a higher tolerance for pain.

I hope that they work their magic for you tomorrow :-) Feel better!

The Euflexxa is, I believe, the generic for Sinvisk. That is what I had a series of 3 shots in each knee 3 years ago. I was told that if I was lucky, the shots would last 6 months. Well, I must have been really lucky, as I have not needed any more, and I am finally going down some stairs frontwards, using both feet, as most people do normally. I still do the basement stairs backwards most of the time. It may be my bifocals, but it just seems like the stairs are too long for me to do that way. Short flights, 4-5 stairs, most of the time I have no problem with. DH's uncle had both of his knees replaced many years ago (he has been gone 13 years now) and his Dr. told him the best way to go down stairs is backwards, easiest on the knees.

I wish you lots of pain free days after your injections.

After not getting relief after 2 knee surgiuries, Synvisc has made a huge difference in my life (and my knee's!). Now they do it in just one injection. Diclofenac (NSAID) also gives lots of relief. I am probably 80% pain free now. I wish you luck with your pain relief.

I wish I had been told about the Synvisc/Euflexxa years ago. Instead, I was on the anti-inflamatories, like most people. I took them so long that it has caused acid reflux, and I can no longer take even the lowest dose of ibueprophen. My injections were a series of 3 for each knee. If I start having trouble again, I won't hesitate to have the injections again. As I said above, it has been 3 years since we began the injections on the first knee, come Thanksgiving. Oh, and I don't "do" needles! They did have to lay me down to do them, because of that. If you get them, remember to ice, ice, ice. That is what I was told to do after each one, and it makes a big difference.

I think this is what is used by my doctor. No numbing shot, he uses a cold spray: http://www.drugs.com/cdi/ethyl-chloride-spray.html

I was really expecting the shots to be painful but I barely felt them.

Yes, they used a cold spray on me also. Everyone I have talked to said they were not painful. For me, I could barely walk the next day, and for several days. I was just getting back to walking half way decent when it was time for the next one. I am not sure if it was the angle they were having to put the needle in or what. And the PA will never touch me with another needle again. I don't think he was too happy when I told him that, but I wasn't too happy when he hit the bone and bent the needle, either. And at the prices I was paying, I wanted the Ortho Dr. to be doing it, especially after he told me he would be doing it, not the PA. And he did, every time. PA thought he was going to get to do it on the second knee. NOT! :)

Oh, and it might have been so painful for me the next several days because I tense up so bad when I have injections.

I have a doctor at the University Pain Management clinic that is a great shot giver :o) and I am a person that HATES shots!