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Hip Joint Injections this morning

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Posted 9/15/2010 8:45 AM (GMT 0)
Good Morning Everyone,

I am having a hip joint injection done this morning at the Pain Centre, under guided x-ray. The doctors are hoping that if they inject the joint, and I get a reduction in pain, then they know that's an area that needs help. They were also talking about doing a second injection of local anesthetic into the inflamed bursa, to see if it helps. Meanwhile, I'm grinding my teeth in stress thinking about it...last time I had this done, I cried like a baby afterward....just worn out with pain and exhaustion.

Once again, I need to stop all pain meds for the 12 hours leading up to the appointment time (which is 9am). I always hate this part of the process, because I'm in so much pain by the time I get there, it's just hard to lay still and let them poke and prod me. I'm allowed to take my meds an hour after the procedure is done, but I have to monitor my pain levels throughout the day.

Last time I had injections done, it really hurt, despite all the local freezing the doctor did. I was in so much pain for two days after, because even though I didn't hurt as much where they injected me, everything they do sets off a huge Fibro Flare.

Ah well, I shouldn't complain. There's a lot of you here that go through so much more than me. I don't talk about my pain levels here a lot, because I'd rather be focused on encouraging others, not on my own self, but the last month has been really tough for me. I just haven't felt "right" for a long while now. I just wish I could find the words to properly describe what I'm feeling.

Hope everyone has a good day today, with as little pain as possible.

hugs,
Pam

Post Edited (MsBunky) : 9/15/2010 2:49:16 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/15/2010 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
Pam

I only have a second here... but good luck w/ your injections this AM; I hope the procedure goes well w/ as little pain as possible - and that it gives you some lasting decrease in your pain overall...

Let us know how it goes, when you feel up to it.....

Hugs, Tina
Posted 9/15/2010 11:44 AM (GMT 0)
Pam, Just stopping in before work to say good luck this morning. I will be thinking about you.
Hydrangea
Posted 9/15/2010 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Best of luck Pam Girl , I hope you expierence total releif !!! Mikel
Posted 9/15/2010 1:17 PM (GMT 0)

   Good luck Pam! Hope everything goes well for you.

   SE

Posted 9/15/2010 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I'm home and resting on the couch. I asked the doctor to put a ton of local freezing in before the injections so he did...and the pain of that going it just about had me off the table. I think the doctor was surprised at how much pain I had, but he was as gentle as possible, and told me when he was going to move the needle deeper, etc. so I would be prepared.

Overall, it didn't go too badly - just a few tears during the process and during the ride home. I went straight to bed for a nap and since I've been up, the area where the needles were used has been throbbing. I took my pain meds a short time ago, so hopefully those will kick in soon.

I see my physio for a follow up on Wed. next week and then we'll see what happens next. I'm still waiting for an appointment date to see the surgeon, but I have started checking out other options, such as petitioning my provincial government to pay for the surgery at an American hospital, so I can avoid the long waits here. I'm also looking at private clinics in Canada, so see if I can find a faster solution.

Thanks for the thoughts and good wishes...I really appreciate it. Hope everyone is having as little pain as possible today...I keep you all in my prayers.

hugs,
Pam
Posted 9/15/2010 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
You know I don't care what anyone says when they inject a joint it is just flat painful, even when they use something to sort of deaden the area. The problem is even with something to deaden the area is it is not going to work until it is shot in there. I have had more than my fair share of joint injections over the years and they never get any less painful.

I hope you get some relief and get things settled down.

Susie
Posted 9/16/2010 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I ended up sleeping most of the day after I got home, and all thru the night, so I definitely feel more refreshed today. I didn't get 100% pain relief - my hip is still aching like it usually does, but time will tell.

I appreciate all the good wishes...it meant the world to me to read them.

Thanks Family!!

oxox
Pam
Posted 9/17/2010 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
My rheumy tells me to rest for 3 days to get the optimum effect from the injections, if you move too soon it can escape from the joint and lose its positive effect. I hate them too, if you're swollen it can really hurt cause they're trying to push more fluid into an already full synovium. But hopefully they will give you some help. The hips lasted longer for me than the knees.

Best wishes, take it easy, golitho
Posted 9/17/2010 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Pam,

I'm glad to hear that the procedure went okay & wasn't too unbearable. Injections in the joint are never fun. I've not had my hips done, but have had my shoulders done many times.

I hope you are starting to feel some relief as a result of your injections.

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 9/17/2010 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Good late evening my Bunky Booh!

Glad to hear everything went well.....now take it easy! That is a order little lady! smilewinkgrin

SE wink
Posted 9/17/2010 9:39 AM (GMT 0)
Pam....

I'm glad you got some much needed rest... and that you made it through everything ok. I was thinking about you today. Please keep us updated on how your follow-up goes... I think it's great that you are being pro-active and trying different avenues to see what's going on w/ you, Pam. It's so easy - especially when you feel so lousy - to get "stuck" and just not have the strength to look at all the options.

I think you and I share many similar diagnosis... and I can tell from what you've said that you know your body well enough, and have been through enough to know when something just doesn't "feel right" or whatever. So, please keep pursuing it and listening to that voice inside...

You are a VERY positive person, Pam, and you do such a wonderful job of supporting others... but please remember to lean on us, too... You've got a lot going on... so remember to reach out and let us help you along the way.... and never feel like you are complaining....!

Many hugs and prayers.... --Tina
Posted 9/17/2010 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Pam,

Sorry I didn't get around to well wishes yesterday. It was a kind of rough day here.

None the less, I'm glad you are done with your procedure and back home resting. I'm in agreement about these things always hurting. I only have the facet injections for NA, but man they are painful. These are PM people so I can't understand why they can't give us something IV to relieve some of the pain.

I hope today is a better day!
Posted 9/17/2010 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Pam, You must be one tough Gal! Last time I had the same procedure on my bad hip, the knocked me out stating the pain would be too great!!! I sure hope that it eases your pain!! Those shots always worked wonders for me! I wish I could get another one but I don't want to pay the deductable for one right now. Hang tough!
Love Ya> Big Giant Hugs!!!
Pete
Posted 9/17/2010 11:17 AM (GMT 0)
Pam, Glad to hear things went well. I hope that you start felling some pain relief soon.
Hydrangea
Posted 9/17/2010 2:40 PM (GMT 0)

   Dear Pam,

     How are you feeling today? Are you still slowly getting you pain down? I hope you were able to rest up last night. I sure did hate not getting to chat with you last night. I had to help Tess with a school project. Hopefully today you are still slowly improving?

*hugg*
   dani

Posted 9/17/2010 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Sure hope your feeling better soon...
take it easy today if possible and ice the injection site...
Posted 9/18/2010 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Well dear friends, thank you for all the support and encouragement. Unfortunately I have had no relief at all from the injections and my Fibro flared up all most immediately. I'm still sore today, but it's easing into my "normal" pain, so at least I know what to expect now.

So, that's another big disappointment of getting no relief. It's perfectly clear to me that until I see a surgeon and have my right hip fixed, nothing else is going to change pain wise. The pelvic pain is still there as well, so we still don't know if having the hip fixed will solve the pelvic pain problem or not.

All I can do now is wait. We just don't have the money to go to a private clinic for treatment...and the doctor I'm waiting to see is the only one in town who does this type of surgery. So, wait I will, but today was one of those sad days where I just felt weepy all day. I sometimes feel, as positive as I am, that this is just too much to keep dealing with. There has to be an answer or solution somewhere...I just need to find where.

I hope you're all doing as well as possible. I keep you in my prayers!! Thanks for the support...it means a lot to me.

hugs,
Pam
Posted 9/18/2010 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Pam

A few weeks ago I had a steroid injection into my right hip, just like you described having, although not comfortable in any way shape or form, I did not think it was as bad as the Arthrogram, but the injection did nothing for me either! No reduction in pain, Nothing! So I was sent to this Orthopedic surgeon, what a waste of time that was. The first thing he did was ask me about all the surgeries that I have had in my life, and then told me I have had to many, and them he gave me the once over about the pain meds I was on and I had to explain all about that, and why I was on disability! After all that, he then told me he read the MRI, Arthrogram, and xrays, on my hip and also the MRI on my lower back and he then told me that they were all normal and there was nothing wrong with my hip and lower back and the pain must be caused by something else! I have seen and have copies of all the Radiology reports, and he is definitely wrong, and or lying! And my pain Doctor, would definitely not give me a steroid injection into my hip joint , or my lower back, for no reason, nor perform nerve blocks in my lower back!! He most definitely would not send me to a surgeon, if there was nothing wrong with my hip! But I did not argue with him and tell him what I knew or anything, I decided to just be Polite and keep my temper under wraps, and keep my mouth shut, and not argue with him, but instead, just get the heck out of there and away from that quack! I will be seeing my pain doctor at the end of this month, and I am sure he will not be happy about it! Anyway I understand or at least empathize with your hip pain. What gives you the most problems with pain? Driving is the about the worst for me, and trying to lay on my sides. Those things just kill me!

I do wish you all the Best!!

White Beard
Posted 9/18/2010 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi White Beard,

Thanks for your note...I'm sorry you had to experience all that. I've had hip pain for years and years. My pain doc ordered an MRI of the hip, as he's wondering if a problem with the hip is causing all the problems I have with pelvic pain. The MRI came back showing clearly that I have FAI - Femoroacetabular Impingement (I have both types, CAM and Pincer). The hip doesn't sit in the socket properly, which causes pain, etc.

I find sitting or standing for longer than a few minutes causes pain, and generally within a few minutes of walking, the hip is aching. I'm almost always fidgeting or moving when I"m sitting down, because I can't find a comfortable position.

Add in the fact that the doctor I'm trying to see is the only one who does this surgery in Calgary, plus he triages his own cases by choosing which ones he wants to work with, and it looks like it's going to take forever to get an appointment.

Ah well, I can wait a while I suppose, but I am checking out my options for treatment.

Take care White Beard and thanks again for the note.

Hugs,
Pam
Posted 9/18/2010 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Pam

This is similar or partly the same thing that I have, I have had all the x-rays and MRI and also A Arthrogram with MRI! Here is what the Arthrogram report says, "There is a contour abnormality at the lateral rigt femoral head and neck junction with an abnormal bump in this area. The findings are suspicious for anterior femoral acetabular impingement of the cam type" it also says "there is a small chondral defedt at the junction if the labrum with the acetabular cartilage superiorly and laterally. There is an overlying degenerative subchondral cyst and adajacent bone marrow edema as seen on the previous MRI." And then this surgeon tells me there is nothing wrong and the everything is normal! Well this is why my pain Doc gave me the injection and sent me to the surgeon in the first place!  I have googled this stuff and looked it up, the cam type impingemt is much more common in men and the Pincer type much more common in woman. But according to the latest research if it is not treated this impingement can lead to rapid degeneration of the hip joint.  I have the same problem as you do as to trying to find a comfortable position, I have not been able to stand in one place for any length of time for a long time now ! I have always blamed my lower back for it. Standing at the kitichen sink doing dishes is a real pain. The sitting in the car driviing has bothered me for many ,many years, but all of this has been really getting bad the last 6  months or so, it has been keeping me awake at night, and between my lower back of my head and upper neck caused by the bad C-3 disk and the hip I don't know which is worse, but it sure has made my life miserable, I can tell you that! I was so angery at that surgeon, he was either incompetent or just a liar, but one thing for sure,  he was blowing off!!! and I hate that!!!!  My pain doc was concerned with the inflamation and edema in the bone marrow he said that was not good!

 

Pam I am sorry for what you are going through, now I really do think I can relate to the pain you must have!!, You know I can not lay flat when I sleep because of my back, so I sleep in an adjustable bed, and in a reclining or sitting up position, and after a while I wake up in such pain,  my hip hurts so bad, I try and put the bed down and sleep on either side for a while but with in 5 or ten minutes I just can not stand it any longer, so I readjust the bed up and try it all over again, sometimes I will just get up and stand by the side of my bed. I can't go far because of the hose and the mask I have on for my sleep apnea, so unless I unhook everything and take my mask off I am pretty much  limited on movement! Ha I look like a space alien at night! It does get old though and it would be nice to be able to sleep with out waking up constantly with pain!

 

Please take care of yourself Pam  and I will be interested to find out how you are doing and if you get the surgery!

 

White Beard

Posted 9/24/2010 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
PAM (MsBunky)

 

I wanted to make sure that you seen this  but I did not want to start a separate thread,  is what I have highlighted the same or similar to what you were saying you have? Are you going to have the surgery to fix it? Can and will they fix it?

 

  Also about those picture albums that is done by Chutzie's hubby,  it was offered to all of us here on the CP forum to start an album. if you are interested contact chutzie. Here is the link to those albums again.   http://gallery.heyhubby.us/main.php?g2_navId=x4ddeac5c

 

 

White Beard

 

Posted 9/24/2010 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
yes, there are some definite similarities to what you've posted. I'll dig out my scan and send you the info on what I've got.

Do you want me to post it here, or send it to you via email? (not sure if leaving the info here is fine, or if we should take this conversation off line.)

Pam
Posted 9/24/2010 6:30 AM (GMT 0)

Hi -- please excuse me for jumping in your conversation, but I'm soon to be having hip injection to see if the hip is causing the hip pain or if something else is doing it. Sorry you had a Fibro flare, and I thank you for posting about it so I will be prepared.

The funny, ok not so funny, thing is that I saw an orthopedic who recommended the injection, and I was totally aggravated with him. He ordered some X-rays of the hip and sacrum and came into the patient room, without the X-rays I might add, and proceeded to tell me that I have, and I quote: "PGD". Now if I wasn't already somewhat medical-terminology-cognizant from my personal history I wouldn't have even known what he was talking about. He went into an explanation about how the pelvic girdle can "slip" out of alignment and cause hip and sacrum pain, never really explaining what the acronym PGD meant at all. I let him continue to talk for a minute or so, looked at my husband & rolled my eyes (I promise - the doctor couldn't see me) and then finally interrupted the doctor to say that the pain I'm experiencing is NOT "Pelvic Girdle Dysfunction."

Since the X-Rays were normal, it appears that the doctor just jumped to the first convenient diagnosis. I've had Pelvic Girdle Dysfunction!! Or is it that you always have it once you get it? My husband and I perform therapeutic bodywork on each other and had a physical therapist teach us how to re-align the pelvic girdle when it slips. This pain is so not that pain.

Anyway, I wanted to vent about the "diagnosis" -- thanks for providing a space for me to do that!

I hope that you are able to find some real relief from your hip pain, both you MsBunky and White Beard. My hip pain isn't like what both of you have described at all, so I feel for you!

Posted 9/24/2010 10:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ms. Bunky Boo (i like that SE). How are you doing now? Any better? So sorry for all you pain hon. I wish the injection would have helped you. I know it's four hours away, but I was wondering if you could find the right surgeon in Edmonton? I am surprised that with the size of Calgary that you can find a good dr. to do the surgery. I wish you lots of luck in that department.

Take care and rest up!! We are here to listen whenever you want.

Hugs
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