got a cortisone shot today -- ask me anything

[Bertha Venation]

:OW:

[spotbird]

1. Cranky and hungry yet? nt

[Bertha Venation]

6. Cranky, yes. The hunger will hit me about when I'm ready to fall asleep.

Damned inconvenient, that.

[Kolesar]

2. I had one of those. It did not fix my shoulder

So I tried going to another orthopedic doctor and he did an xray at a particular angle that revealed a bone spur. The cortisone could not have helped me with that, so it was a waste. They say not to get too many of those.

[Bertha Venation]

7. Damn. Did you have to have surgery?

My doc is good. She's mentioned about not having too many. She won't get me into trouble.

[Kolesar]

25. I decided to continue with stretching and let time do some healing

My new orthopedic surgeon gave me a bit more information on stretching techniques (and an unreadable fax from a text book). Complaints aside, I did apply this new information--I cannot tell if it had any effect. To tell the truth, I have basically dropped the stretching and resistance exercises (lost my motivation). I quit lifting weights and have been "waiting it out". It is two years since the pain started, and fortunately the pain is almost nonexistant!

I think that the new surgeon's revelation on the bone spur growing down into my shoulder joint from the acromion is sound. He and I concurred that it is good "medicine" to try to wait it out and resort to surgery later if necessary.

If you want good medical advice, Google the problem. You will find internet sites of various clinics and real medical professionals. You will likely find medical message boards on the subject and those might be useful for some perspective. Good luck.

[Bertha Venation]

26. I'm so glad to hear the pain is leaving!

Good on you for the course you took. It's not easy to do nothing, wondering if doing something would help. Seems you may be like me in that I really, really want to avoid surgery if at all possible.

Thanks for your advice and the luck, SpikeTrees. :hi:

[Kolesar]

27. Was it your shoulder?

By the way, I did not explictly say what the surgery is. The bone spur grows down into the shoulder joint and irritates all of the tendons and tendon sheathes in the "rotator cuff". The doc can operate with arthroscopic instruments and grind that calcium away.

He said it looked like a likely source of the problem. He said it may have grown from other injuries (I have had a few). He said that the sideeffects are slight, if they occur, and that the results are not 100% guaranteed.

Now I might spend that $700 bucks I put away into a medical savings account to cover copayments to have my fungus infected toenail removed. Isn't that exciting?

edit:It wasn't your shoulder. I read down the thread.

[arwalden]

3. Beware Of Cateracts

I think that's one of the long term side effects.

[Bertha Venation]

9. Yikes!

[Droopy]

4. What did you get a cortisone shot for? n/t

[bigwillq]

5. That was gonna be my question

Ok, what is BV's favotite color?

[Bertha Venation]

11. Why, purple, of course.

"I think God gets pissed off if you walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice it." (name that film -- I'll take "Stupid Questions" for two hundred, please, Alex . . . )

[bigwillq]

18. 'The Color Purple'

I don't know just a guess. I really have no clue.

[Bertha Venation]

20. the category is "Stupid Questions"

so of course, you're right

The answer is always right in the clue in the "Stupid Questions" category.

Yes. Yes, I watch a game show. ONE game show. Jeopardy. So you'd think I could spell spondylosis w/out a dictionary. :shrug:

BTW I never truly caught on to the doc's definition; I just knew it was spinal degeneration. It is "degeneration of the spinal column, especially a fusion and immobilization of the vertebral bones."

:OW:

[bigwillq]

23. Cool

I like this game.
What do I win?

[Bertha Venation]

24. a free weekend at the Venation B&B

rural Southern Maryland. Tour Washington, DC, but stay way outside the city in a small home surrounded by trees & friendly neighbors. Eat the best damn grilled meat & veggies you've ever had, prepared by Mrs. V. with love (I guest that would make it a B&D -- "dinner" :shrug: :)). Just be prepared: we have six cats. You'll only see four; if you're allergic, bring your drugs.

Seriously. With plenty of notice, DUers are welcome to our hospitality. :bounce:

[Bertha Venation]

10. Facet joint spondyliosis (?)

Did I spell it right?

I got the injection in the joint that hurts the worst, Lumbar 5-Sacral 1. Left.

To quote Cartman: Ow! My ass!

[Droopy]

12. Well I hope it does the trick

There's nothing worse than back trouble.

[Bertha Venation]

14. Thanks. Shot usually lasts about three weeks; this time, long enough to

ENJOY MYSELF at Fenwick Island/Rehoboth Beach, DE on Memorial Day weekend! Yahoo! (I just wish Land's End weren't out of stock on the bathing suit I wanted. :()

[arwalden]

8. Technically, She Didn't Say She'd Actually ANSWER Any Questions...

she just wanted you to ask her anything.

:-) :hi:


-- Allen

[Bertha Venation]

22. I LOVE answering questions!

Maybe I should start an "Ask Bertha Anything" thread. I'd even post thoroughly honest answers, as long as the questions don't offend me. Hmm.

[agingdem]

13. Be careful!

I was on and off cortisone for 18 months. Other than the weight gain, I was perpetually angry and sore. My doctor's major concern was this: extensive use of cortisone will shut down the pituitary gland so fighting off infection becomes more difficult.

[Bertha Venation]

17. Thanks for the warning.

Again, my doc is very sharp. She won't get me into trouble. :)

[demnan]

15. Do you have one of those fancy shower heads?

They can really help soothe whatever ails ya and not too expensive if you don't mind the water bill. Might help ease the stress after that shot, just a suggestion.

[Bertha Venation]

16. That's an excellent suggestion.

We have one, but the "massage" setting is broke. I'll just have to ask Mrs. V. to move it around real fast. On the sore spot where I got the shot. ;)

Did I congratulate you yet on the house in NoVA? :bounce:

[DBoon]

19. Was it combined with a local anesthetic?

Reduces the pain a bit of that big long needle.

[Bertha Venation]

21. No. Only the icy spray.

I swear that hurts more than the needle -- until an hour later. Then, gimme drugs, gimme drugs.