Cortisone injection update

It's just shy of 4 weeks since my hip injection of cortisone and I think it's beginning to wear off. The pain is still fairly minimal, but the stiffness has returned and when I stand up from sitting for a while its difficult and sore. Given how bad the osteoarthritis is right now, I'm happy to have had 4 weeks of relief and not having to pump my body full of analgesics. I would have it again, but given that you're only supposed to have 2-3 shots of it in a year and several uses can actually damage the joint, it's definitely a last resort.

Oh well, only 10 days to go! Bring it on.....

Hip block - Cortisone Injection

I had my scheduled hip block on monday and the results so far have been fantastic!

It all went smoothly on the monday, I was second on the list to go into theatre and that was roughly about 11:45. That meant I was grumpy all morning due to being nil by mouth! I was then briefly put under general anaesthesia for the procedure which took roughly 5-10mins - so I have nothing to report on the actual experience itself. It is unusual to have a GA for this, but that's how they do it. I was not concerned about it and I'm sure if I really disagreed with having a GA they would do it under local, they are very receptive to patients needs. I came round wide awake about 45mins later and was discharged from the hospital about 4hrs later.

The ROHB sent me home with a ton of painkillers but I haven't needed them! I took a couple of paracetamol (just paracetamol!) last night to soothe my thigh which was aching but apart from that the hip is pain-free. It seems to be a little achey towards the end of the day but not painful as such, more uncomfortable, and more muscular aches than boney. The second amazing result is NO STIFFNESS!! I cannot say how happy I am about that! I feel flexible again (to a point) and don't have to slowly ease myself upright when standing up from a chair. Hurrah!

I'm very pleased with this outcome. I was fairly woozy for a couple of days due to the GA but the hip didn't flare up post-injection, which it can with these shots. Even if it just lasts the month until my surgery I'll be happy. I hate taking the painkillers and just these few days of not having them I feel like my body can take a rest, my liver and kidneys especially.

I'm not going to push myself just because I feel 'okay', because the joint is far from okay. I will take the opportunity to try and do more of my physio exercises to keep the muscles strong for next month.

Joy!

What's in a name...

I've been having a fabulous week, hip-wise. Last friday I got a repeat on my pain meds. I'd popped into the surgery during my lunch break to get the prescription and then wandered across the road to the local pharmacy, as usual, except this time I found them shut for lunch! Great, I'll have to pop into Boots later on my way home from work instead I'm thinking. This turned out to be the biggest blessing in disguise!

I've been taking diclofenac when I get hip-related pain as it is really the only thing that 'works'. I'm sure there are stronger painkillers I could take, but I get very sick with the likes of Tramadol or codeine-based painkillers. So, normally I get whatever brand of diclofenac the local pharmacy stock. Whatever Boots brand of diclofenac stock (which happens to be Dicloflex) is like a completely different painkiller!!! Since friday I've felt very little hip pain whilst taking them. The other brand has been making me think the worst about the deterioration in my hip as they were only ever able to take the edge off the pain. I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps the painkiller just wasn't up to the job? Or a bad batch? Or maybe I really am just having a good week and the joint is less inflammed?

It's hard to say. Part of me doesn't care either, it feels good! This is when the guilt sets in, 'I'm a fraud, the hip is totally fine mr.orthopod, honest! I'm sure you have better things to do'. I wonder if other people find the same with different branded painkillers. Voltarol is probably the most commonly recognised brand name of diclofenac and I know they 'work' for me too. I might have to do some research into how the drugs are constructed to figure out whether different brands deliver differently. As far as I'm concerned there's a massive change in one's quality of life with a painkiller that works and one that doesn't.

Here's hoping I haven't just jinxed myself either :o)