Advice re: knee injections

tjt6768

Morning all, I am new on here so just saying hello.. I wondered if any of you could help, my Doc at the pain clinic wants to do some injections in my spine and knees for the pain I have due to arthritis. Thing is I am not sure what they are going to be, that part doesn't bother me but I wondered if any of you know about the knee ones.. Will he do them both at the same time, will I need someone to take me or will I (he says hoping) be able to drive myself there and back??

He is also putting me on morphine, not that keen on the idea to be honest but the way I have been lately with the pain I don't care as long as it works!! Having said that, I have waited over a week for them to get in touch with my GP to authorise it, in the meantime... PAIN!!!!! :roll:

Sorry, went off on a rant..


Thanks in advance to anyone who offers advice.




Tony

elnafinn

Hi Tony

Welcome to the site. I am sorry you are in pain. I have had injections in my spine via xray direction. Did the trick for me, got rid of my sciatica. Had the injections in December 2009 and so far so good. I have not had injections in my knees only total knee replacements after arthroscopies that did not work (wash and clean out - keyhole surgery).

I think you need to do some chasing up with all this, Tony and get in touch with the consultant's secretary and ask these questions that you have. If she cannot answer them, then she should call you back when she has found out for you. I would also chase them up about getting information to your gp regarding these injections.

I wish you well,

Elna x

dorcas

Hi Tony and welcome to the forum

I agree with Elna that you need to chase the clinic up regarding your pain meds.... it's not good that you've been left in such pain. :? :roll:

I've very recently had both my knees aspirated (where they drain excess fluid out) and then injected with steroids. Both knees were done at the same time and the rheummy first injected them with local anaesthetic. I have definitely benefited from having this done (one knee in particular) so hope that you will have the same good result!

I was not allowed to drive myself home afterwards... so maybe if you can you should arrange to have someone pick you up?

hope you don't have to wait too long for your appointment....let us know how you get on?

Iris x

tjt6768

Thnks for the replies, appreciate the help...
I have to ring the Doctors if I haven't heard from them next week about the change in painkillers. In the meantime my GP has told me to take Co-Codamol instead of the paracetamol with the Diclofenac and Tramadol.. I am also on Hydroxycloroquine from the Rheumatologists, I know I saw a thread about that when looking last night. Gotta say I haven't noticed any improvement since starting on them in March.. No ill effects either though..
I have to admit I am slightly better today than yesterday after changing to the Co-Codamol, well I was til it started raining!! Lol
Always hurts more when it's damp! :roll:

I was on Dihydrocodiene for about 14 years up till about 6 weeks ago, they had stopped working pretty much and I was taking way too many anyway, supposed to have been on 2x 90mg (M/R) per day and 4x 30mg per day.. Most days I woud end up having to take at least 10 of the 30mg ones just for a bit of relief, along with them I was on Nabumatone... After I stopped the Dihydrocodiene I was very very ill with withdrawal symptoms, I felt like a drug addict, only they would have recieved more help from a GP if I am honest. My GP made me just stop taking them and start on the tablets above, no mention of withdrawal.. Nice eh?
Anyway, rant over.. LOL
I am well over the withdrawal now...


Thanks again, sorry for the ranting!!

barbara12

Hi Tony
I had the injection in my knee by my consultant, I wasn't told to bring someone with me, but when I had my back injections I had to be picked up, was told not to drive (cant anyway ) so my OH picked me up.
Just one thing go prepared with a good book, depending on where you are in the queue, I waited for 4 hours.
Good Luck
and let us know how you get on.
Barbara x

elnafinn

Hi Tony

The coco meds will more than likely work better than paracetamol. I hope they do, anyway. There are different strengths of coco and you do not say what strength you are on. Just one warning, they can cause constipation. :roll:

Do let us know how you go on,

Luv
Elna x

tjt6768

Thanks all.. Been on the co-codamol with the others a couple of days now.. Things are a little better towards the end of the day, still waking up on a morning in total agony.... My whole lower back, legs, knees & wrists really hurt, like someone has beaten the cr*p out of me with a cricket bat!! I cannot use my hands at all first thing, gotta give the tablets time to work etc.. I have been used to waking up in pain for a long time but this feels different..
I have osteo A and now diagnosed with sero neg too.
My wrists didn't even bother me a yr ago, in fact I had really good strength in both, now I cannot even wring a sponge out in the shower... Has anyone else experienced a rapid degredation similar to this? All my other pains etc have been gradual over a few yrs.

Got physio tomorrow, not sure if it's for my wrists or back though, hoping wrists 'cos they're supposed to be doing hot wax treatment..

Went off an a bit of a tangent then, :roll: , sorry. Lol

Will let you all know if and when owt happens with my injections and pain relief.



Tony

lindalegs

Hi Tony and welcome,

I've had knee injections. I'm assuming they're steroid that you're having. My consultant did mine and although I don't drive I just got up off the couch and walked away. I had a local anaestetic at the same time and I must admit I found they worked very quickly and were brilliant.

Yours might be different if they're doing the spine at the same time.

Hope you go on okay.

Luv Legs

tjt6768

Thanks Legs, I am still not quite sure what the injections are, but hopefully like you I will be mobile afterwards, I have heard different things about different injections, from such as yourself, being able to get about straight away to it being very painful and not able to move for a while.. I suppose I will have to wait and see eh? I reckon the spine ones will be seperate, not sure what they are either..
I remember about 10yrs ago I had to go into hospital for 'intense physio', was in about two weeks, they did about 5 epidurals I think, none of them worked.. And after the physio that's when my hip started to bother me.. A long time later I was told that I shouldn't have been having physio.. :shock: Great eh? Lol
It's one reason I was dubious to go back through all this again and going back to the pain clinic but to be honest things are getting quite bad and I needed to do something so I told my Wife that I would give things another go.. Will be interesting this afternoon to see what the physio wants to do, as I mentioned above, I am not sure if I am going for my back or wrists. I am going to explain all my concerns to the physio about what happened last time before she wants to start anything to do with my back.

Tony

rileytra

Hi Tony

i'm fairly new and these guys out there are brilliant- i have had 2 types of knee injections- the best ones are knee fluid injections that they do - it is 3 injections spaced over three weeks under the knee cap - when i first had it done it as pain free and cushioned my knee so well i could carry on normally even danced at a birthday party - they tend to last 3-12 months -as my knees wore out they still worked but got more painfull on the injection day and couldn't walk for drive very well for the rest of the day - also has steroid injection into the joint - pain free in seconds very weird sensation though as if the pain has be muffled and you expect it to come back could walk and drive straight away but unfortunately for me they didn't last as long as they were supposed to 2 months first go 3 weeks the second - i tended to do them in autum as my knees hurt more in the cold and damp and i walk differrently as scared of slipping on ice, damp grass and frost which put pressure on my knees in different places- hope all is ok today
trace xXx

penfactor

I've had those, trace! They are the hyaluronic acid aren't they? They were absolutely fantastic for me too. My consultant said they are like WD40 for the joints! He also confided the health authority don't like prescribing though as they are much more expensive than steroids.
However, if you can have that I cannot recommend highly enough - they gave me a good 6 years longer of mobility than I would have fared without
love Pennie X

dorcas

Hi Tony

I'm wondering how you got on at physio today? hope s/he listened to your history and it has been a helpful appointment?

You have a lot going on for you with so many joints active and zinging... I hope that the injections give you some ease at least in the joints being injected.

have you ever had the IM depot type of steroid injection? I've found that helps most with overall easing the pain when there's many joints involved.

the hyaluronic injections also sound great don't they :!: I've taken a wee note of that for my next rheummy appointment. thanks Tracy and Pennie!

Iris xxx

tjt6768

Evening all.. Those hyloronic? injections do sound good, I hope that is what they're going to try, another day without hearing about an appointment though, I realise it could be weeks, just wishful thinking.. lol
Still no word regarding the change of meds to morphine from my GP, :x will ring them tomorrow.

Physio went ok, she was very good and listened to everything I said, she asked me what I wanted to do, so I told her that at the minute, my legs and back are the most painful but wrists are most poblematic if that makes sense? :?: I cannot even use my walking stick when my wrists are hurting too much. So she has given me some excersises to do for a couple of weeks, told me to use the wheatpacks to ease the pain and stiffness in the morning and hopefully when the meds are changed the morphine will make a big difference. Only thing that I wasn't happy about is that they do not have a hot wax bath there, was looking forward to that as I tried it briefly before and it did feel good. I could change hospitals but it would mean another waiting list!

I pushed myself a bit today and got the bus there instead of driving, gave my legs a bit of stretching, can bloody tell now though, :roll: haha..

Regarding the IM injections, I have had four this year so far and not really felt any benefit so far unfortunately..

Hope you're all as well as you can be


Tony

dorcas

Hi Tony

glad to hear the physio went OK.

the hot wax treatment is bliss :!: I had that too at the hossie hand therapy dept and then decided to buy myself a Hot Wax Treatment Unit to use at home.

Cost £39.99.... and it comes complete with the wax. Easy to set up, works wonderfully well and is so soothing. I've had it a year now....and it's the best £40 I've ever spent!

I'll Pm you the details?

Iris xxx

tjt6768

Yes please. I have heard about being able to buy them, in fact the physio did mention them today, I thnk A*gos sell them? How do you go on with wax re-fills etc?
What kind of annoyed and confused me today is that originally I was sent to one hospital for OH to give me some splints and ergonomic walking stick and it was her who let me try the wax, then I was told that I would be going for physio and I could have some treatment while there so I assumed it would have been the physio that is attached to the OH where I went, but it was a different hospital altogether.. Physio said they don't have thm there because of hygiene.... People putting their hands in the same wax, bloody hell, I would like to think that they change it each time????

Oh well, we'll get there in the end eh? Lol

salamander

hi Tony, I've just had a knee injection today. Still feel sore but wasn't very painful at the time.
Will let you know if it works. Don't know about the spine.

tjt6768

Just realised there could be a bit of confusion when I put OH, I noticed that it's an abreviaton for other half on here, I meant my Occupational Health, I think it's them that I went to for my splints anyway..

Tony :oops: :roll:

lindalegs

tjt6768 wrote:

Just realised there could be a bit of confusion when I put OH, I noticed that it's an abreviaton for other half on here, I meant my Occupational Health, I think it's them that I went to for my splints anyway..

Tony :oops: :roll:

Glad you clarified Tony I was confused

tjt6768

Well, I am a newbie after all.. LOL

Now it would be good if my other half could get me the equipment, would save waiting..

penfactor

Just a thought - the hyaluronic injections
might not be an option for RA patients. I only have OA. Really don't know whether this is the case so would be really interested if you or Iris do ask.

penfactor

Oops sorry if that link I just posted is deemed advertising! It wasn't meant as that - it's just a really interesting source of info about the treatment.
I'll try & delete it from the post now but not very adept on here!
pennie

lindalegs

penfactor wrote:

Oops sorry if that link I just posted is deemed advertising! It wasn't meant as that - it's just a really interesting source of info about the treatment.
I'll try & delete it from the post now but not very adept on here!
pennie

Hi Pennie,

I once asked the Mods about posting shop names etc. on here because I was worried about advertising. Although I'm not dead sure about the rules I think if we're just chatting - as you would with a friend over a cuppa and talking about where to get things or have show them something, it is allowed.

I've often put links to websites to show someone what I mean and it hasn't been removed.

Check with the Mods or Jean 123 (when she's back from her hols) if you're not sure.

Luv Legs

dorcas

Hi

I think that putting links to reputable advice websites is ok but links to commercial/ direct sales websites aren't. :?

I always err on the side of caution and offer to PM peeps if it's about purchasing a product or a link to a commercial site.

Pen..I'm not seeing rheummys until beginning December but will ask about the hyaluronic acid and let you know what they say.

Sal... hope your knee is feeling the benefit of the injection.

Ton.. hope your hands aren't as sore today?

.... and yes the physios do use the same wax :shock: but it is 'cleaned' by some kind of sterilisation process.... I only know this cause one day when I went to physio they had a notice on the wax machine saying that it couldn't be used due to sterilisation process.

also when I was having wax treatment I always had to wash my hands with an anti-bacterial foam, rinse etc first.

never really thought about it much though!

Iris x

tjt6768

dorcas wrote:

Hi

I think that putting links to reputable advice websites is ok but links to commercial/ direct sales websites aren't. :?

I always err on the side of caution and offer to PM peeps if it's about purchasing a product or a link to a commercial site.

Pen..I'm not seeing rheummys until beginning December but will ask about the hyaluronic acid and let you know what they say.

Sal... hope your knee is feeling the benefit of the injection.

Ton.. hope your hands aren't as sore today?

.... and yes the physios do use the same wax :shock: but it is 'cleaned' by some kind of sterilisation process.... I only know this cause one day when I went to physio they had a notice on the wax machine saying that it couldn't be used due to sterilisation process.

also when I was having wax treatment I always had to wash my hands with an anti-bacterial foam, rinse etc first.

never really thought about it much though!

Iris x

thanks Iris, I think I will buy myself a machine, that way I don't have to wait to use it. Just a bit skint at the moment.. I know they're only 40quid, but right now that's a fair bit.

My hands aren't too bad right now, been on and off all day though. Been trying to sort the spare room out, had to get friends over to help, I can't lift and my Wife has heart problems so neither can she.. I did over-do things a little today, mainly being up and about too much but I would have felt really guilty leaving them to it, I know it's not my fault and they would certainly understand, but I still feel bad over stuff like that and even now after suffering this many yrs I still sometimes do things I shouldn't rather than feel guilty,does that make sense, or is it just me?
It's like when we're shopping with say my Mum or Mother-inlaw, I just can't see them carrying a heavy bag so I take it off them even though I know it's not a good idea..
And people say having manners doesn't hurt


I know someone above was asking what kind of arthur I have (sorry if I don't recall your name but now I am posting I wouldn't know how to go back and check.. :oops: ) I was diagnosed with osteo in my spine about 14yrs ago, in the lumbar region way down, I had osteochondritis in both knees as a teenager that has now become OA in those two buggers, and earlier this yr when I went to the Rheumy for the 1st time regarding my wrists as they started hurting around february and have kept on getting worse, he gave a diagnosis of sero-negative, a form of RA I believe??

Hope all that makes sense, I am a bit tired, not a great night's sleep again and was up early to sort the room out as we had our new sofa bed delivered today!

Hope that you are all well and sorry if I didn't do a personal reply to each.. I do appreciate all the support and msgs.


Tony

salamander

hi Tony,

I've got sero negative arthritis too plus a bit of osteo that doesn't really bother me at all.

Reporting back, as promised, on the knee injection and wanted to let you know I am in significantly less pain today so that is a result. he doctor who examined me yesterday was convinced it was osteo not an inflammatory flare but I think he is wrong as the osteo in that knee is tiny and my other joints are flared up. But it can be difficult to tell sometimes, well not for me but him ha! ha! The treatment was the same - steroid injection with pain killer.

Once he remembered to put the anaesthetic spray on it didn't hurt!
Good luck with yours.

tjt6768

salamander wrote:

hi Tony,

I've got sero negative arthritis too plus a bit of osteo that doesn't really bother me at all.

Reporting back, as promised, on the knee injection and wanted to let you know I am in significantly less pain today so that is a result. he doctor who examined me yesterday was convinced it was osteo not an inflammatory flare but I think he is wrong as the osteo in that knee is tiny and my other joints are flared up. But it can be difficult to tell sometimes, well not for me but him ha! ha! The treatment was the same - steroid injection with pain killer.

Once he remembered to put the anaesthetic spray on it didn't hurt!
Good luck with yours.

Thanks salamander, glad you're a bit better, gives me a bit of hope at least, just wish they'd hurry up and send for me.. You're right about one thing, we know our bodies much better than they do.

God I am tired now, I know there's no point trying to sleep yet, can just tellI won't get comfy enough, and would end up shifting around and disturbing my Wife... She really needs her sleep so I usually mess around on the pc till I am that shattered I have no choice but to sleep...

Tony