Happy 4th of July! I had to go back to the surgeon this week. The news was not good. He told me that i'm going to have to be in pain for the next 20 years until my joint deteriorates enough to be replaced. And when it does hurt, i'm supposed to take Aleve to "take the edge off".
Now...i am not trying to have surgery. In fact that's the last resort to me. I'd much prefer something like a cortisone shot...or voodoo. I don't really care at this point...as long as it feels better. I've been in pain for a year now...and the thought of hurting for another 20 years is just down right depressing. I'm a chemist and i work with my hands everyday. It's part of my job. On top of work...i like to play tennis, crochet, cross stitch, and scrapbook. These activities involve working with my hands. So having my hand hurt to the point where i can't do these activities or work for 10-15 days out of the month is just unacceptable to me. Surely there's got to be something that can be done.
I'm alright with not having surgery. And if i do in fact have to wait 20 years until my joint deteriorates "enough" (whatever that is) then can't i get some pain relief while i wait for the inevitable? I'm no doctor...but i don't think i'm asking too much. Honestly i feel like the surgeon thinks i'm just being a baby about my hand. I don't feel like he's taking me very seriously. So i think i'm going to seek a second opinion. I don't like doing that...but surely something can be done to at least control the pain. Right?
posted by Audra @ 7:39 PM
4 Comments:
This sounds like the growing pains i went through when i was 10-14. I was icing my knees every other day.
The reason i say to use the knife as a last resort because i had surgery on my calf for pain and i now after going through 2 rehabs, still have scar tissue, nerve damage and pain off and on.
I could have went to massage therapy and probably avoided the knife but i didnt.
Your activities flare up your injury. Its not fair that you cut something out of your life but you might have to for months.
I might also suggest excessive icing. Come home from work, ice, cook dinner, ice, shower, ice go to bed. Get a few of those ice packs and keep them in rotation.
Probably talk to hayley too because she is an athlete as well. I played baseball for 12 years and was constantly playing a sport before i moved south. Because of that my elbow is shot, calf and shoulder. However ice on my multiple sprained ankles and growing pains helped out.
The second opinion might give you more ideas or help. Just dont give up. Try other things, accupunture, massage. See what your insurance covers.
Billy
Never feel bad about getting a second opinion. It is your body, not the doctor's. Get a third or a fourth even, just be comfortable with the treatment you select.
I'm sorry audra. You know I'm fighting with a thumb injury as well. Mine interferes with my life too - but is most problematic when I hit it on stuff - which I do constantly. My doctor didn't give me much hope, but I too am going to go with a second opinion. My guy said "surgery" straight out. He doesn't know what's wrong, but wants to "get in there and look around." Not comforting.
I stand by my thought that Seneca water has caused our thumb injuries. Which works only to the extent that you realize I never drank Seneca water. We had a well.
-Hayley
PS - I'm sorry you're fighting with this. Get a second, third, or sixteenth opinion. Find a doctor who you like, who takes you seriously, who is a hand specialist and make him/her find a way to work with you. There are other options.
PS x2 - Cortisone will often do more harm than good. The few weeks of comfort pales in comparison to the pain you'll feel when the cortisone shots start doing serious injury.
PS x3 - Sorry I never called you back. I was sick when you called and only now, remember that I was supposed to call you back.
Hmmm... one month has passed and no new news. How's the hand?
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