So Shoot Me
It had gotten to where I dreaded just pulling on my socks in the morning. And shaking hands? The thought brought tears to my eyes. I considered becoming a southpaw at last week's conference just to avoid the wincing. The 'ignore it and it'll EVENTUALLY go away' phase had passed. Tendinitis (of course along with the other Itis brother, Arthur) had come to stay, and me with a yard full of walnut limbs and trunks to get up before the grass shoots up and the garden needs plowing.
And so, last night, after a nice dinner in town with friends, we went to the doctor's office--or rather his living room, and my doctor friend gave me my very first-ever cortisone shot. Right into the bony point of the elbow the needle went, and down to the bone. "Does it hurt?" the wife ask, I assume, fully aware of the answer.
"Yes, dear, but it always hurts. What's another few minutes of pain if this thing works."
And five minutes later, and now, 12 hours later, I have no pain at all! And grass to mow, wood to cut, fence posts to pull, winter waste to rake... and could even shake a few hands. Reach yours into your monitor there and give'er a good squeeze.
Better living through chemistry.
Comments
When you finished your drug-induced frenzy of activity on Goose Creek, I've got some yard work that needs to be done over here.
Posted by: Doug Thompson | March 25, 2005 10:10 AM
"I'm not here to talk about the pasture."
Posted by: Chris Clarke | March 25, 2005 11:26 AM
One must make friends with that tendinitis, for it will move somewhere else. It always does. Over the course of three years, mine went from shoulder to elbow to neck muscles. It's gotta be somewhere.... :)
Posted by: Tom Montag | March 25, 2005 2:28 PM
I really hope it lasts long, this painless state. Glad it worked out well.
Posted by: Anne | March 25, 2005 4:26 PM
Be careful, Fred. If what you are describing is lateral epicondylitis, otherwise known as tennis elbow, you should be aware that one cortisone injection does not always do the job. Have been there & it took 3 years and a number of injections before I was cured, even tho my orthopod insisted that he would only do 3 injections & then it would be surgery.......I just begged & begged for injections- NO surgery. Have since had the same problem of tendinitis with my wrist & 3 injections fixed it - so far anyway - been 2 years.........Good luck!!
Posted by: Dottie | March 25, 2005 9:44 PM
Fred, I feel your (erstwhile) pain. From my neck to my shoulder to my elbone to the back of my hand to my thumb--and it only took about three weeks of shelving books at the liberry, which I have had to quit after months of sucking it up, flinching, and physical therapy. Montag's lucky--his took three YEARS!
I am (once again) in awe of you--this time, for your composure during cortisone shots, which I had in the tops of my feet. I am no sissy when it comes to physical pain, but those shots made me levitate; I ripped the shirt of the nurse who was holding me down. Please keep us posted (ha ha) on how this shot wears for you. I think somebody's going to suggest something of the kind for me in the immediate future.
Posted by: Rhonda Rockwell | March 26, 2005 2:35 AM
Just a friendly thought, cortisone is a great medication but it is just treating the symptoms of pain and swelling, the cause is still there. Continue to take it a little easy. This is spring the time when many of us come out of hibernation and start doing activity that our bodies aren’t too happy about. This is time when many people do more than they should. Take three days to pick up that yard instead of two. It will be better in the long run.
Posted by: cindy lee | March 26, 2005 6:54 AM