The knee again

The knee, darn thing. Can't live without them for sure and they can certainly make life miserable if they are not working properly.
Finally, after a month of waiting. Starting with making the decision to go to the doctor, finding a doctor, finding the Radiology Lab, taking the time to drive all the way into West Austin to have the XRay, then the MRI, then waiting for a doctor from the Orthopedic Clinic to call me...a whole month! I am thankful that I wasn't bleeding to death! Living in Lakeway has it's drawbacks.

Yesterday morning I was in so much pain from my knee and from sciatica that holding back the tears was a real challenge. Shortly after I crawled into the orthopedic doctor's office he gave me a cortizone shot in the knee. I swear my whole body responded to the cortizone. The sciatica evaporated within hours, my knee stopped grinding when I walk up the hill to my car, I am not sleepy all the time from dealing with the pain. I feel like I did 10 years ago! It is an amazing and wonderful feeling!

I am told by the Ortho Doc that the cortizone shot should last about a year, maybe a little longer. He said he would give me the cortizone until it no longer worked, then he would talk to me about Rooster Comb injections. This is also known as hyaluronic acid, needed for many things in the body, but in this instant, it is used as a lubricant for the knee. There is research to be read on this by Googling Rooster Comb. It is believed at this time that hyaluronic acid, whether produced synthetically, or taken from the real live rooster comb can put off knee replacements for up to 8 years. Another modern medical miracle.

For my therapy, the doctor didn't tell mechange my diet not did he till me to lose weight,practice yoga or meditate. He sent me to the swimming pool. He told me that I needed to release the weight of the muscles on my bones so I could strengthen my leg muscles. How easy is that? Something I can do and will love doing. Whew! Of course, yoga is still on the "to do" list

Knee prognosis?

Ok...I went to the doc, the doc sent me to radiology for an XRAY(insurance requirement), now I have to go AGAIN to radiology for an MRI, which will most likely let the original doc know what is going on with my knee, AND which hopefully he knew all along. Does it take all of this to get a decent diagnosis? This measly little exercise has taken a week...some of it is my fault, some of it NOT. When I say, "taken this long" I am wondering by the time all is said and done, what the MRI will show, who will get the results, how long it will take to get in to see my doc, and then how long for the specialist, then for CHRIST SAKES, how many $15 co pays will it take to get some relief?? My insurance is already $200 per month with the school paying another $600 to BCBSTX. I wonder...If I didn't have insurance, what kind of treatment would have come my way. I will tell you, because I have been in pain and without insurance. I would go to the emergency room at the county hospital and wait for hours for a doctor to see me. I would not get a doctor, I would more than likely get an NP (Nurse Practioner) who would treat me like a destitute(because I didn't have an insurance card) old lady with arthritic old legs. They would give me a prescription for an NSAD that would rip my stomach to shreds, then tell me to lose weight and "good luck, you are 30 years too late to fix this problem!" I have been there and do not want to return. I have to wonder what happens to others who do not have the resources that have, by the grace of God, come my way.

At any rate, tomorrow, the MRI. The future? Who knows at this point. As I sit here, a cold front approaching, I remain optimistic until I try to walk! and I am only going to bed.