Yesterday I got a hip joint injection. I had pain in my left hip since my three back surgeries in 2007. Usually the pain is at a 2-3 range and I can still get around and do what I need to do. I can swim and do a little walking. Since May I have had an increase in pain where it wakes me up, , interferes with daily activity or sometimes it makes me cry at the end of the day. I went to pain specialist, the neurologist, and orthopedist. In consultation with another doctor that specializes in multiple myeloma my doctors made the decision to start with pain injections to my hip.
We started there because my back hardly ever hurts unless I do something stupid like shoot from the shoulder video or it's very cold.
Some doctors do not like to hip injections because they are difficult to do correctly and they have a lower satisfaction rating among patients. Knee and Spine patients generally get good results from injections. Hip patients don't do as well because of the architecture of the hip joint.
The hip injection procedure is pretty simple. The anesthesiologist numbs the area with a local anesthetic so the needles don't hurt too much. You are only supposed to feel pressure when they inject you. Or it might sting. They use a fluoroscope machine (like an X-ray) to check needle position. Everyone's bone architecture is different so it's important to use the machine to help aim the needle at the right area.
I was very nervous. So nervous they thought they should give me an IV. The IV didn't happen because they were running late. The nurse gave me a ativan and I still felt very anxious. I don't why. I've been through so many out patient procedures and it's usually a breeze. Part of me thought what if this doesn't work, what if it does work? Can something make my pain go away?
So I walked to the operating room, at PMC they actually use the op room for this procedure because it has all of the equipment needed. The operating room to me is intimidating so maybe that's why I was so nervous. The ativan hadn't kicked in. I laid down on the very narrow table and I was conscious. Usually by this point I am either knocked out or very happy with drugs. I was wide awake and nervous in the operating room.
The doc looked at my hip and back. He commented wow, you've had alot of surgeries. Then when I turned he said 'That is quite a spinal scar how long are your rods?" 18 inches. My spinal scar is almost invisible. He then asked about my other scars. I think he was trying to relax me but I was having sort of PTSD episode reliving my surgeries so I said can we talk about the weather or golf or something. I mean most doctors golf, right? The radiologist folks came in and we talked about their training because one of them was doing her clinical rotation.
The first local stung when it went in. The rest of them weren't that bad. The radiologists came in and started working with the flororoscope. I saw the little cyst on that was by my hip femor. It was hard to see the screen because I had to bend my head back. The anesthesiologist started using a small canula needle and it just stung. Then when he started using the larger canula needle well, basically because I'm fat. That one hurt because the local meds didn't go that deep. He then did that again after the radiologist folks readjusted the fluoroscope.
Again, ouch, Again, &%^* ouch, Again &^%$ ouch, and finally ouch mf ouch. He told me he did this to try to make sure the fluid inflitrated the joint.
Now for the frightening part.....I started to feel warm and my neck felt flushed. The skin by my hip started to burn. I was allergic to the dye they used. When this happened they gave me a shot of benadryl/adreniline. I immediately felt a bit better. It worked out. I just need more benadryl if they use that sort of contrast dye.
They let me lay for a minute or two. I ended up getting myself up which if you know me is sort of struggle. Because of my fusion it's tough for me to rise from lying down. I usually hook my left foot onto the edge of whatever I am on and then push up with my right arm. Since my left leg was very numb I tried to hook my right foot and I made it up. I walked to recovery. It was weird. My leg was numb but it didn't hurt.
IT DIDN'T HURT AT ALL! I thought wow, this is amazing. I could ski again. I could swim. I could bike. I could clean my house (well not so much) but CRAP MY HIP DIDN'T HURT AT ALL.
Today.....my hip hurts from the injections sites but one side of my doesn't hurt at all and the other side hurts less. This is great news!!!!! It also means.....maybe a new hip but hey.....if I have less pain how could that be a bad thing?
So I want everyone to think good thoughts for the pain to gradually go away.
So the miracle shot was more like six miracle shots.......
