Maybe there's help for my legs yet!
By Loverbear
@Loverbear (4918)
United States
April 6, 2012 2:59am CST
As some of you know, I have been having leg pain so bad that I can't walk without horrible excruciating pain with each step I take. I had a knee replacement in 2009 for my left knee...but it didn't work out well at all. So now I am limping with both legs and if I am out shopping I have to be extremely careful that they don't give out and cause me to fall. I've had it happen a couple of times and it is not only embarrassing but it is also painful and dangerous. I've been deeply depressed about the pain and the aspects of the length of the pain and the effects of the pain on my life as well as those around me.
Well, I got to see the pain doctor today. I sniveled and whined about how bad the pain is getting in my legs and that I am about to give up and use a wheelchair. He was very receptive to what I had to say and is going to work with me to try to control the pain. First, he was in agreement that to keep the stress and pounding off my knees that I am right in using the electric carts in the big box stores like Wal Mart etc. He also agrees that we should be using a wheelchair when we do large functions like the fair, street shows etc. (Score one for me!)
As I told him, I am not a good sniveler and whiner. I am used to being able to walk up to and over 20 miles a day. Now I'm good if I can get out of bed without my legs crumbling and my hitting the wall face first. He also prescribed a new medication that will help the nerve pain from the arthritis. He also is looking at doing an MRI on my back to see what might be pressing on the nerves for my legs. I may be eligible for cortisone shots in my lower back to cut down the pain. I may even try to get the nerves blocked on a long term basis, even though it might be a bit dangerous in the long run as I won't have the ability to sense bad pain in my legs. I am really hoping that the new medications help and am very excited to start them tomorrow morning. Keep your fingers crossed and shoot up some serious prayers for the new medication to work.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
6 Apr 12
Oh no, I will be praying for you..And I will call next week, after the major holiday stuff is over.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
7 Apr 12
As I have said before, the pills are working and I am actually walking with less pain. I took the first pill yesterday morning and found that within 20 minutes I had far less pain. I thought it might be all in my head from wishful thinking...but the pain improved for the good throughout the day. I took the second pill last night and slept through the night without pain. This morning I was able to get up and stand without pain and I didn't have to worry about slamming into the wall and was actually able to walk down the hallway with less pain and better control over my legs.
I hope that the improvement continues. I am able to sit without pain and last night I was able to kneel on the floor and get the dog's ball back without having the excruciating pain that I had the night before. Wednesday night I knelt down to get the dog's ball and I hurt so badly that I couldn't stand up and all I could do is cry from the pain. Last night I knelt again and didn't have the horrible pain and was able to stand again with less pain and more agility.
Have a wonderful Easter, I am looking forward to talking to you next week. Thursday is the only day that I'll be in town that I know of right now. I want to try to stay home for a few days and get some spring cleaning done. I have tons of stuff to sort through...I am sooooooooooo tired of the clutter and build up of "stuff"!
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
6 Apr 12
Praying that you find a way to decrease the pain. There is nothing like feeling trapped and immobile when you used to be fine.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
7 Apr 12
The new pills have really helped!!! I took the first pill yesterday and it started helping almost immediately!! I was able to walk up and down the hill by my house when I wasn't able to do that four days ago. Also last night I was able to kneel on the floor without pain. Thursday night I had knelt on the floor and wasn't able to stand up again and the pain was so horrible that I knelt there and cried. I finally struggled to my feet and the pain stayed with me for hours afterwards.
I took my second dose last night and slept like a baby without waking up during the night from pain. Also this morning I was able to get out of bed and not have the navigating problems and I didn't fall into the wall. I was told by the doctor that the medication would take a couple of weeks to work, but for some reason it started immediately and I am more than thrilled!!!
@yanzalong (18984)
• Indonesia
6 Apr 12
Hi, was it you had a knee problem? You said you worked in a hospital. How would you do the walking as I know working in a hopital you had to walk often from one room to others. Or are you now talking about someone else, Loverbear?
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
7 Apr 12
Yes, I have the knee problems. It is about my knee problems that I am talking about, unfortunately I have been whining about the problem for quite awhile and probably boring my fellow MyLotters with the details. I had a total knee replacement in 2009, unfortunately it didn't work as well as it should have and I am in more pain than I was before. Since the pain increased on the left side where the knee was replaced, I limp and the right knee is absorbing a lot of the shock. Now the right knee is arthritic and should be replaced but with the problems I have had with the left one I am not anxious to go through and do the right side...I'm concerned that if I replaced the right knee it would be as bad as the left.
I haven't been able to walk without pain for nearly two years. I've been through several tests and MRI's to see what could be done, and short of a total replacement on the right side there hasn't been any good suggestions.
Fortunately the new medication is helping tons! I took the first pill Friday morning and there was improvement within 20 minutes. I thought that it might be psychological but when I tried to concentrate on pain in my legs there was very little there. Last night I knelt on the floor to get one of the dog's toys out from under the couch. Not only was there very little pain but also I was able to stand back up again...the night before I was stuck on the floor in horrible pain!! I was stuck on the floor and couldn't move...I was crying from the pain! Last night, after the first dose of the medication, I was in so much less pain and I could stand again!!! Last night I took the second dose and I found that I didn't have the pain during the night...the pain was so bad that it would wake me several times through the night. I also was able to get up this morning and was able to stand, although it was still painful, and walk to the bathroom without falling into the wall.
@HomeBase (1153)
• United States
6 Apr 12
I hope everything starts to go well for you. Pain in the knee area is no fun at all. I started having pain in my knees when I put on a little weight. The pain got so bad that I could hardly stand up from a seated position.
I decided to start taking calcium pills. After about 3 days, my knee pain went away. I continued taking the pills for a couple more days, then stopped because the pain went away. My knee pain came back with a vengeance, so I started taking the calcium supplements again.
I have since stopped AGAIN because although my knees still give me a bit of pain, it's not so bad that I feel DRIVEN to take the calcium. YOU have reminded me to start taking the pills again NOW, when I WANT to, instead of taking them LATER, when I HAVE to.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
7 Apr 12
I am thrilled to say that so far the pills are working wonderfully!! I took the first pill yesterday morning and within 20 minutes the pain had decreased immensely. In an hour I was walking so much better. I don't know if it was psychological and wishful thinking or if it actually helped that much. It was decided when I went to bed last night when I took a second pill. I slept through the night, where previously I was waking up several times from the horrible pain. This morning when I got up I still had pain, but I didn't fall face first into the wall. I am sitting here and the normal pain I have from sitting isn't there. So, hopefully the improvement will continue!!
I also take calcium, b2 (which if you suffer migraines helps keep them at bay), C, and Multiple vitamins. I had gone to a doctor that told me that I shouldn't be taking the vitamins..but I couldn't stand feeling so blah anymore and went back on them a few days ago. I already am feeling much better. So, between the new medication for my legs and the vitamins maybe things are going to be much much better.
