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John White
Gold Member
Well. finally got appointment, go today to have a consolation. Hopefully next week I can get a shot.
Steriod shot in knee, ???
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Steppenwolfe
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I'm 4 weeks past the steroid shots and my knees are feeling better, pain wise. Weight loss has also helped and I'm feeling better all around. So... more lb's to come off and we'll go from there. Next round of cortisone is Nov 1.
Molalla1
Elite Member
So Wolfman that is good . . . I'm up for my series of shots in my knee soon, mine are the rooster stuff . . . glad it helped you.
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John White
Gold Member
Well, a update on my knee. First of all I want to thank every one who has posted, I read every one and even got a private message. Got in to see doctor a couple weeks ago (x rays and the normal consolation) Don't ask me why but he gave me a series oral steroid pills. I hate taking steroids. Then went in to see him a couple weeks later and 2 days ago he gave me a steroid shot in the knee. Nothing like I expected, just a injection on the right side of my right knee. No pain. I thought they went into the joint. Started feeling some relief a couple hours later. No swelling, went back to work. He said I was not a candidate for knee replacement because of vasculitis and on blood thinner and if a clot developed I could loose my leg. I will get another opinion if it comes to that. I noticed that most of you either had a knee injury or just many years of hard work and knee finally wore out. Mine is a unique problem and I will try and keep it short as possible. When I was around 63 (78 now) I had bought some 4" grinding wheels from my local farm store (TSC) . I had bought discs there before and they were made in USA. This was about the time China started importing things like that. I didn't give it much thought about them being China made. The very first one I used, it exploded cutting my inside arm about midway, almost to the bone. Up till this time I had never been sick or didn't even have a family doctor Only trips to the emergency room to get fixed up from a accident. They had a surgeon come in and work on me. I had lost quite a bit of blood. But the problem was that when it exploded it had left hundreds of pieces of sand and other stuff that he had a lot of trouble flushing out. He said it looked like it was made with a mixture of sand, horse manure for a binder mixed in epoxy. Finally got me patched up. Sewed tendons back together. It healed very well with no infection. Medicare hadn't kicked in yet as I was 63. I paid him in payments over two years and he forgave the last $1,000 bill. Now when I tell a doctor this story they think I escaped from Area 51. I got a very bad lung infection when in the hospital. Even affected my hearing for awhile, finally cleared up after about 6 months. I was being monitored for prostate cancer by the VA. When I went in for my blood work this old army doctor said your white blood cells are really out of whack. Nothing was ever said after that in all the blood work I had after that. I never got over the small hacking cough I got with the lung infection. About 4 years later I noticed my legs didn't move as fast as the use to. I chalked it up to ageing. Then I developed more hacking and coughing up film. Still didn't have a family doctor so went to VA. They said it was allergies . I said I know my body and that is not the problem. They gave me a round of steroids and cleared up but right back after about three months. Go back in and another round of steroids. After about two years it got worse and couldn't get sleep for hacking and coughing up film. Finally VA said I need to see a nose and throat doctor as by that time I was getting worse. I went in to see a nose doctor and he said my sinuses needed to be removed as they were infected. But first you need to go to the emergency room because not enough oxygen in your blood. They said I was in bad shape and kept me for 3 days. Same thing, steroids and other medication. Got out and made a appointment with nose doctor he was booked up for 2 months but scheduled me. Problem started coming back. I had to drive to Okla. to pick up a small Mitsubishi dozer I had bought on E-Bay. When I got back I was even worse and my feet felt like they had been beat with a stick. By this time I had Medicare so decided to seek out another doctor beside the VA. He ran blood work said my white blood cells were too high but found nothing wrong with me. Went to another doctor and same thing. Still going to VA also and was coming up for nose surgery soon. VA called me on Fri and said I needed to check into a hospital as something was wrong (no kidding) I told my wife I would do it on Mon. as week end was coming up and we wanted to go to a flea market on Sat. Got up Sat. morning and I could hardly walk, legs were numb, arms wouldn't move right, couldn't open my mouth to eat, couldn't hear very well. Wife said I am taking you to the Cleveland Clinic. We got into a argument and I said you just don't walk into the Cleveland Clinic. You have to have a referral from your doctor and out of my insurance provider area. She took me any way and had to wheel me in the emergency room. After explaining what I have told here, they run some tests and in 2 hours told me I had "Churg Strauss" disease and my body was in the stage of shutting down. In simple terms it is a disease which affects the smaller blood vessels and your white blood cell goes way up because it thinks you have a infection in your body when you don't. I was in there for 12 days and nearly died. Massive doses of drugs. Cleve. Clinic, John Hopkins and Mayo Clinic are the only ones that specialize in this disease. When I got out I looked like the Michilan man, if I bumped into any thing my skin would break. It had affected the nerves in my leg. I went right back to work but just moving at a slower pace and shortness of breath as if had affected my lungs. They said the life expectancy is 2 to 3 years after having it as bad as I did. I met a fellow who had it, he died in two years. About three months after this a fellow had talked me into dozing off a hill side for a mobile home spot. I had done work for him before and I told him he should get someone else with a bigger dozer as it was to being delivered in 4 days. He wouldn't take no for a answer. On my second day when I came in at night I felt like I had banged my rib. I didn't think much more about it but the third day when I finished the job and I came in about 9PM my ribs started to hurt so bad I told my wife she was going to have to take me to the emergency room. They said I had a massive blood clot in my lungs that came from my legs. Not getting off the dozer often enough and not drinking enough liquid. Along with this disease that attacks blood vessels. They kept me for a week, on blood thinner, and put a Greenfield filter into my back in line with the blood vein from my legs. That has been about 12 years ago and now I am fighting this knee problem and being told that I am not a candidate for knee replacement.
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
Wow, what a story John! Without going back through all of the replies in this posting, are you using a knee brace? When I first started the rooster comb shots four years ago, I used mine alot and it helped. I do not need it much these days but thought I would post a photo of it. It puts the pressure on your upper and lower leg and off of the knee joint. Notice the "cam" style latches. These work better than push button type which are easiily bumped and they then release when you do not want them to. Keep up the good "fight".
OP
John White
Gold Member
I purchased two braces off E-bay and neither worked, the VA gave me one but it was too tight and cut off the circulation. I have used a knee wrap with valrico with some success. The one you have looks like it would work, where can I get one at and how much?
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
I got the brace through my knee shot provider. Medicare covered it but that has been awhile ago. I would have to do some serious digging to find the statement. A quick search brings up a lot of VQ links but you would want to get it covered by insurance if possible so you may have to ask your doctor. VQ calls it an "unloader brace" since that is what it does, it takes the load off of one's knee(s). The brace comes with extra padding that can be added as needed. I can wear mine either over or under clothing.
Steppenwolfe
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Most top of the line knee braces are by prescription, at least mine was. $ 500 to $600 bucks.
stuckmotor
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I had a cortisone shot in my shoulder for a torn rotator cuff. Worked great for maybe a month. I can't remember exactly. The pain gradually came back. Good luck with your knee.
OP
John White
Gold Member
Well I finally got a steroid shot. It lasted about two days and the pain came back, just living with it for now. Will not see the ortho doctor till middle of Sept. Will see my family doctor next week and get his opinion. I am going to order a supplement called "ReFlexa". Wondered if anyone has used it? I have been rubbing it with some cream that has hemp in it and it has worked as good or better than what the VA gave me.