I've started to get cortisone injections again for my osteoarthritis.

[CTyankee]

It's the only thing that prevents so much of the pain in my lower spine. I tried the prednisone tablets and after six days and worsening pain got an emergency appt. with my rheumatologist for starting the injections again. The pain has decreased dramatically since my injection yesterday. He says that in the fall and winter I will be more symtomatic so is scheduling them closer then. Fine with me.

I have also started physical therapy as of today. I had it a few years ago and was very successfully brought out of pain. I am still doing the exercises from my PT treatment then and they added a couple more today. My PT gave me heat and some electric impulse treatment as well and it was wonderful.

I think this combination will work for me. ymmv, of course.

My only unfortunate news today was that sitting at the computer really messes up people's backs, according to the PT today. Shh, don't tell my husband who constantly tells me I spend too much time on DU...

[quickesst]

1. Hope everything...

..goes well with your treatments. You've still got a lot to do, and fun to have!

[riversedge]

2. just curious. are you a candidate for surgery?

you do not have to answer--just wondering.

[CTyankee]

4. no, and I never was. I don't think it is recommended for this kind of problem and thank goddess.

I am a caregiver for a husband who has had two spinal surgeries, neither of them related to osteoarthritis. Needless to say, I have to work strategies around all the things I do that he used to do and can't anymore...all the laundry, food shopping and some lawn maintenance (we have a service now for mowing)l It's a challenge, tho.

[riversedge]

8. Oh, I know what you mean...

I care for my mom who can't do much anymore...some days my patience wears thin. But she is almost 90 and is getting rather feeble but she care do her personal cares. Plus the bath lady comes once a week. That I am not able to do because of my own shoulder problems.

Be sure to take care of yourself.

[napi21]

3. Doesn't the type of chair you sit in at the computer make a big difference?

I have disintegrating discs in my back (neck & lower back) and I know the chair makes a big difference for me. Some help your posture, including softness or firmness of the seat, it's height, etc.

I know after several hours at the computer, I have to go lay down for a while.

[CTyankee]

6. Yep, the chair I have is not great. PT told me to roll up a towel for my lower back

while sitting at the computer and take a break after an hour to get up and walk around and also using a memory foam seat pad which I have. Trouble is, I often get carried away by my art research and forget.

[elleng]

5. I won't say a word, yank!

I'm a couch-potato, computer-wise, and fortunately don't have problems.

Glad you're getting good treatments.

[CTyankee]

7. thanks, ellen! It's a good thing not to have any kind of arthritis but it just happens...

aging is a big component here...

[elfin]

9. Hope the shot is guided by looking at the X-ray real time

That is the only way an epidural or facet (sp?) worked for me longer than a few weeks. In addition to osteo I have a cluster f();/ of other conditions at the bottom of my spine. The year I maxed out on cortisone and was in fear that surgery was coming, an expert Orthopedic/Neuro surgeon advised me to WAIT and find a therapy pool and walk IN water. Did it 4 -5 days a week with a helper to get me there, in and out and back.

In a month, I was off a pile of meds, off the walker and on a cane. That plus PT got me back. But the key was starting it while I was still feeling some better due to a good shot.

Good luck!

[CTyankee]

10. My rheumatologist suggested I should swim. I used to belong to a gym when I was in

grad school (I was real old even then -- went back for a Masters in my early 60s). I loved the Olympic size pool. I could get a reduced rate on the pool membership since I am an alum but it was COLD. My rheumie said it was GOOD that way. I say no...great pool and I loved swimming a couple of times a week, but cold ain't my thing.

[elfin]

11. a therapy pool is very warm, but smaller

Walking in chest high water worked better for me to take away the gravity effect while aligning my spine and taking pressure off the damaged disks.

I had to join an all purpose health club, which had both types of pools. $60/ month. After walking,I visited the hot tub for about 10 minutes. It really helped.

I live in a metro area with,enough facilities to find the right one. Hope you find the right regimen to alleviate your distress. I literally could not walk for more than short ways with a walker. Would crawl to the bathroom. Four different docs wanted to do surgery. Glad I.finally found the one to encourage me to try another strategy. Took a few months, and I still have to be careful, but everyone I know who has had back surgery has had complicating aftermath so.

[Warpy]

12. The electrical thingie is a TENS unit

and PT might end up prescribing one. I have one and it saves my butt in winter when my back locks up and the Ultram doesn't seem to touch it. The TENS plus ice keep me functional.

Functional is where it's at. Pain free aint gonna happen.

[CTyankee]

13. Yeah, I hear ya. The TENS unit is great with the heat.

I'll be getting it twice a week for a while. I love PT and doing my exercises each morning along with meditation. I feel "cleared" for the morning...

[Warpy]

14. I find ice a lot more useful than heat

when it's really bad to the point of interfering with my ability to walk. Heat feels great until you need to get up and walk away from the heat source to go to the bathroom or do something else equally glamorous. Ice numbs it out for hours. The TENS unit is small enough to jam into a pocket, so I use it a lot in the winter, ordering 9 volt batteries by the boxful from Amazon since Costco doesn't sell them in bulk.

I don't know why they don't use TENS units more frequently. Teaching people what not to do with them is a pretty quick process (yes, they can be fatal if misused) and once they're set up, all you need to do is place the electrodes, turn it on, and you're good to go.

[CTyankee]

15. I will be getting ice as well in my PT. evidently, the heat gets the blood flowing and

the ice is used for the inflammation. I don't think I'll need a TENS unit, tho. I'm always fucking up with any kind of gadget...I'd probably kill myself in the process...