thumb, elbow, 2 shots.... and a trip to Florida!

[Donnaj4962]

What a title for a thread, huh!

Some of you may remember back in November of 2005 when I had my left thumb joint rebuilt due to arthritis.... I had surgery and was in a cast for a month.

Well, the right thumb is doing it now. I went to the doctor in October, and got a shot. The x-rays also show a bone spur on the thumb joint. The doctor seemed to think the shot would last me until the first of the year. And I was hoping it would as the pain was awful!!!!!!!!! Lots of fluid going into my little thumb joint, with a bone spur making the space even smaller!

So the pain has become terrible again, and I have begun having trouble lifting things. The pain shoots straight up my arm into my elbow! So in I went, and I now not only have arthritis in my thumb, but I also have tendonitis. I got a shot in the thumb and the elbow and I have a brace to wear on my forearm and I have to do some physical therapy for the elbow. The thumb shot hurt worse going in, but now the elbow is REALLY hurting! It is actually worse than before the shot this morning. I called the doctor office and the nurse says that the fluid needs time to flow and that I will probably feel pain for a few days. I am taking Aleeve and icing it for 15 minutes once every hour. That helps some. She also said not to "baby" it, which is just what I had been doing all day! So here I sit, trying to type, and use the arm and thumb.

One good thing.... I booked a flight to Florida for Easter! My bday is the day after Easter, so I decided to buy myself a plane ticket as my gift to myself!

Anyone else deal with thumb issues? tendonitis?

[Freedom]

I have some little idea what you are dealing with. I just learned that I have arthritis also. I have been in terrible knee pain since Oct. and finally went to the doc last month. She said, "You can have 2 new knees anytime you can't stand the pain any longer." WHAT?! I was NOT planning on THAT!!! The pain is unbelievable. I am on a prescription, Naxopren, it is prescription strength Motrin, for anti-inflammatory and pain relief. I am thinking I should speak with an arthritis specialist next, rather than return to my primary doc.

Was the shot you had cortisone? That is one of the suggested treatments. I have been reading the Arthritis Foundation web site. Do you find that organiztion helpful?

Florida will be nice, you deserve the break. Good for you!!!

[dukedogsmom]

I haven't had any problems with it, thank goodness. Don't feel alone in your troubles. My mom broke her other shoulder in early January after shattering the opposite one last February. I guess this is a year for repeats. Good luck on your methods of treatments. And Florida should be good and hot by then. I dread it. I hope you enjoy it, though! Right now, I'm loving this cool weather.