I might change my mind in a day or two or three. But right now, I am not happy with said shot. My visit with the orthopedic doctor was this morning. This is the same guy who treated my both-shoulders-tendonitis a couple years ago (which pretty much resolved after much PT and posture changes and the like). He remembered me. I still can’t decide if that’s good or bad.

Anyway. Questions about when the pain started, what kind of pain, for how long, has it felt like your shoulder pops out of the socket?

“Um, no.”

Then came poke, prodding, and manipulating. And me saying ow, ow, OW.

He seemed rather indecisive about whether it was my tendonitis Acting Very Badly or a different injury. He did say I’d already done things he would’ve told me to (ice, Celebrex, PT exercises) and thought PT wouldn’t help because I already know and do the exercises.

Soooo. He gave me a cortisone shot. I’m to lay off my arm/shoulder for the next five days. Yes, this means no fencing right handed. Also no PT exercises, no weight training for my upper body. Nothin’, man, nothin’. I’m clueless when it comes to cortisone shots. The actual shot didn’t hurt at all, really. A brief pinch when the needle went in, then pressure as the fluid was injected. No big deal. After a minute or so, I got an odd burning sensation in my throat. Still feels kinda funky, but whatever.

Except.

Good god, my shoulder and arm hurt. My right arm is practically useless right now. I can use my hand, as long as it’s independent of actually moving my arm. After doing a bit of Googling, I believe it’s this:

Also note that some patients may have a reaction to the cortisone injection called a ‘cortisone flare.’ A cortisone flare is a condition where the injected cortisone crystallizes and can cause a brief period of pain worse than before the shot. This usually lasts a day or two and is best treated by icing the injected area.

—about.com orthopedics

I think their definition of “brief” and my definition of “brief” are decidedly different.

Categories: medical adventures
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