cjsmith: (caduceus)
cjsmith ([personal profile] cjsmith) wrote2004-02-20 04:41 pm

My feet feel WRONG

Back to podiatrist today. Inflammation/pain slightly less, but not much less. Poke, prod. Surprise: it's moved again. Now it's between the ends of my metatarsals, instead of around and under them.

Got injection of an anti-inflammatory steroid and some painkiller, in each foot, in between the third and fourth metatarsals. Those of you who know me are probably already asking yourselves whether I passed out -- I do indeed have A Thing About Needles -- but I was good, and stayed conscious. The injections hurt quite a bit, which helped, I think. The pain distracted me from the fact that this was a needle.

After my blood pressure came back and all, I found that standing up felt very wrong. About a quarter of each foot is completely numb, and there's a big bolus of fluid hanging out in the ball of each foot, too. Y'know, it's a good thing I have such blind faith in Western medicine. Otherwise I'd think something was badly amiss. I keep coming out of this guy's office walking funny!

The idea here, best I can figure, is that this will break the cycle of pain -leading-to- inflammation -leading-to- more pain. If this doesn't work, I get to try again in a couple of weeks. (Oh joy. I enjoyed it so much this time.) If that doesn't work, I get one last chance. (Yee ha.) Then they go in and take out the nerve. (AAAAAAAA!)

So I sure am hoping this works. I am also hoping my medical insurance gets straightened out soon -- I'm one saving throw from being discontinued retroactively, back to January 1, and I really don't want to know how much this podiatrist actually costs. Especially if there's surgery involved.

I am also hoping I don't have to drive much in the next day or so, because the way my feet feel make driving weeeeird. (Walking's weeeeird too, but less potentially dangerous if done wrong.)

Re:

[identity profile] just-cyd.livejournal.com 2004-02-20 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure if it was supposed to be "trigger-point", just supposed to be the location of greatest pain.

mine were at the site of the most pain... hurt like a sonofobitch, too.

Was there anything else you could try at that point?
i think we tried lidocane patches (Ooo, those are weird!), PT using phonophresis and cross-friction, and a round of prednisone. That doc has decided his bag of tricks is empty now, and i was supposed to go to an orthopedic surgeon, but with my insurance running out in 9 days, i'm gonna have to pass on that for now.

Now, I bet it's five figures.

definitely. havign my gallbladder out was about $15k, of which i had to pay about half. outpatient might be slightly cheaper, but probably not much ~ i forget everything's more expensive where you live.

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2004-02-20 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
An anaesthetic patch? That does sound like it would be weird to experience! Yikes!

havign my gallbladder out was about $15k,

And it wasn't outpatient, at that price? Can I take you shopping next time I go? You find good prices! 1/2 :-)

Was that done under general or local? How long did you stay in the hospital?

My exploratory for endometriosis was somewhere between $12K and $20K. That was outpatient, but it was general anaesthesia. Foot might be done local, which I think is cheaper.

The painkiller portion of the injection in the right foot is wearing off, and now it aaaaaaches... I hope that's not a bad sign.

Re:

[identity profile] just-cyd.livejournal.com 2004-02-20 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
An anaesthetic patch? That does sound like it would be weird to experience! Yikes!

i've got a pkg of two left... *tosses 'em your way*

And it wasn't outpatient, at that price? Can I take you shopping next time I go? You find good prices! 1/2 :-)

no, i was in for three days. but things generally are cheaper out here in the midwest. (and i just cleaned up pretty good on the clearance racks at kmart... and where were YOU?)


i remember my elbow aching a bit, but then it went kinda numb for a week or so. having a needle glance off bone a couple times surely won't make things feel better right away!!



[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2004-02-20 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
i've got a pkg of two left... *tosses 'em your way*

*catch* Hey, thanks! *sticks 'em on toesies*

no, i was in for three days. but things generally are cheaper out here in the midwest. (and i just cleaned up pretty good on the clearance racks at kmart... and where were YOU?)

*hangs head in shame* Wasting time in the high-rent district? ;)

i remember my elbow aching a bit, but then it went kinda numb for a week or so. having a needle glance off bone a couple times surely won't make things feel better right away!!

oh OW! Mine was along the nerve pathway midpoint BETWEEN two bones, so I was spared the needle-glancing-off-bone thing!