Walking funny again

[cjsmith]

I got my second set of Killer Death Injections of Doooom this morning.

As before, I pinched myself awfully hard during each one to distract myself from the pain-and-wrongness sensation. (Last time, the welts I made by pinching took four days to fade. Aren't you glad you now know this detail?) Also as before, I have the anaesthetic effect over much of my foot without benefit of actual anaesthesia. Last time, this effect took about a day to fade.

There are dark purplish dots at the entry points where the needle went in. Those haven't faded from last time, so now I look like I have measles or something. If they all stay for seven weeks I won't be able to resist taking a photo of the resultant mess. :-)

If I concentrate really hard I can walk almost-normally with my partially numb feet.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

When I got my hands done (both at once) it went systemic, it was as if the RA in my hands went away, but all over, the symptoms were reduced. A week after the shots, I was able to go hiking at Pinnacles -- three miles up and down steep hills and stairs, and through a cave! -- and saw the condor. After a month, I was starting to get more symptoms everywhere, after three months, it was back to "normal". But that's three months in which I was doing considerably better. If I could have that even once or twice a year, I'd feel very lucky.

Also, my doctor's 6'5", slender, and geeky-looking (me? perv?) and trusts my intuition and body sense. When I say, "Well, I read on alt.support.arthritis that taking grapeseed extract helps with methotrexate side effects, and those folks tend to know the difference between snake oil and good medicine," he accepted that I wasn't being misled my crazy internet talk. He doesn't say, "That can't be RA, the symptoms aren't typical," he says, "You're a puzzle, let's find out how to make you better."

Anyone want a rheumatologist? I'm happy to refer.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

all over, the symptoms were reduced.

Ah, I didn't realize that. I remember you talking about the hike at Pinnacles but I didn't make the connection as to why that was possible.

Anyone want a rheumatologist? I'm happy to refer.

I have a friend who needs a good rheumatologist, but sadly she is in Ohio. I reeeeeeeally hope she finds a good doc soon.

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

you talkin' 'bout me? i'd KILL for a rheumatologist who did more than say "sorry, we've tried everything. i don't know what to do with you"

and from what little research i've done, i don't think we've really tried all that much. i think they just don't want to bother being creative. :P

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

you talkin' 'bout me?

Yes, I was. Even a mediocre rheumatologist would be a step up for you.

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

oh yeah. oddly enough, my family doc put me on an older generic anti-inflammatory, and while i'm not 100% pain free, i feel better than i did on any of the newer drugs. i'm not even going to ask why my genius specialists never thought of that...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Heh. Sometimes geniuses are too busy being geniuses to ask if the basics have been tried already.