Finally have another appt for my elbow

[jimnyc]

This is what scares me, that potentially the shots could be negative. I want to speak with my surgeon for sure, and opt for the surgery I believe.

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Tennis Elbow and (avoiding) Cortisone Injections

Tennis Elbow, or Lateral Epicondylitis is a very common entity seen in a busy Sports Medicine office. Tennis Elbow is a condition where the tendons on the outer side of the elbow degenerate, or fray and tear from chronic use. We used to believe it was due to inflammation of the tendons. Interestingly, there are no signs of inflammation within the tendons seen in surgical specimens. We now know that tennis elbow is caused by tendinosis.

Some patients with tennis elbow have very mild pain, but some patients are truly disabled by the pain.

...

Cortisone Injections For Tennis Elbow

For a very long time, the initial treatment chosen for a patient with severe pain due to tennis elbow was a cortisone injection. Cortisone is a steroid, and a strong anti-inflammatory. Initially most of these injected patients were very satisfied , but many patients note that when the injection wears off, they feel worse than they did prior to the injection.

http://www.howardluksmd.com/sports-m...ne-injections/


How Could A Cortisone Shot Make Tennis Elbow Worse?

A cortisone shot may offer short-term relief from joint pain, but over the longer term it is less effective than other treatments, including placebo.

https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2016...s-elbow-worse/


Cortisone shots made tennis elbow worse

Q: I suffered with tennis elbow in both arms for more than a year. It is no joke and quite painful. I found cortisone shots made the pain worse. How is that possible?

A: Cortisone injections are a common treatment for joint pain such as tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis in doctor-speak). Although such shots can often provide some immediate relief, there is evidence that the benefits fade over time.

In an Australian meta-analysis of 12 international studies, corticosteroid injections resulted in more pain than other treatments (including placebo) after six months (Lancet online, Oct. 22, 2010). More recently, a Norwegian study found that steroid injections eased discomfort at six weeks, but produced no significant difference from placebo at 12 weeks, and by 26 weeks had led to worsening of symptoms (BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders online, May 20, 2015). Most people with tennis elbow recover within a year regardless of the treatment.

http://www.seattletimes.com/life/wel...s-elbow-worse/

[jimnyc]

So had my appt yesterday, which was nothing more than the doc taking 20 seconds to look at it and ask me questions. Then referred me for an MRI. They needed pre-approval. I thought it would take forever. They called before I was even home! Then had the MRI a few hours ago and that sucked! Lay on my stomach, in superman position, for 40 minutes!!!

Now they already called and said it's a pretty good tear. Now I go back in again tomorrow to discuss options. Hell, can't we do that on the phone? Dirty gouging bastards!!

They'll be doing a little surgery eventually, outpatient, and only a small scar. But I'll probably have to see my other doctor again to get the pre-op physical or whatever. At least this place is quick! If I had only made my appointment when it started hurting again like 11 months ago!!

[Black Diamond]

ouch.

[Black Diamond]

So had my appt yesterday, which was nothing more than the doc taking 20 seconds to look at it and ask me questions. Then referred me for an MRI. They needed pre-approval. I thought it would take forever. They called before I was even home! Then had the MRI a few hours ago and that sucked! Lay on my stomach, in superman position, for 40 minutes!!!

Now they already called and said it's a pretty good tear. Now I go back in again tomorrow to discuss options. Hell, can't we do that on the phone? Dirty gouging bastards!!

They'll be doing a little surgery eventually, outpatient, and only a small scar. But I'll probably have to see my other doctor again to get the pre-op physical or whatever. At least this place is quick! If I had only made my appointment when it started hurting again like 11 months ago!!

i am guessing you'll get norco if you haven't already.

[Kathianne]

So had my appt yesterday, which was nothing more than the doc taking 20 seconds to look at it and ask me questions. Then referred me for an MRI. They needed pre-approval. I thought it would take forever. They called before I was even home! Then had the MRI a few hours ago and that sucked! Lay on my stomach, in superman position, for 40 minutes!!!

Now they already called and said it's a pretty good tear. Now I go back in again tomorrow to discuss options. Hell, can't we do that on the phone? Dirty gouging bastards!!

They'll be doing a little surgery eventually, outpatient, and only a small scar. But I'll probably have to see my other doctor again to get the pre-op physical or whatever. At least this place is quick! If I had only made my appointment when it started hurting again like 11 months ago!!

Yay! You'll be good as new!

[jimnyc]

Yay! You'll be good as new!

I hope so. I'd hate to think that this much was sort of accomplished in 3 days and then it would stall. I just have to see if they do the procedure at their facility, in which they do have an "ambulatory" area, but no idea if they do any types of procedures there or if it moves to the hospital like my prior neck surgeries. If at a hospital, my next concern is WHO would all be involved in this procedure, and will they be in network or not. That's how the bastards get you!!

[Kathianne]

I hope so. I'd hate to think that this much was sort of accomplished in 3 days and then it would stall. I just have to see if they do the procedure at their facility, in which they do have an "ambulatory" area, but no idea if they do any types of procedures there or if it moves to the hospital like my prior neck surgeries. If at a hospital, my next concern is WHO would all be involved in this procedure, and will they be in network or not. That's how the bastards get you!!

Hmmm, while a radiologist read the MRI, my following appt was with the surgeon, who did the surgery. If you remember I went in around 7 or so, was out around 6 or 7 in the evening. It seems like shoulder would probably be more involved, I had 5 cuts, small but stitched.

I don't know what all is involved in tear in elbow area, but does seem a bit more straight forward. The doctor did say a 'tear' is better than the complete separation of the tendon, which of course has been my problem. He thinks now there may be a tear, but can't get an MRI because of the metal in my shoulder, a CAT scan was inconclusive.

[jimnyc]

@jimnyc if your tear is injury-related, this prob is irrelevant, but I had a lot of pain associated with mouse usage. It all went away when I switched to a roller ball type.

Yeah, doctor told me yesterday that no amount of therapy or cortisone shots will fix the tearing in my elbow area.

Hmmm, while a radiologist read the MRI, my following appt was with the surgeon, who did the surgery. If you remember I went in around 7 or so, was out around 6 or 7 in the evening. It seems like shoulder would probably be more involved, I had 5 cuts, small but stitched.

I don't know what all is involved in tear in elbow area, but does seem a bit more straight forward. The doctor did say a 'tear' is better than the complete separation of the tendon, which of course has been my problem. He thinks now there may be a tear, but can't get an MRI because of the metal in my shoulder, a CAT scan was inconclusive.

Yups, that's what happened, as this time my actual doctor came in, not one of the many assistants to quickly jab you with a needle. Said right away that surgery was necessary. There are 2 options, one is like a rod they put in there and clean things u, with a 75% success rate. The other is literally slicing and cutting aka "releasing" the tendon, tear it down to the BONE, and clean things, then let it all heal back normally. That one he said has a 95% success rate.

I'll be going with the second and the procedure is on the 30th of this month. He said the pain will get worse before better after the surgery, and then some rehab involved.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

I've had a couple friends that have apparently had the second option done on their shoulders, and both with great success. Rehab can be lengthy and painful, but it does heal and you can use it again, pretty much as normal. I'd go with option 2 also. One of my buddies that had a ripped tendon repaired in his shoulder had a machine that sat next to his chair and he put his arm in this sling, and it raised and lowered his arm.

I'm going to file a grievance with Veterans Choice today, in writing. The program is a farce.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

So had my appt yesterday, which was nothing more than the doc taking 20 seconds to look at it and ask me questions. Then referred me for an MRI. They needed pre-approval. I thought it would take forever. They called before I was even home! Then had the MRI a few hours ago and that sucked! Lay on my stomach, in superman position, for 40 minutes!!!

Now they already called and said it's a pretty good tear. Now I go back in again tomorrow to discuss options. Hell, can't we do that on the phone? Dirty gouging bastards!!

They'll be doing a little surgery eventually, outpatient, and only a small scar. But I'll probably have to see my other doctor again to get the pre-op physical or whatever. At least this place is quick! If I had only made my appointment when it started hurting again like 11 months ago!!

I've been having a nightmare trying to deal with Veterans Choice.

I recently found what looked a hell of a lot to me like a deer tick bite on my neck, so naturally I'm concerned about Lyme disease. It was slightly swollen, tender and looked to have the dime sized "ring" around it. It certainly didn't appear to be a blemish or pimple. So I called V.C. and put the wheels in motion. Next day, nothing. Called the VA and discussed the matter with them and they said call V.C. back and tell them we've recommended you be seen in the next 12 to 24 hours, so I did, and supposedly V.C. put a rush on it. Well, that was 48 hours ago now and still nothing. I'm tellin' ya, this Veterans Choice program is an absolute FARCE. I'm going to call the VA here in a little bit and tell them that once again V.C. has been a total failure, and that makes THREE times now that's happened. They've even completely ignored me after I called and said they had no record of me calling the first time. I'm planning on contacting my Senators and Congressmen about this too, probably write something on the White House website also.

I'm glad you have better luck, pard, or different health care. Get yourself fixed up, constant pain is not fun.

[Abbey Marie]

@jimnyc if your tear is injury-related, this prob is irrelevant, but I had a lot of pain associated with mouse usage. It all went away when I switched to a roller ball type.