For about 3 months, I experienced horrible pain in my hips. The chiropractor wasn't helping, the medicine wasn't helping... nothing. I talked to my pain specialist doctor about it and he suggested getting some tests done to see if there was a cause that would show up on any scans. He explained that he mainly wanted me to get an MRI but in order for insurance to cover an MRI, I had to get an XRay first. The xray was done and came back normal. Then we proceeded to get the MRI. I usually don't have issues with tests because I've gotten used to them. This MRI was different. They had me lay with my feet slightly apart and to turn my toes inward. They then taped my feet together. I was having enough pain as it was and normally, the only way I'm comfortable is with my feet facing more outward or away from each other. On top of that, there was a fan blowing air and it was hitting me just right where a piece of hair was blowing in my face. Also, my feet were freezing and they forgot to give me the button to get their attention. So, it was 45 minutes of annoying misery.
After the MRI, I spoke with my primary care physician and they told me that the MRI showed a tear on my left gluteus medius muscle. It was a tear that wasn't small nor large, and luckily couldn't get bigger. My primary physician told me to contact my pain specialist because she didn't feel comfortable giving me all the results. She said that the pain specialist could give me a better idea of what was going on and could give me more ideas for treatment, if any. I went in for my follow up with the specialist and we talked alot about what was going on. Basically, the tear was big enough to cause problems but small enough to not require surgery. I said that I needed help because the pain was really bad and up until then, it had only been getting worse. He recommended a steroid shot. I decided that, even though the thought of a shot long enough to go near the hip joint scared me, it was something I desperately needed to try. It was a Thursday. My procedure was scheduled for Monday.
They are willing to use sedation during the procedure but you must bring a driver. My boyfriend was going to be my driver but the next day, he was hospitalized for his own health issues and wasn't discharged until Tuesday. He was supposed to be my driver. So I ended up not getting the sedative and just went for it. No fear, right? Well, I am pretty certain that I have never experienced pain like that before. It honestly was worse than any other pain I have felt in my life. They do one shot to numb you per shot of steroid. So, that Monday, I had a total of 6 shots in my hip joints. My whole body was tense and I was literally crying by the time the third shot happened.
The numbing shots wear off about a day after the procedure and the steroid doesn't start working for about 3 days so you have a few days with no pain relief and the pain is horrible.
After the MRI, I spoke with my primary care physician and they told me that the MRI showed a tear on my left gluteus medius muscle. It was a tear that wasn't small nor large, and luckily couldn't get bigger. My primary physician told me to contact my pain specialist because she didn't feel comfortable giving me all the results. She said that the pain specialist could give me a better idea of what was going on and could give me more ideas for treatment, if any. I went in for my follow up with the specialist and we talked alot about what was going on. Basically, the tear was big enough to cause problems but small enough to not require surgery. I said that I needed help because the pain was really bad and up until then, it had only been getting worse. He recommended a steroid shot. I decided that, even though the thought of a shot long enough to go near the hip joint scared me, it was something I desperately needed to try. It was a Thursday. My procedure was scheduled for Monday.
They are willing to use sedation during the procedure but you must bring a driver. My boyfriend was going to be my driver but the next day, he was hospitalized for his own health issues and wasn't discharged until Tuesday. He was supposed to be my driver. So I ended up not getting the sedative and just went for it. No fear, right? Well, I am pretty certain that I have never experienced pain like that before. It honestly was worse than any other pain I have felt in my life. They do one shot to numb you per shot of steroid. So, that Monday, I had a total of 6 shots in my hip joints. My whole body was tense and I was literally crying by the time the third shot happened.
The numbing shots wear off about a day after the procedure and the steroid doesn't start working for about 3 days so you have a few days with no pain relief and the pain is horrible.
As of today, it's been 2 weeks since my shots. I'm definitely feeling alot better! I still have pain and issues but its not as bad in my hips, where the shots were done at. Thank God for cortizone shots!!
Gentle hugs!
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