OT BUT

I finally have an appointment to see an orthopedic surgeon on March 24 at 8 AM. I am so excited it's sinful. It will 17 months on the 22nd since I wa**** by a car in a crosswalk. I have been so discouraged with the lack of recovery and getting no where despite more than a year of physio, massage, steroid injections, taking 2400 mgs of Ibuprofen daily, wearing a knee brace, and using a cane. I can't walk hills or go up and down stairs, I can't kneel, and I can't walk or stand for more than a few minutes without my knee swelling out of control and serious pain. My referral has been in for an ortho consult and to a physiatrist since September. Last week I ended back in emergency b/c I was so swollen that my massage therapist refused to treat and told me I had to go to the hospital. I called my ortho's office and was nearly in tears and said you need to get me in. Within an hour, I had my appointment. If I knew that was all it would take, I would've cried long ago.
Anyhow - I'm beginning to think March 24th will be my Christmas Eve this year. I know it will still be a process to get the diagnostics done, surgery, and recovery. I'm probably looking at another 2 years easily. So I'm still far from the point where I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but at least now I can see the damned tunnel!!!

Shirley

I so glad that you are getting the help you need.

Oh Shirley I am so happy for you that you finally will have some ortho working with you .

The system is so backed up - I just got an appt for March for a referral from Nov 07 when I fell down stairs and re-damaged my right knee that I have had 3 surgeries on and also 3 on the other ne as well - so almost a year and half later I will be seen about the fall - so in that time my weight loss helped a lot but I still can not be as active as I want and here on vacation in Phoenix it is bugging the hell out of me - I have so much arthritis in the both knees now after all these years my family doctor said it will be a juggling game to try to prevent knee replacements as long as I can ..... being only 42 I would wear out a replacement and have to have others done so I am happy to be finally be seen if only to be on the list so when something happens I have an ortho I am a patient of and who can treat me.

Yay you can see the tunnel girly - who did they refer you to ?

I am seeing Dr Kathy Coady who I have seen once before about 8 years ago but had to get back on her list to see her again.I had my surgeries done in Saint John while we lived there so when we moved I lost my specialist.

hugs
deb

I'm seeing Dr. Stanish - one of the best in the country - he used to be the Team Canada ortho doc. I've seen him in the past too but it's been about 20 years. At that time I had fallen and injured my knee. I actually injured this knee 3 times before that damned car hit me.  Dr. Stanish told me back then not to injure it again. Guess he thought I did it intentionally the first 3 times. Anyhow, I know I will be in good hands with him. I have a great deal of confidence in him. So I just need the 24th to get here.
Shirley
PS - I also have OA but it is still in the early stages so I have a ways to go before I will need knee replacement. I am hoping my WLS will postpone that even longer.