Wellness

[lulu2]

I've had both corticosteroid and joint lubricant injections. (both single injection and series of 3)  None has ever worked immediately.  With all of them, for the first 2 days I was in more pain due to the injection.  I've never had improvement in less than 10 days.  In the case of the series of 3, I never had improvement.

Everyone is different.  I know someone who gets up to a year on 1 shot.  I've never gotten more than a few months. (and in some cases only about a month)

[redheadmimi]

Have had these shots (now Orthovisc) in a series of 3 shots in both knees for many years.

Yes, they do help me-I get the series of shots once a year.  You may get them as often as 2x a year if needed.  

By the end of the year I know it's "time" for them but they absolutely do help with the arthritic pain in both knees.  It can be a 'hassle' to ge them approved, and it's a wait for the actual injections to be sent to the ortho doc, but well worth waiting.

Good luck-for me-it has put off the knee replacement.

[Mmsfoxxie]

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@I am still oxox wrote:

It as taken since Oct 1 to get my shot approved by insurance, it has taken over a week to get Caremark to process it.

I got a cal from the Drs coordinator at 5pm today, my cost for this will be $385.00 wow I was floored by that

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@I am still oxox What?  $385 your portion.  Wow!  The first time I got Synvisc One, it was like you....I had to wait to get it approved.  I didn't have to pay anything.  Back then I was working and I might have paid a co pay.  Now, I have Medicare and a supplemental insurance so I pay nothing.  I guess there is an advantage to getting older, lol.

Is that for both knees or one?

ETA:  Oops, nevermind.  I just read that it is for one knee.

[I am still oxox]

@NickNack

Guess what the whole pre cert process was a huge mess, my insurance has Cinga providers but it is not Cigna it is a private insurance. The person at my docs office sent my approval to Cigna, no wonder I had to wait close to a month for a approval, today was supposed was my appt and since they were not sure the injection would be in the office in time I rescheduled it to Nov 10.

I spoke to her today and she swears up and down she is correct in sending the referral to Cigna when it specifically saves Care Allies on the back of my card, she could of saved us all grief by asking me to conform the info before she went ahead

I am livid, and to top that off I gave my credit card info to Caremark yesterday and my card has not been charged

[NickNack]

@I am still oxox  It sounds like it was a mess!  I'm glad it's getting straightened out.  I didn't realize the doctor's offices didn't keep the shots in stock.  I'm sure it will be a while before I actually get my injections, too.

[I am still oxox]

@NickNack

Either did I when the doctor told me about it I thought it was routine. I needed a Avastin shot in my eye, the docs receptionist made the call while I was sitting there and it was done, and I got an approval for the shots if needed for the year

[NickNack]

I went to the orthopedic surgeon this morning for my Synvisc injections.  He said he doesn't give them anymore.  He only gives cortisone injections.  He said the latest research shows that they help only two out of ten people (I believe that was the statistic).  He said some people it didn't help at all, and it was extremely expensive, like $1,000 a shot.  He said they were a waste of money.  

I was disappointed, but I had also read that they didn't help a lot of people.  I got my cortisone injections and a sheet of exercises to start doing this weekend.  I hope the cortisone injections last longer this time than they did the last time.  I seem to remember that they gave complete relief but didn't last long enough.  It's been four years since I've had them.  He also gave me a prescription for something--can't remember the name of it and haven't picked it up yet.  I've been taking ibuprofen.  I've been having to get up in the middle of the night to take it.  I hope the combination of the cortisone shots and the prescription will help.

[Gooday]

When I worked in the orthopedic surgeon's office, when Synvisc/Supartz/Monovisc, etc. injections were approved, he would give them twice a year.  After that, just like cortisone injections, he said the injections were doing nothing more than masking the true symptoms and they caused scar tissue buildup.

Usually, patients were putting off the inevitable.  I'm not saying these injections are not effective but it's not a cure all and injections are not to  be taken lightly and often.

[I am still oxox]

The inevitable, meaning knee replacement, I was specifically told that was not needed in my case

[NickNack]

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@I am still oxox wrote:

The inevitable, meaning knee replacement, I was specifically told that was not needed in my case

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@Gooday  @I am still oxox  The orthopedic surgeon told me today that I didn't need knee replacement surgery, at least not now.  I told him I hoped I would never need it.  I just hope the cortisone shots last longer this time.  He told me he didn't like to give them more than two or three times a year.