A Shot in the Knee

I got a shot in the knee this afternoon. When I reported for the treatment, the x-rays from Tuesday had still not arrived from NorCal Imaging. So she called before she gave me the shot, and their oral report was "advancing arthritis." Phew, that doesn't sound so good. But no other damage. So the shot was on.

She had Kristi with her (who works on Fridays), a med student, and told her about the "holy trinity," where you move the swab over the area three times with that horrible-looking brown stuff, to make sure it's cleansed. She then swiped an area where the syringe would go in, and we were ready.

She had mixed a vial of Xylocaine in with the Cortisone and placed it in the syringe. She felt for the patella, and slipped the needle in just to the left of the bone. Then she moved the needle for two other angles to release the steroid into that portion of the knee.

It hurt a little, but not nearly as much as I remember it hurting the first time I received a cortisone shot in the knee. She told me the xylocaine would create a burning sensation, and then would numb the area. I only felt pain, but perhaps that was the burning.

I have to say that my knee felt fabulous within minutes. However, three hours later, the xylocaine has worn off and I feel some pain in the knee. That's to be expected, I understand.

Dr. Miller told me that the limit for cortisone shots is 3 times per year per knee. That's a lot better than I had previously thought.

It might take a few days, but I have no doubt my knee will feel a lot better. Yay for modern medicine and the deft touch of Dr. Laura Miller!