Prolotherapy treatment No. 1

Well…. I should probably preface by saying, I don’t do needles well. I mean really don’t do needles well. Since Prolo consists of injections deep into ligaments and tendons of the joint, this was an interesting experience, to say the least. During my apt yesterday, I did try to warn Dr. Haman that needles are an issue for me, but he said “I’m good and fast, it will be nearly painless”. I told him it wasn’t the pain that bothered me. I just hate needles, period. Funny thing is I can tolerate IV’s and blood draws for the most part, as long as they don’t look like actual hypodermics. He was absolutely correct, he is lightening fast and they didn’t hurt that much. Neither fact influenced me a bit while I was attempting to claw my way off the table and fight off a complete panic attack. I actually was quite proud of myself because I did manage to stay on the table and not dissolve into a state of complete mental lapse. That happens to be exactly what happened the last time I had to have a shot after having stitches put in a bicycle injury. Took several docs, a couple orderlies and a few nurses to get me down long enough for one doc to get the shot in me, shameful! Why is it we humans, with our big intelligent brains, can let something so stupid completely shut down all of our higher functioning capacity? It was terrifying for me, to the point that my muscles where jerking, I broke out in a sweat, and my previously nice blood pressure of 96/62 went through the roof. But I did it! I managed to stay ON that table long enough for him to get all 6 shots in. After he was done, they hooked me up to the elctrostimulator and let me lay there for a bit. I felt really bad for Dr. Haman! He’s such a good egg, though; when he came back in the room he asked me “So, you still hate me?” I promptly replied “YES!”
He decided that next time; he’s going to have me take a valium about an hour prior to my apt to see if that will help the “slight anxiety” issue. I just hope it works. With my built in resistance to medications that seem to be helpful, I’m not holding my breath. He asked me what I was doing for pain. I told him the truth. Not much. Since I’m so resistant to a lot of medications, I’ve just kind of given up trying. TDH told him the story of the ER trip where they gave me the legal max for on e day on morphine and I was still walking and talking like they hadn’t given me anything. I hope, for my sake, that it works, because even thinking about going back for more needles is, well, anxiety inducing.
As for the actual Prolo well, we shall see how it turns out. Initially, it was okay. The v did numb up some of the pain going on in the screaming tendons and ligaments. However, like many pain treatments, it was short lived. He gave me Lidocaine patches, to put on “where it hurts”. Yea, that didn’t work either. It did have a rather unexpected side effect however, it made the bruises disappear. When I got the huge patch out, I cut it into three pieces and placed one piece over each of the nice sized purple and black spots popping up on my hind end and hip. Three hours later when I took them off the purple and blue spots were gone. So, while I derived no pain killing assistance from the Lidocaine patches, my bruising seemed too. Odd, never heard of that one before.
The shots in themselves where not really all that painful…BUT you have to take into account that I have a ridiculously high pain tolerance. The Lidocaine he sprayed on my skin just prior to the injections had no effect, really. No “deadening” effect, because I felt each and every needle puncture. That said, Dr Haman was correct in stating that he was very good at what he does. He was lightening fast and despite my severe anxiety it was over in a matter of a couple of minutes. I really do feel silly about it all. Letting something get to me so badly, but it seems to be a part of me, for what ever reason, so I just deal with it.
I go back next Monday for Round 2….. I’m really hoping and praying that the Valium will work. I hate weakness of any kind in myself, and I really see my intolerance of needles as a weakness. However, I have to do this. I need to find out if this will save my hip and save me from a permanent wheelchair assignment. More than anything, I do NOT want to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life! If I cannot get the hip to stop it’s dislocation in both directions, than I will be. Prolo is worth a shot. I can’t say I’ve scene an improvement yet, but it’s only been a day. My understanding of the process is that I won’t see max benefit for another 6 weeks or so. SO, we shall see…..