My last posting brought you up to 2010. Eventually the swelling went down in my legs, but it took a couple years (yes, years) No reason was ever found. I still get swelling in the evenings or after walking too much, but with Advil, Aleve or something similar it is manageable. The fascia in my feet appeared to heal, but occasionally they still hurt and ache. I do not like to walk even for a short distance without orthotics. My orthotics are thick, full-length and don't fit in nice sandals or dress shoes. I wear runners or motorcycle boots. I have a soft leather ankle dress boot that I can wear with my orthotic, which I do when I have work related meetings. However, I know that I will be in pain after wearing the dress boot - with orthotics - for only a short time. In 2010 or 11, my hips began to hurt. This affected my sleep.
The role in fascia is not well understood. Links to rheumatoid arthritis is suspected. Chronic back pain my be linked to fascia thickening. The following quote increases my concern with a knee replacement.
Persistent pain and stiffness following total joint replacement for osteoarthritis is a well-recognized occurrence, presumably arising from nonarticular structures (since the joint itself has been removed). Is it possible that these structures may have contributed to some of the pain even before surgery? Identifying fascia abnormalities preoperatively might be a useful way to target those patients that are at risk for a poor surgical outcome. The Rheumatologist.org
As I had mentioned previously, it was my chiropractor who first said I had arthritis more than 40 years ago. I still go a chiropractor who I trust, Dr. Kevin Henbid and consult with him for guidance of any and all health related conditions. He does help alleviate pain in my joints.
I have also used massage therapy but didn't find it was of any great benefit. The massage therapist tried fascia taping and other techniques. Sporadically I saw a Chinese medicine specialist, Dr. Weeping Wang in Saskatoon. He used a combination of acupuncture, chiropractor and a tens machine. His treatments did help and I would recommend his services to everyone. However he works in a community 1.5 hrs away from my home.
In 2015 I heard about dry needling and began some treatments. I found there are many different types of dry needling. My first therapist wouldn't use more than 4 or 5 needles a session. Although this helped, it certainly did not achieve what I felt was needed. I then found a therapist, John from Core Therapy, who used a needling style with what he calls a plunger. This allows him to use perhaps a hundred or more needles per session. Most of the time the dry needling sessions reduced the pain (tight, sore muscles from my hip to my ankle).
Dry needling, also known as myofascial trigger point dry needling, is the use of either solid filiform needles (also referred to as acupuncture needles) or hollow-core hypodermic needles for therapy of muscle pain, including pain related to myofascial pain syndrome. Wikipedia
I don't think Vitamin B12 has any direct link to arthritis, but once I started taking it, I have found it has helped manage my pain. Initially I was getting the B12 shot every 4 weeks - testing showed that even with the injection, I was under the recommended levels. I have now been taking the B12 injection for about 5 years, in a monthly basis- vitamin pills did not sufficiently raise my levels. About three weeks after my injection, I begin to have sleep difficulties, my hips hurt, my back hurts, my legs hurt, etc. A few days after the injections I begin to feel myself again.
I have tried glucosamine, MSN, SAM, condrotrin. All seemed to work for awhile. A home tens machine helped occasionally. For the past couple years I've been using a Voltarin topical cream that the pharmacist mixes and is stronger than what is available over the counter. At times I have used compression stockings for pain in my feet, ankles and lower leg.
Another problem that was occurring was fluid filled cysts around my ankle and other bones on my feet. Although they are very painful when they form and some of them disappear with time, they are tender. It appears they are synovial fluid cysts.
In 2015, I had another x-ray on my knee. By this time I found a great doctor who said she intended on remaining in our city. I was tired of beginning to see a doctor only to have them move on.
The role in fascia is not well understood. Links to rheumatoid arthritis is suspected. Chronic back pain my be linked to fascia thickening. The following quote increases my concern with a knee replacement.
Persistent pain and stiffness following total joint replacement for osteoarthritis is a well-recognized occurrence, presumably arising from nonarticular structures (since the joint itself has been removed). Is it possible that these structures may have contributed to some of the pain even before surgery? Identifying fascia abnormalities preoperatively might be a useful way to target those patients that are at risk for a poor surgical outcome. The Rheumatologist.org
As I had mentioned previously, it was my chiropractor who first said I had arthritis more than 40 years ago. I still go a chiropractor who I trust, Dr. Kevin Henbid and consult with him for guidance of any and all health related conditions. He does help alleviate pain in my joints.
I have also used massage therapy but didn't find it was of any great benefit. The massage therapist tried fascia taping and other techniques. Sporadically I saw a Chinese medicine specialist, Dr. Weeping Wang in Saskatoon. He used a combination of acupuncture, chiropractor and a tens machine. His treatments did help and I would recommend his services to everyone. However he works in a community 1.5 hrs away from my home.
In 2015 I heard about dry needling and began some treatments. I found there are many different types of dry needling. My first therapist wouldn't use more than 4 or 5 needles a session. Although this helped, it certainly did not achieve what I felt was needed. I then found a therapist, John from Core Therapy, who used a needling style with what he calls a plunger. This allows him to use perhaps a hundred or more needles per session. Most of the time the dry needling sessions reduced the pain (tight, sore muscles from my hip to my ankle).
Dry needling, also known as myofascial trigger point dry needling, is the use of either solid filiform needles (also referred to as acupuncture needles) or hollow-core hypodermic needles for therapy of muscle pain, including pain related to myofascial pain syndrome. Wikipedia
I don't think Vitamin B12 has any direct link to arthritis, but once I started taking it, I have found it has helped manage my pain. Initially I was getting the B12 shot every 4 weeks - testing showed that even with the injection, I was under the recommended levels. I have now been taking the B12 injection for about 5 years, in a monthly basis- vitamin pills did not sufficiently raise my levels. About three weeks after my injection, I begin to have sleep difficulties, my hips hurt, my back hurts, my legs hurt, etc. A few days after the injections I begin to feel myself again.
I have tried glucosamine, MSN, SAM, condrotrin. All seemed to work for awhile. A home tens machine helped occasionally. For the past couple years I've been using a Voltarin topical cream that the pharmacist mixes and is stronger than what is available over the counter. At times I have used compression stockings for pain in my feet, ankles and lower leg.
Another problem that was occurring was fluid filled cysts around my ankle and other bones on my feet. Although they are very painful when they form and some of them disappear with time, they are tender. It appears they are synovial fluid cysts.
In 2015, I had another x-ray on my knee. By this time I found a great doctor who said she intended on remaining in our city. I was tired of beginning to see a doctor only to have them move on.
After we received this x-ray, she indicated she believed I needed a knee replacement. I told her I wanted to wait as long as possible before I would consider this and did not want another referral to a Orthopedic surgeon. My knee was becoming increasingly stiff. Another reason to delay was I had an leave from work and I intended on travelling as much as possible. See my blog - From Here to There - or LorettaSmith2016.blogspot. I went on my trip and walked and hiked as much as possible. At nights, I needed to take anti-inflammatories, and many nights I had tears from the aching but this did not stop me from climbing to the top of ancient relicts.
I returned to work September 2016. Within a month of returning to work - sitting - rarely walking, I began to have problems. Hips hurt. Feet hurt. I do know that if I had been more diligent with an exercise regime my pain management could be more successful. However, like many others with chronic pain, we are (I am) reluctant to acknowledge the "chronic"aspect and keep looking for a magic cure. Exercise, weight control, anti-inflammatories are intended to assist with managing and controlling the pain and stiffness - not eliminate it.
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