Never say never

I have had ongoing knee pain since October . I kept trying to deal with it through all the Lupus pain meds and  Prednesone would take the edge off.  Until now...

On Jan 25 my hubby went to Dr Jonnala with me and she filled out FMLA paperwork that I am unable to participate in work .  That I have a permanent impairment (Lupus attacking my joints) that is not curable but is treatable but I am unable to work while taking the drugs.

So on Jan 28th I went in to work talked to my boss, Human resources, payroll, a Director friend and my staff.  I told them the situation that I just could not work right now. I faxed in my FMLA paperwork to my regional and human resources.   The rest of that week was horrible pain.  Elevating knee, icing and resting.  On Jan 31st I stood up when hubby walked in door and my knee buckled...

On Feb 1st I was taken by ambulance to ER.  They referred me to Orthopedic Dr. I've now had X-rays and MRI.

Dr. Smith at Athens Orthopedic  said today, Feb 12th  from viewing my MRI that My knee is tore in a couple places but not all the way through, it is sprained on one side and swollen. I have arthritis in both knees and I got a cortisone shot in the right one. I will continue to wear the brace. If it keeps hurting I will have to have surgery and he would have to go in and clean it up but he wanted to try this shot first. I said I would NEVER get a shot in my knee. I was so scared almost sick at my stomach I was so scared.  I had heard so many people say how much it hurts....teeth clenched I did it. There was nothing to it!!!! I said "that's it?!?!? I want to go ahead and do the other knee too!!" He laughed said next time but can't do both together. Ha!!
So now I rest and wait for the pain to go away......

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.  (Philippians 1:6)

Lupus Hurts

Dr Michael Smith. Athens Orthopedic in Monroe Wednesday Feb. 6th sent me for MRI.

MRI at Open MRI and Imaging in Athens on Friday Feb. 8th.  MRI trip took a lot out of me.  I was on crutches. I cannot lift my weight with my hands so I had to put weight on my right leg..when we got home I elevated it and iced it.....last night was a very painful night and it interrupted my sleep...

Feb. 9th got up in a lot of pain to the point I will have to use wheelchair today.

Many thanks to our Sunday school class for the prayers, cards, delicious meals, emails and phone calls.


MRI results the 12th. I can not wait....I am thinking the only way to fix this must be surgery but I know God is in control regardless....Thank you for your continued prayers.

We wait in hope for the Lord;he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,for we trust in his holy name. Psalm 33

Thank you

My sweet daughter Heather came over this morning and cleaned my whole house including changing bed sheets,washed my fav blankie, cleaned bathrooms and floors. She made dinner for us that's ready to go and yeast bread is rising. Thanks so much Heather Watkins it means so much to me! I love you!

We made an appointment with Orthopedic  Dr for Wednesday morning at 10:00.

Nightmare weekend

Jan 30th knees are worse than ever.   Right knee worse. I did walk upstairs today and I regretted it half way up... Coming down was more horrible than going up. Heating pad most of afternoon.  Took tramadol  3 times today. I had a headache in middle of night again..  First time in a couple nights.

Jan 31st went to Walmart.  We had no food in house and I thought maybe I was laying around to much. I prayed about it.  Should I go or not??? I went and my knee was killing me...came home laid down..felt a little better...made dinner.  Laid down knee worse..7:30 Rick came home I stood up from recliner and my knee felt like a pop and knife stab. Fell back into recliner.  Could not move out of chair so I slept in chair till 3:00 am.  My hubby slept on couch beside me. Until I  had to go potty.  Somehow made it to bed with help of hubby.

Feb 1st  woke up in dire pain barely slept at all.  Could not get out of bed.  Tried crutches. Too much pain...Had to call ambulance.  Matt (son I law is an EMT)  came and got me in Ambulance and took me to Eastside Medical Center.

Was in ER all day. Dr said doesn't  look broke through X-ray. See orthopedic dr this week soon as I feel like it. I can't walk. At all. They put my leg in a fiberglass cast. I have a wheelchair.  It's basically a nightmare. Very painful.

Rhemy called me in ER. Said most likely Lupus continuing  attacking joints.  Or combo of osteoarthritis.



 When we left hospital I have to sit across back seat due to cast can't bend knee which is a good thing....

This Superbowl weekend my hubby did everything for me.  Cooked and got everything I needed.  I am basically totally dependent on him....I am getting better with crutches only because I can put a little weight on my leg.  Still very painful and hope to get an appointment soon with ortho tomorrow.

Today Heather is coming over to tidy up and make dinner for us.  A precious couple in our Sunday School Class is bring dinner tomorrow night.  They also mentioned bring a bag of pecans!  Yum!

Will update after ortho visit.

He is able.

Last Thursday I received ADA paperwork in the mail.  It was time sensitive and needed to be filled out by my Dr.  My hubby and I saw my Dr at 10:00 am Friday morning.  We broke down all my diagnoses (Lupus, Fybromyalgia, Osteoartheritis and depression) and medications (yes, i am back on Prednesone and plaquenil and cellcept and flexeril and tramadol and too many more to remember)....

 We discussed the fact that Lupus is not curable and mine was continuing to be active that I am unable to work the 45 hours that is required of me as a Center Director with 30 staff and 205 kids.

So right now as of today I am on FMLA for 12 weeks (unpaid) I am applying for STD and I am praying  that I will trust God will take us through this storm. I have the 12 weeks of security of my job and my benefits.  So I am committing to pray that God will lift this from me (us) and HE will get us through.  I know HE is in charge and He is able.

A great Bible verse:

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25

A Great Song:

He is able more than able

To accomplish what concerns me today

He is able more than able

To handle anything that comes my way

He is able more than able

To do much more than I could ever dream

He is able more than able

To make me what He wants me to be!

Forgive me for being so negative

Well the fish oil and Glucosamine Chondroitin which I started taking almost 3 weeks ago are doing nothing...I am worse if anything.  I now have a new scary symptom.  It has happened 3 nights in a row.  I wake up from the pain of a crushing kind of pressure of a headache...in the back of my head...its bad....it seems if I move around and try to get comfortable it goes away so it doesn't last long but it is scary... If I have another one tonight I will contact my Dr tomorrow...I felt one coming on during the day today but it never got bad.  I ran a low temp today as well.  I did work.

I have been tired, stiff, in pain and just miserable...there's no other way to say it. Since this blog is my journal I need to be specific so I can look back over this if need be.  I also have no memory....beyond an age thing...believe me... So forgive me for being so negative..I hate it too....

I Guess I'll Just Have A Pity Party....

You have got to be kidding me.....my knee pain continued so I call Rheumotologist and she wanted me to come in... She said she didn't need an MRI to be able to tell I have Osteoarthritis in my knees.  They crack and pop and grind with simple bending.  She said it was bone on bone and it was a degenerate disease just like when I had to have the disc removed from my back...she gave me options.  Rest and continue taking all meds plus fish oil and glucosamine Chondroitin which I stopped and bought at Walgreens and  when I got home I only had the fish oil.

Other options include injections in knees or knee braces or it could lead to surgery.  All of which I am not going to do and why I am sitting at home with Fish oil.........

She suggested water aerobics and weight loss and right now I am just feeling really frustrated....

Lupus, Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis ......I am 58 years old and can't imagine what it will be like in 10 years....

I guess I'll just have a pity party.........