Questions about osteoarthritis.

@bonnieh218
Hi!
I know we had to pay something, but not $85.
I have Medicare and BC/BS.
My hubby and I decided to get the shot with the hope that I won't get Shingles, again.
Ronnie

@lioness
Hi!
I didn't know about it either until my hubby had a check up.
It can't hurt to talk to your doctor about it.
You know, the older we get, the more important it is to get whatever injections we can in the hopes of not getting the illness.
Ronnie

@hopeful33250
Hi!
Shingles is not usually difficult to diagnose.
You get that horrible rash that is very painful.
It is usually a large rash with heads on the rash.
Mine was VERY unusual because it did not present itself like it usually does.
I just had the 2 little pimples.
Actually, I am glad I didn't get the rash in my eyes, too.
That, is VERY painful!!
Ronnie

@hopeful33250
Teresa,
I have Medicare and BC/BS.
I know we paid something, but I a not sure how much.
I do know, however, it was no where near $200.
My aunt, rest her soul, told me that she had to pay $200 and so did my sister-in-law.
I think it may have more to do with the insurance than where you live.
ronnie

Thank you John I didn't even no that there was a new shingles vaccine.....Beryl

You really had a rough time with shingles. What bothers me out the shot is that i got the old shot and right after, they announced that their was a new shot that you had to get. It seems silly for them to have not told me to wait for the new shot. I was told to wait until my knee healed before getting the new shot. They way things are going with my knees, I may never have a chance to get them.

To give an update, I have not had time to look into disability yet. The past 2 weeks have been insane. My new knee has become the stabilizing leg. However, the new knee has been bothering my when I drive so I try not to drive to far. I talked to the doctor today about the old knee and we decided that the shot was not going to help, so I need to go in and schedule the left knee for surgery. I would like to wait until the beginning of the year to have another TKR. In the meantime, I have an appointment with the shoulder doctor.I fell on my new knee a few weeks ago and landed on my new knee (which I highly don't recommend) as well as my right shoulder. This is the 3rd hit to my shoulder. My first fall caused a small tear in my rotator cuff and I did not require surgery, just PT. I fell a second time and put my right arm out to catch myself, which ended up with me spraining my wrist and my shoulder. Along with tendonitis. My neck and shoulder have been hurting since I fell, but I can only work on one body part at a time in PT. So I had to wait and it has gotten worse. So my plan is to have the shoulder looked at and most likely have PT for a while, plan the surgery for the first of the year and go ahead and look into disability. My PT told me that I did not need a lawyer because of having 2 TKR's. He said to gather all my records and get a disc with all my images on it. So that is the plan at this moment. I am hoping that I don;t have any more falls. My doctor says my weak knee is causing the falls.

@ssbionicknee
Good Morning!
I love your screen name! I tell my friends and family that by the time I am done fixing everything that is wrong with me, I'll be the bionic woman.

So sorry about what you are going through. Falling is no fun and when you already have issues, it makes things worse. I've fallen 4 times, hitting the ground once and grabbing on to something or someone 3 times before hitting the ground. it was at fall 2 that my PT told me to get a cane to help me with my balance. It works. I fell much more stable and comfortable. You might want to try it until you are all fixed and done with all your rehab and PT.

In my opinion, I think it is a great idea to do the PT BEFORE surgery! About 15 years ago, when I was lifting weights, I tore something in my shoulder (not the rotator cuff). I had it fixed and then went for PT (as directed by the surgeon). I never got full range of motion back. When I was a few weeks into PT, I asked my surgeon when I could start to do weights again. I was told at any time. When I told my PT what the doc said, he said he felt it was way too soon. I listened to the answer I wanted to hear......the docs. Within a couple of months the shoulder started to hurt, again. When I went to the surgeon, guess what? I reinjured my shoulder. I didn't re-tear in the same spot, but right next to it. The way I understood it, the area next to the repair site was weaken when it took over until the surgical area healed. But, I needed surgery again.

I wasn't ready to go through the surgery and rehab again. Too soon. So, I opted to do PT to try to strenghten the area. Then, a few months later, I had the surgery. This time, I healed VERY quickly and got full range of motion back. This surgery was more involved because not only did he repair the tear, but he also removed bone because I was bone on bone and the arthritis was pretty bad. Must say, all these years later and all my pain, I don't have any issues where he did the surgery. Guess I just wanted to say, in my long winded way, that in my experience, PT BEFORE surgery gives you a leg up on the rehab and healing process.

Good luck!
Here's to a pain free day!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@ssbionicknee
Hi!
Yes, I did have a rough time with the shingles. On the positive side, I didn't have the pain that most people have with the rash. No rash, no pain.
I am surprised that it was suggested you get the old shingle shot when the new one was coming out. The only reason why it might have been suggested is because they either didn't know about it or they didn't know how long it would be before the serum would be ready for public use. Who knows?????
I don't know why you would have to wait to get the shot because of your knee. One thing doesn't have anything to do with the other. I am having spinal surgery in 2 weeks and I was all set to get the second part of the shot without any problem......except that they didn't have the part 2 serum. That is another story.
I don't know who told you to wait, but you might want to check with the pharmacy since they are the ones who give the injection and were trained about it.

Have a pain-free day!
Ronnie

Hi Ronnie I asked my pharmacist about the new shot right after my TKR and she suggested waiting. I need to ask again while I am in between surgeries.I need to see what I did to my shoulder, in case it needs fixed as well.I am beginning to feel like Jamie Sommers.