Monday 2 December 2013

New Doctor

Hey,

So I have been to see the new Prolotherapy practitioner in East Sheen.

I ended up having 5 places treated in my first consultation! Both knees, left hip and both shoulders!! The knees and the shoulders were both just into the capsule itself rather than directly into the ligaments but even so, oww. The purpose of that was to heal and shrink the capsules first before going for the ligaments. I had 3 ligaments in my left hip injected though. I think my body went into shock, I'm not used to having that amount done at once!

The doctor was really really nice though, something I'm not very used to! He was so understanding, listened to me and I felt like I trusted he knew what he was doing. He has been practising Prolotherapy for 30 years after he had it done himself and it worked for him, so he really believes in it. The consultation went well and we discussed together where would be the best places to target first. He thought he'd do my knees so that they both start healing together and I don't have one better than the other, the same with my shoulders although I do want him to target more particular areas on my bad left shoulder if possible. We decided to do my left hip as I can only sleep on my right side at the moment and he didn't want me to have to lie on it. The funny thing is I didn't actually realise how bad my hips were until he examined them! No doctor has examined them for many years. I mean I get a lot of groin pain, and my hips click about all the time but when he pressed down on 3 points on my hip I practically screamed! So hopefully the Prolotherapy will really be able to help that area especially if that's where my groin pain originates from. So we decided 5 places was enough for one treatment! I had 7 dressings on and he said he did a bit more than he usually would so he charged £200 instead of £190 for an hours consultation/treatment which I thought was really good considering. As I was having so many places done he didn't want to use the gas and air because he would have to wait for me to come round every time he needed to move me about and I didn't really have much local anaesthetic either. I think I will definitely have to insist on having something for my hips and bad shoulder next time! But he was so nice that I felt comfortable enough to ask him things like that.

I was in SO much pain on the journey home! Particularly as I couldn't re-heat my wheat bags for the journey home as they didn't have a microwave in their house, it's my best source of pain relief. We might try a service station, shop or pub or something on the way back next time. I did bring along some of those Cura Heat stick on heat pads just in case which was lucky but I don't find them quite as effective.

I found it really difficult to get up the stairs to my room when we got home, Mum and Dad had to help a lot!! We got back about 8.30 in the evening so it was a long old day. I'm going back tomorrow at 10am, so 3 weeks after my first treatment with him, it's come round very quickly! I already have a 3rd lot booked in before Christmas on the 17th at 12 as well. I don't know if I'll be having exactly the same places done next time.

I will let you know how my second lot goes :-)

Katie x