A good doctor treats the disease; a great doctor treats the patient who has the disease – William Osler
Coming home from the grocery where I had just purchased – with my own money – an All-in-One Poster Kit, my wife’s phone rang. The medicine I should have been given a year ago, the procedure finally approved, prepaid twenty-percent, won’t even schedule the appointment until the doctor has the actual vial in hand, well, it’s here.
“Can you come in Friday afternoon at 2:30?”
I have been crippled since July 2024. Visited with the best knee surgeon in the area. He operates on the mothers of other doctors, I know this for a fact. “Not a candidate for a knee replacement.” Which I didn’t want anyway. Year ago, couple of buddies suggest some sort of lube job.
More problems, more doctors visits. Phone call after phone call. Waiting. Drained. Literally and mentally. Rehab – that’s a problem. “You may be a candidate now,” says the knee surgeon, followed by “I’m late for lunch.”
Remember, I’m bright but slow. Dawned on me, was about a year late, maybe I should get a second opinion.
Photos of Oklahoma sports teams on the wall. New doc looks at the fresh x-rays and recommends exactly what my buddies suggested way back when.
Took a month to get everything lined up. Luigi wasn’t entirely wrong. My out-of-pocket cost was $234.15. I cannot overemphasize the ameliorative impact of a new doctor actually listening to me. Like a effective placebo.
Viscosupplementation Injections
Viscosupplementation injections are a non-surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis, a condition that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the knee joint.
How It Works
Viscosupplementation involves injecting hyaluronic acid (HA) into the knee joint. HA is a naturally occurring substance that acts as a lubricant in the joint. In people with osteoarthritis, the amount of HA in the joint decreases, leading to pain and stiffness. Viscosupplementation injections replenish the HA in the joint, providing lubrication and reducing pain.
Benefits Reduces pain and stiffness in the knee, Improves joint function, Delays the need for knee surgery, and May slow down the progression of osteoarthritis.
Procedure
Viscosupplementation injections are typically administered in a series of three to five injections, one week apart. The injections are given directly into the knee joint under sterile conditions.
I RECEIVED A SINGLE INJECTION. Sixty milliliters, I think. Three shots in one.
Side Effects
Viscosupplementation injections are generally well-tolerated. Some common side effects include:
- Mild pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site
- Temporary increase in stiffness
- Allergic reactions (rare)
Some viscosupplements are derived from animal sources like rooster combs. Not a problem, I already get up at dawn. It is important to inform your doctor if you have an avian (bird) allergy.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Viscosupplementation injections may be a good option for people with:
- Mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis
- Pain that is not relieved by other treatments, such as over-the-counter pain relievers or physical therapy
- A desire to avoid surgery
Discussion with Your Doctor
It is important to discuss the potential benefits and risks of viscosupplementation injections with your doctor. They can help you determine if this treatment is right for you and answer any questions you may have
That only works if your doctor doesn’t rush off to lunch.
What AI also doesn’t tell you about is the forty-eight-hour required rest period. We’ve read the handout.
Maybe my doctor is more cautious, given the larger dose applied in a single injection. Literature definitely says – 48 Hours Rest.
The doc is an Argentinian immigrant and yet much calmer about the ongoing coup in America than I am. Tell him the wife and I are antifascists and have plans for ten a.m. the next day.
He forbids protesting on pavement. Don’t even go to Wal-Mart, he warns. And I didn’t. Slow and stupid are different.
Didn’t get to the local NO KINGS!!! protest. But one friend did. This is his report.
It was huge, 75 to 100% bigger than the last one. I had to park in front of Bealls. Let me tell you, it is a long walk from where I parked to the corner, especially for someone with a not-so-great heart. It would have been impossible for you unless they gave you a new knee yesterday.
At the corner I counted the dozen Republicans diagonally across the intersection. They looked to be unarmed. Loved the shirt that said, “Body by Bacon.”
My two favorite signs were, “Flush the Orange Turd”, and “Elect a Rapist Expect to be Fucked.” There were also several people in balloon costumes – really cute.
Overall, a huge success, especially for a Republican County. I was pleased to see a large number of young people. Maybe there is a hope for the future.
It was a big, peaceful gathering. I hope they all remember to vote next time.
I couldn’t chance it. I just couldn’t.
God bless all of you who could and did.
George Soros has been forced to declare bankruptcy after paying over seven million people to attend the No Kings protests, the billionaire confirmed on Monday.
“When I agreed to pay everyone who showed up at these things, I had no idea so many people were going to accept my offer,” Soros admitted. “But a deal’s a deal.”
The legendary investor said that paying No Kings participants had required him to liquidate his most prized holdings, including his share in the orbital lasers operated by the Rothschild banking family. – Borowitz