Not complaining, just questioning: Longterm medication use makes most patients snappish

[Jamastiene]

48. I have De Quervain Syndrome in

my wrists. It was for my left wrist at that time, which is the most painful one. My doctor never gave me anything for the pain. They just kept telling me to ice it, but the ice never worked. When he gave me a round of Pred, it made it much better and my mood went from super grumpy to happy go lucky and just free of that pain. Unfortunately, when the Pred treatment ran out, he said no more. So, I ended up having to get a Cortisone shot.

Now, the Cortisone shot hurt like hell. They stuck the needle in and put the stuff in there. I could see it going into my wrist. I have very small wrists and hands compared to the rest of my body. The Cortisone shot went in like a very thick putty almost, from the look and feel of it. I could see it through my skin when he put it in. It made it hurt, not worse, but in a different way along with the De Quervain Syndrome pain, for about 2 weeks. After that, it started getting better. Plus, they immobilized that entire arm and hand. I couldn't move it at all. They especially said to avoid using my thumb. I work taking care of my quadriplegic aunt. That really isn't an option, because that is an "on call" kind of job, where if she's gotta go to the bathroom or needs medications for the throat spasms and lots of other stuff she needs, I gotta jump and go. I had to work around it as best I could.

The doctor that gave me the Cortisone shot (in another part of the big hospital complex we have here) told me I was going to hate him for the next two weeks, but that it would get better after that. He was right. I honestly wondered why anyone would subject themselves to that, but when the relief came, it was like the relief I got from Prednisone, but lasted much longer.

It still comes and goes though. Right now, it isn't as bad as it was, but it is back. It is in my left wrist worse than my right, same as before.