A Double Shot

I said, “Doctor, ain’t there nothing I could take?”

I went to the doctor today and pleaded my case for a cortisone shot in each of my thumbs. (Now that I know what it feels like to get a shot in an already inflamed joint—I shouldn’t have been so anxious.) My theory goes like this. I have now had 3 areas of prolonged pain and inflammation that needed aggressive treatment, that is a shot of cortisone or a regimen of Prednisone or both, to finally heal. Both of my shoulders and my back have all finally stopped hurting. My back (actually my butt) hurt for more than 5 years before I got strong enough treatment to settle the inflammation. I’m hesitantly optimistic that the back is better.

My thumbs have been hurting since my double big-project activity a year ago after my shoulder surgery. I put in the sprinkler system and lawn and I made Sophie’s furniture. I overworked my hands and they’ve hurt ever since to some degree. The doctor says it’s arthritis and It may or may not settle down. I’m hoping it will respond like the other areas have. We will know in a few weeks.

It’s a good thing I have a high tolerance for pain because the pressure of the injections really lit up the old pain sensors.

I now have to limit the use of my thumbs for a few days to give things a chance to settle. I’m wearing my thumb guards again.

Before I went to the doctor’s this morning I finished sanding the 2 picture frames I made yesterday. We also got the glass cut for them today and it fits nicely into the frames. I did this anticipating the thumb limitation. I can finish the frames now (literally) without stressing the thumbs.

My new strategy of making the raccoon work to get caught may work. I leave the door to the trap partially open propped up with a stick. To get in he has to lift the sliding door a little, causing the stick to drop out. If he then continues inside letting the door slide closed it will latch. I figure he can do this because he managed to get out of the trap by lifting the door. He did try last night but dropped the door before he got in and it latched locking him out. He then clawed at the door trying to get in.
I did get a good nights sleep last night not worrying about catching kitties.