(((((Angella)))))

Yes!  I'd call the doctor for an earlier appointment,

Vickie B.

I don't know angela, but it seems the quicker it was done the better
results.  I would call and ask about an earlier appt.

debbie m.

hi, angela!  i'm so sorry this happened to you.  it sounds like the pitts!
suggestion-- try calling your doctor's office to see if you can get the
first available cancellation.  surgeries are not cancelled often (though
elective surgeries are cancelled more often), but sometimes you can get
lucky.  it is possible that either the OR schedule or the surgeon is booked
up, which might or might not be the reason for the delay.  good surgeons can
be booked up for 2 months out or more.  same goes for operating rooms, in
surgical clinics.  hope that helps you.  and i hope this is resolved as
quickly as you'd like it to be.

kate

Good evening all.  I hope your day has been spent with a minimum of
pain and in the company of those you love.

As some may remember, I had the lateral epicondylitis release and
repair done last summer.  Ten or so days ago, I reached for something
on my desk and felt that dreaded "pop" again.  Lots of pain, this time
at the wrist as well as the elbow.  I saw the 'other' doc in my
orthopedist's office last Friday.  He did an injection at the elbow and
put the arm in a sling for four weeks, with the instruction of "pretend
you don't have a left hand or arm until you come back and see the
surgeon who operated on you last time. He is who needs to see you since
he's already been in there and will need to be the one to do it this
time too.  My first thought was "I can't do this again".  But I have to
so I'm trying to regain my perspective and get through it.  The sling
immediately enraged my neck and shoulder....... bulging disks,
spondylisis (sp?), etc.  I wound up going back to the doc and they put
me in a device they normally use for shoulder injuries..... around the
waist, around the upper arm, and around the wrist.

If I'm going to have to have the repair redone, I think its crazy to
wait four weeks to go back and get things taken care of.  To me there
is no sense in dragging it out, adding more time to the loss of use of
my arm and hand.

Does anyone know of any reason why this type of injury would need this
much time before surgery?  I'm trying to decide whether to call and get
an earlier appointment to get this over with.  I know I'm whiny and
impatient but I am just so sick and tired of all of this.

On a positive note, I think the Orencia is helping some, I get my
fourth infusion this week.

Thanks for listening
Angela