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joint issues
ive been having problems with my ankles for a very long time - they constantly crack and it can be very uncomfortable. then my shoulder started doing the same thing (after i had been training - and using weights) and now my knees hurt. my mom said she would take me to a doctor who specializes in joints but i am scared to death of needles and there is no way im going if they have to do any blood work. my mom said there may have to be blood taken. is anyone experienced enough with this to know if blood work is usually needed for this kind of thing?
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What are you more scared of suffering needlessly or of a needle that will last a few seconds? I never liked needles myself until I had to have them routinely for blood work.
The best advice I can give you is to look away and let them insert the needle. Some people don't even feel it when they look away and others feel a brief pinch. To be honest the tourniquet they put around your arm to help them find a vein hurts a lot more than the needle prick itself.
If you are really, really worked up over the needle tell them so before they do it. They have needles that are indeed less sharp that they use on kids. I know this as that's what they used on me for blood levels for anti-depressants at first.
You have to go have a doctor look at this in order to be free of it or have relief. Suffering for no other reason than not wanting to have a needle in you for a few seconds is not the smart way to go.
You'll hurt a hell of a lot more from needless suffering than from a needle. Which is worth it to you suffering or a needle prick to eventually end your sufering?
There may be a chance that you don't even need blood work for this problem at all. They may just do X-rays to see if there is an injury or know just by examining you how to treat the problem.
I'm not experienced with exactly what they will do having not been in a similar situation. I do know however, that not getting treatment for the problem will only make it worse and you'll continue to suffer.
You have to muster up the courage to see that this is looked at and allow your mother to take you to a doctor. Once it's done it's over if you need a needle or not to determine the cause here. Don't prolong the inevitable as seeing a doctor is the only way to get help.
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Yeah, I see a rheumatologist and they do some blood work for me, but the doctor should examine you first and determine what you need. You may not need bloodwork. Some things can be diagnosed without needles. It wouldn't hurt to go see the doctor and then, if s/he tries to order bloodwork you can object at that time and ask if there are other ways to find out what's going on. It's possible that all you need is physical therapy or something. An orthopedic doc is probably a good one to go to as well, or possibly a sports medicine MD.
Either way, you're an athlete and you're used to sacrificing comfort in the short-term in order to get long-term gains. I know, a phobia is a phobia, but it might be easier to submit to a little bloodwork in order to save yourself pain in the long run. Nurses who know you have a needle phobia can help you by doing things like hiding the needle, having you lie down while you're getting the procedure done, etc.
Best wishes.
Sabine
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i have had some of those problems before too. don't worry, all my doctor did was twist my ankle around, massage it, crack it a little, and i was fine, it was all better. no blood work was needed. i'm sure you'll be fine. i hope i helped! :] good luk!
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Well if you consistently lift weights for a while and heavy, cracking joints is just something that is going to happen. The shoulder joint is a very commonly overtaxed joint. There are natural supplements you can take to help bolster the strength of your joints- Glucosamine being the one I take and recommend.
As far as your fear of needles goes; well you just gotta suck it up and be a big boy or girl- whatever you are. Look at it this way- if blood has to be taken to determine if there is a problem and you don't go because you can't just close your eyes, bite your lip and feel a little pinch for 2 seconds- then you have no excuse to complain later on that you're in pain because it likely could have been cured.
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This depends. If your joints are evenly affected on both sides of the body, then they may have to take blood to determine if rhemetoid arthritis is a risk, particularly if it runs in the family.
More likely, they will ask you a lot of questions to try to determine if this is due to your posture, a problem with specific joints being worn, etc. If your ankles have hurt for a long time, your knees will usually end up being affected - and possibly your hips in the long run. This is because everything's connected. This might be as simple as needing a pair of orthodics in your shoes, and assuming that yoru shoulder was an unconnected injury.
Only a doctor can tell. It's always better to have things properly checked out and diagnosed, so that you can treat them. Ongoing problems often get worse, so the quicker you treat them, the better. You can always let the doctor know that the idea of needles makes you uncomfortable, and you would prefer she/he only take blood if it is an absolute necessity.
Keep in mind that a one second needle prick can be a lot less painful than some sort of dehibilitating condition.
Good luck!
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