I have decided that the cortisone shot is the single greatest medical discovery in the history of mankind. My doctor said it wouldn't kick in for 24-48 hours but it worked in about 18. Still a little pain but I can actually now walk to and from the bathroom without outscreaming any scream queen. I hope the part where it wears off is not equally ahead of schedule.
I'm going to spend the weekend not walking much, possibly not even going downstairs. Carolyn is here to do that for me and on some of her trips up, I expect bowls of her turkey soup, which has its own miraculous healing properties. Thanks for all the good thoughts expressed in e-mails. I don't think I've ever experienced pain like that before; not even when Bush won a second term.