"Medical Futility" "Quantitative Futility" and "Non Beneficial Interventions"
Perhaps after receiving only four injections in about the same number of months it is too early to consider the meanings of these concepts I happened to stumble upon recently on one of those "pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov" sites but since experiencing no significant benefits I am wondering if there is any reason to keep submitting myself to these barbarous treatments, especially if I fall into this category of unlucky patients. The phrase "treatment-resistant" may also apply here, just another way of saying "it ain't working"! Just four shots so far but the injections themselves are getting progressively more painful and so is the post injection pain. I almost lost my mind after my last shot (12/23/2022). I have an upcoming appointment with a different provider coming up in two weeks. Needles, ("sharp sticks"😉 and foreign substances injected into the eyeball can't be good in general. To me it is not too different than leaches or blood-letting considering that in the not too distant future stem-cell/gene therapy will maybe even totally restore vision. I don't think I can do this even one more time let alone for years - seriously. What is taking so long with the research? Any guesses?
I didn't stick the winkie face there FYI
first let me say I like the accidental emoji. It looked to me like you closed one eye as you saw the needle approaching. So sorry your experience with the anti vegf injections has been so painful. You will have an opportunity to share your concerns with the new provider. I hope you stick with the treatment, no pun intended. As to why research takes so long, the clinical trials are designed in such a way as to prove the efficacy, as well as the safety, of the drug. This takes a lot of time. Often it is tested first in animals before people are enrolled in the trials. Most think stem cell or gene therapy are still a few years away. The anti vegf treatments are steadily improving as new medications are approved. Some of then such as Vabysmo can help lengthen the interval between injection. I hope you keep us posted after your next injection. Warm regards, Sharon Moore patient leader
