Well, using the electrical current to kill the sacroilliac nerves did no good whatsoever. It was dreadfully painful and sore. Caused me about a week of misery and as far as I can tell it has done no good at all. I know this works for some people. But they probably don't have neuropathy. I'm beginning to believe that perhaps my knee surgery in the left knee was messed up and maybe this is creating some of this dreadful pain in that side. There is an area on the outside of the knee cap that looks as if it is adhered to the bone and all the veins in that spot keep breaking and turning purple. I can tell that is happening because of some trauma because it hurts so badly when it does and the limp gets more pronounced.

I am going to look at this more seriously as soon as this move is completed. I just can't take the time right now to be down again. And I'm afraid it will require surgery to release it.

I just think there are multiple things going on. I've been sleeping with a Lidoderm patch on my sacrum and it eases some of this misery. I'm thinking of putting one on my knee too but not sure how much of this I can have.

Sue, where are you? Are you o.k? I think everyone is glued to the tv and the Games right now.

Billye

Hi Billye

I am so sorry to hear the procedure did not work. It is a lot to go thru and then get less than expected results. Dashes one's hopes.

This is such a complex condition, Systemic Sjogren's with Neuropathy, so little seems to work 'like' it should.

I hope your move goes smoothly.

I am watching the games, as I barely remember the ones from four years ago since my son was deployed and I truly can't remember that year....good thing. This Olympics was much more fun to watch.

I am so sorry you have to face more. Call the pharmacy about the patch. I think I had used more then one but better to be safe then sorry. How is the move going and when is the big day?

Billye my Lidoderm box states that I can wear up to three at one time. They are 5% and large and I have worn three without any trouble and still on all my usual medications.

I hope this helps or something will for you.

Hi Billye, i am sorry to read that your having more to contend with, just a thought but i am wondering if a strong magnet might help your knee pain.
all the best
Brian

Billye:

You can use 3 patches at one time. For 12 hours. Says so on the box.

BUT!!! You have to make sure your system can adapt to all this lidocaine. I'll tell you why. The guy around the corner from me has a bad back. He's 81, has had bladder cancer for 10 years, goes in and out for chemo and is otherwise just fine.

He sits outside, he goes for drives (he drives the car. ) and he said to me one night.

"Melody, my back is killing me". I said "why don't you use one of the lidoderm patches, if you want one, I'll give you one".

Well, the next day he said to me "I will never use it again" I just looked at him and said:

"why not, I've used them, Alan used to use them on his feet for his neuropathy, what happened when you used it"?"

He said" Oh my god, I felt like I was knocked off of my feet, I got light headed, I got dizzy". I said: "Really??"

Never heard of this happening before.

So I would s l o w l y try to add a second and see what happens.

Just a caution. But I wanted to tell you about the guy around the corner from me.

Never heard this happen to anyone else, but it's better to be safe than sorry, right??

Best of luck and take care,

Melody

I'm just messed up really good. I'm afraid to cover any more of the knee pain because I'm afraid I'll do more damage structurally. I've decided I have to see the doctors again. I'm having problems with my heart fluttering the last couple of days. Just too much stress, heat and pain. I'm just not sure there is any answer to any of this anymore. The pain may all be neuropathy related. I have bloodwork done on Friday and we will see what is going on.

Thanks all of you.
Billye

Having bunged my knee very thoroughly twice in the last 6 years can I suggest this thing?
http://www.discounthorse.com/show_pr...tm_term=500400
OK it's NOT a fashion statement, but, it can and DOES support around the knee and takes a lot of stress off the knee while it's got problems.
I gotta warn you it's got LOTS of velcro! That is both a good and bad thing. Good that once it grips...it GRIPS. Same for the bad. W/PN the gripping and pulling and getting it JUSST rite is a challenge but worth it. It's very adjustable, and can slide if worn over slacks and the slacks slide down? But it can also be HOT so I do suggest wearing it over pants or the like just for that...
I have to say that after a knee surgery [before PN?] and a fractured knee in two places 2-yrs ago, this thing has been my lifesaver. It's a lot more comfy than one of those 'imobilizer' things and it does breathe some. When I got mine 'ages' ago? It was twice as much so.... worth a shot?
AND YOU do not deserve nor need this extra 'brand' stuff! Hugs and good things soon plus a heap of HOPE on the side! - j

I actually have one of those things due to years of osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. Both knees replaced. That is likely the key to what tipped my immune system and made the Sjogren's surface. But I do thank you for the post. I'm not sure the 100+ heat in Texas will allow me to wear it. And if my dark cherry colored sunroofed car can actually hit temps of 110. Really hard to cool off too. I'm broken out in heat rashes already due to the lack of moisture in my skin. My husband went to put the lidoderm patch on my tail/sacrum area tonight and said oops...looks like another rash here.

My household is such a mess right now. I've quit worrying about cleanliness. I'm only concentrating on sorting, packing and actually moving. We're renting a small U-Haul trailer this weekend and hooking it up to my best friends car. She and her husband are going to help us this weekend. If all goes well, we will be moved in another two weeks. But cleanup here and repair will start after that. I'm going to push for another MRI of the sacrum and pelvis and one of the knee adhesion area. I think there is a new break in the sacrum/pelvis (think it's the sacrum). I think I lifted one too many heavy boxes. The H fracture of the sacrum may be what is causing so much new nerve pain. Left foot is where I could knaw it off again.My right foot has a swollen toe (think it's the joint) and the left foot has a swollen metatarsal joint. Rheumatoid, Osteoporosis or neuropathy? who knows.

As I said, I'm a mess again. It's just like it was right before I wound up in the hospital with the sacrum fractures. I'm having to use my gowntail to move my pelvic and sacrum areas in the bed again. (Once again I repeat, if you have back issues do not, I repeat, ...DO NOT buy a Temperpedic Mattress. You can't slide on it and every movement is pain. They do give great night's sleep but there are issues if you have problems. My Dad and Stepmom just got one and she is having to return it because he cannot get up from it. He's 84 years old.)

I seem to have issues with pacing myself. I am just driven by anxiety when something needs to be done. And this house needs to be sold to pay for the new one. So I'm pushing myself every single day. And my body is paying for it.

I'm ready to stop the horse and get off. I told my husband tonight that if I had any idea that things would be this hard or this bad, I'd never have agreed to his desire to move. He could have just gone on without me and my dogs. They are all upset anyway. Things are missing from their world....and from mine. I start to get dressed and the pants are in the closet here and the blouse is in the closet there. I wash my hair, dry it and then discover the curling iron has been moved. So I now have a new straight hairdo. It is to the ridiculous point. Things will have to change so much.

I'm also thinking that I'm going to require a wheelchair in less than a year at this rate. And with my hands and elbow and shoulder joints I'm getting an electric one. I'll start a new thread for this.

Billye (boy! I wrote a book didn't I?)So sorry.

That is the voice of having to do 'it all' NOW.
I think I've heard it from someone else recently? As well.
Did you ever consider contacting your church or some high school kids to tote and pack the boxes onto the trailer or the like? Never hurts to ask, asking is free? The rest is negotiable.
There are times when hiring others is necessary [wether affordable or not?] to save wear-tear and stress on both body and soul...Both you and your DH! I mean, you both have to come out of this all sane in the end, no?
Then, remember you do NOT have to unpack and get 'everything in it's place' right away.
Billye, I wish I could take away some of your pains onto my self. But I'm dealing w/a 'relapse' and all the demons that go with all that 'stuffs'.
All I can send are 'cyber hugs': 's and the caution that those turtles get a lot further in the long run than the hares....Sooo please take your time.
Always! - j