Mrs. D,
I've pulled one of your stunts. Somehow I've managed to do what I think is strain my back. Hurts me seriously to move in any direction, especially when I'm unloading the spine. I remembered when you injured your shoulders anchoring the boat during the storm while you were on the island. You used the Salopas patches to help you get over that.

I've got them and I'm wondering if there would be any serious interaction between the Indomethecin and the Salonpas.

Thanks for your help.

Billye

the ingredients of the patches don't go systemic. But with your
Indocin you should not need the patches at all, I would think. You can try them if want. There are many many types now. Even a plain Menthol one.

What kind of pain is this? Do you have weakness in the legs?
Jello legs? Any weakness in the legs is serious.

There can be muscle spasms and/or pinched nerves. I'd ice the area first for the first 24 hrs, for 20 min intervals. Some people then use heat, or at least alternate with the ice. Do not use heat for more and 10-15 minutes if you have nerve pain, as it can make the pain worse.

When you say you can't unload the spine, does that mean you cannot sit up?
I have found that simple strains can go away with lying down and restricting movement for a day or two. But with your issues, and past history, this may
be a serious thing. So try the patches (they can't hurt) and be very immobile for a time. But a doctor visit may be necessary in the end.

Some pain from the stomach can refer to the back. If your pain is high up, this may have to be evaluated with a doctor. (Gall bladder, ulcers). YOu did show
H.pylori...have you started that treatment yet? If you have ANY signs of darkening of the stools, go to ER, ASAP. Chronic Indocin use can lead to GI bleeding.

Your post is rather vague...Billye, so I hope it is a simple strain.

I feel the pain most in the mid thorax area and the spine and muscles are very sore. Couldn't use the Magnassager on it. Hurt too much. I had to strain a lot at Mayo to lift a heavy bag holding medical records I had to carry with me on my lap to everything. I would lean over, sit it down, then sometimes I had to pick it up from the side. And the strain of sitting upright in the van. You have to understand that I am very deconditioned, gaunt, no muscles etc. It wasn't affecting me this way until the one hour trip to Dallas (sitting up) two days after we got back. The lumbar curve in the car doesn't quite match the curve in my spine. I think I strained it and then further aggrevated it by the car rides. I noticed you have to tense muscles to just stay upright. That combined with doing three loads of wash, etc.

The pain is more a soreness and a kinda catching when I turn. Hurts to turn over in the bed. Hurts to lay on my back. It doesn't feel like the nerve pain does. By unload, I mean that I can stay upright but when I try to change my position (sitting to laying down or twisting), it gets my attention right away. Takes my breath.

I'm about half way thru the treatment for the H.pylori. And taking the Nexium like I'm supposed to. I had to buy one of those big pill boxes to manage the meds. Too many bottles. Some of them will be stopped when I finish the h.pylori treatment. About 5 more days.

The Indomethecin is a vague med with me. The first few days I took it, I couldn't tell it did any good. But I am so afraid I'll be worse without it so I persist in taking it. I really would like to take something that is safer but my Rheumatologist insists that it's the best one for the spondylarthropahy pain.

I decided to put the Salonpas on and give it a try. They helped before with my knee.

I had the first physical theraphy that Mayo ordered yesterday. Subjected myself to another car ride (third one in three days) and then the therapist did a two hour evaluation with me bending, stretching, tensing. I honestly had problems with it. But she knows about the new back pain. So she is treating it too. We are trying to be conservative about the treatment but if it doesn't stop in a few days, I'll see the doctor. I'm trying not to do much.

Thanks for the help..sorry I'm so wordy but I was trying to answer your questions and put your mind at ease more.

Love,
Billye