You...
 

whom have read my posts over the years either believe that i'm looking for the TRUTH behind PD or "not". So i have something i picked up on the web that i'd like all who read here to ponder.

http://www.parkinsons-success.com/

Now , i've never "written a book", or in any way try to profit personally or to promote the personal profitting of others when it comes to PD. I hope that anybody who reads my posts believes that I only want "honesty" and "science" to be the hallmarks of PD research. In other words, if something works to help a majority (or even a minority) of PWP, to counteract their suffering in any way, then it is worthy of discussion among us at the very least.
This web site involves chiropracty, which my dad alwys called "quackopracty" and so tarnished my belief that it was to be considered within the realm of medicine, REAL medical practice.
Now the giants of our current AMA, still place chiropracty on the "fringe" of modern medicine, much like the status of ancient eastern medicine (such as acupuncture) and "holistic medicine. Many of you PWP who have had only limited success with the approach to handling the symptomology of PD using "modern western medicinal practices", are desperate to find "Something better", something that really works. Now, i have always been on the bandwagon of modern medical practices. But when it comes to actually seeing "results" in the way of reduction of the symptoms of PD, and a decade of using the modern pharmacopeia, i have seen less than what i desire in "Proof of principles". Who knows , what we as a group say again and again about what we have read about PD is just parroting what the doctors think they believe to be true, and therefore MUST be "correct". The only information that comes from a blogg like this that is worth anything is the actual experiences that individuals have had with PD. I wish that the info in the URL i have presented has "something" to it. Wouldn't it be nice?:eek: I think that this URL has been posted before, I forget, apologies if it has.

CS..Sounds to me like this guy wants to sell books..;)

All I have is my experience with Chiropractors..From my experience my judgement is that Chiropradtery insn't quackery, but there are some Chiropractors who are quacks..And the reason why I say this is because in the past 4 years Ive seen 2 different Chiropractors..Chiro #1 was the guy whom I saw just prior to my dx..I was having strange symptoms and was desperate to find out what was wrong with me..My GP couldnt figure it out, so I thought maybe I had a pinched nerve in my back..That Chiropractor adjusted me 3 times a week for about 6 months..I did feel somewhat better, in that my symptoms of early pd were toned down a bit, but this guy couldnt make them go away completely, and threw me an excuse every time I would ask about it..He said that it would take time for the nerves to heal..After 9 months, when he ran out of excuses he suggested that I see a Neuro, because he thought there was something else wrong with me..So I did and found out I had pd..I saw the Chiropractor for a few more months thinking that it helped my symptoms, because he gave me some info on Chiropratry and pd..I finally saw him for the snake oil peddler that he was and stopped seeing him

About 3 months ago I had a severe back ache that I couldnt shake..I tried execise..heat patches..hot baths..long periods of rest..nothing worked, and a week had gone by..So I decided to see a Chiropractor that had helped a friend who had severe pain in his arm and shoulder from a fall..I saw him on a Thursday, and on Saturday I was back in my boat hauling pots again..He spent a half hour with me..The other guy used to spend 3 minutes with me..He explained that the spinal nerves were like a circut board, and if there was a subluxation in the backbone, there would be what would amount to a short circut in the nerve network..So what that told me was that once the spine is in adjustment, then the symptoms of back pain etc would disappear so long as there wasnt any disc problems..Chiro #1 knew this, and so he obviously knew long before he let on that I had pd or MS or something or other..Chiro #2 explained that in reference to pd that, exercise, muscle stretches, and alignment of the spine, hips, etc, would help with symptoms, but would not cure them..He explained that the loss of movement..use of certain muscles would cause them to tighten, and as far as gait is concerened, he said it would gradually get worse..He said that granted it will get worse anyway, but that I could improve my condition somewhat..That made sense to me..The fact that he straightened out my back in one visit leads me to believe that there is some credibility in Chiropractic care..On one visit a month ago my neck was stiff as a board, and I intentionally didnt tell him to see if he would comment about it himself via his examination..and he did notice it and asked me if I was having trouble with my neck..So I see him once a month for $25, and Medicare pays 80%

I read up on chiropractic quite a bit before actually finding one.
I think I was lucky to happen upon a really good one for my c spine, repetitive strain & thoracic outlet syndrome.

I believe there are good ones and bad ones.
If you feel like you aren't getting good care or service -ditch em'
keep looking for a good one.

Don't write off chiropractors yet
 

Or at least don't rule out the neck's involvement.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0802090711.htm

It seems that the muscles of the neck can clamp down on the vagas nerve as it enters the brainstem and have major effects on the autonomic nervous system which plays such a big role in PD.

My two cents on chiropractic care
 

As some have already stated there are good Chiropractors and bad Chiropractors. If you are not getting relief from treatment look for a new Chiropractor.

I have visited the same Chiropractor for the past 25 years. He has helped me out of some really bad situations numerous times. As luck would have it, his father had PD. He had a built in patient to experiment on. I am so greatful for this. He knows what he is doing and understands what PD does to our muscles. I get more relief from his services than anything else.

There is quackery then there is chiropractic care. Spend some time and locate a good one.

GregD

Chiropracty has been a real blessing for my son, with both the skeletal and neuromuscular effects of Tourette tics, as well as for his Crohn's Disease.

The chiro we use is trained in a variety of chiropractic specialities, including NUCCA ( www.nucca.org) cervical spine chiropracty that is often IMHO done incorrectly by chiros who are not NUCCA trained.

My husband has lumber spine compression and herniation and where some docs had told him it had to be surgery and/or epidural treatments with steroids, he has been having 3x weekly chiro treatment specifically aimed to GENTLY help him. He has gone from being barely walking to only feeling it now when he gets up from a lying position, or has been sitting for long periods. He too has Tourette, so benefits from the NUCCA training, as his are mainly head/shoulder/arm tics

I have heard less than stellar reports from some tho on their chiro experiences and so would agree that, as with just about any health care professionals around, there are good ones and bad ones. Training, experience and protocol are worth checking into.

My son feels that his careful diet, supplement program and the combo of a good chiro and acupuncturist are what are keeping him so healthy, despite his serious diagnoses.

and I havent even started to mention how nucca chiropracty helped with my atlas vertebra problems.....so yup! I am a chiro fan:D

Cheri

Chiropractors...good vs. bad
 

I am definitely an advocate of chiropracty, but it is so true...we have to sort the good from the "not-so" good as with any other profession as someone else mentioned. I, for one, do not think that I would be functioning at all well without some chiropractic help. I have 5 degenerated discs...osteoporosis...osteomedia...stenosis. I see my chiropractor 2 times a month unless I encounter an acute attack of sciatica or some specific problem with my back...then, more frequently until the particular problem is resolved. He never "pushes" me into coming...it is usually my own decision. Doreen (my pwp) just mentioned the other day that she must get back to our chiropractor because she definetly feels better overall when she sees him regularly. Just recently...when Doreen was suffering with an ankle/food condition (very painful) and had seen one orthopaedic doctor who did nothing for her...she went to our chiropractor and he gave her 3 ultrasound treatments which helped, but really didn't resolve the problem. It was he who suggested that Doreen see a GOOD orthopaedic doctor/surgeon because he felt that that was exactly what she needed...he didn't "push" that she continue with him for this particular situation, but rather, recommended otherwise. He has been practicing for almost 45 years. Although this is not always a criteria to promote one doctor over another, it does seem to give some credence to what this man has done..and continues to do for so many. Doreen intends to start her treatments with him again soon. She has been somewhat neglectful in this respect due to the problems that she has had with her PD meds recently which, hopefully, are resolving and will resolve completely as soon as she eliminates the Cogentin from her medication regimen...back to the chiropractor, then!!!!

here is the medical journals website
 

perhaps this man is selling books?
perhaps he has some alternative reason to help heal the PD and MS patients?

All I know is that the GDNF was working -and the BS research from Amgen
does not reaffirm my belief in finite minds... or for that matter the theives at the FDA or the stock market of investors that make money on addictive drugs, caffeine drinks, or adulterated sugars...


http://www.jneuropath.com/pt/re/jnen/issuelist.htm

Thankzz.....
 

For your input. I read everybodys response, 3 times. The reason that i ask is that i take oxycontin for "PD pain" and would like to get off of it, just because i feel that i have yet another "drug habit", along with the PD drugs, which i know that if i stop taking them, not only will the pain flood my brain, but there will be great discomfort from having been "habituated" to them for a long time. I worry about things like "what if i can't get sinemet anymore, or amantadine or klonopin, or oxycontin. They make it so difficult to get oxycontin and you become a prisoner to it, just to relieve constant daily pain caused by extremely tight muscles. My neck always feels "out of joint" as do my shoulders. Ther's no sleeping on one point for no longer than a half hour or so before tightening and muscle cramps and leg pains wake me up. Plus during the day, no matter how much i exercise, my calf and thigh muscles tense up and give me dystonic pains most of the day. But it's the shoulders that are the worst. Most days the simplest loads feel like they are pulling my arms from their sockets, and this is not responsive to taking more sinemet as it used to be. Not only that, but my wife says she has phoned my doctors and that they have said "we don't know why he is feeling so much pain, PWP, do not have pain", so this implys that i am lucky enough to get pain medication, because they are giving me "the benefit of doubt". I am sick and tired of being called a "junkie" by my wife, and every time she sees me with a beer in my hand , i'm an "alcoholic, presciption drug abuser". She says "i'm in pain too, but all i take is motrin". She is starting me to doubt whether or not my pain is "psychosomatic" and could be cured by a chiropractor. Maybe i'll give it a try. cs

CS....
 

As I mentioned there are truths and myths associated with Chiropractors, and that all depends on the individual Chiropractor, that is whether he's truthful, or just there to string you along to get your $$$$$..Ive dealt with both..Ive had to translate the truth for myself, and one thing I believe to be the truth is that pd causes us to have terrible posture, and does some real funky stuff with our muscles..If any of the problems that are caused by pd have anything to do with the spine, hip bones, joints either pinching nerves, or being out of line, a chiropractor can straighten it out..but it takes some time for the Chiro, and effort on our part to keep it that way

My friend who I refered to in the other post took a fall, and his arm and shoulder was in constant pain..He only got relief from holding it up against his chest in an upward position..In 3 visits the Chiro straightened it out..No more pain..Thats why I decided to see that guy when I had that backache..That impressed me

Its not a cure all, but if you can manage to find a good one, then he can help with some of the stuff you are experiencing I would think..Chiropractic is all simple mechanics

Edit:..When my friend fell, he did not land on his arm or shoulder..He slipped and fell backward

It's possible you have a secondary thing going on and your dr is just looking at your symptoms as PD only and not investigating the why of the pain?

Often you can request an evaluation appointment first from most chiropractors and that should help you to get a feel for the knowledge base and experience of that DC.
If your neck/shoulders are problematic look for one that has upper cervical training also. {C1 & C2 adjustment}

This website gives a lot of info on chiropractic and the different types of it- explore the whole site-
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm

CONDITIONS THAT RESPOND

Following is a list of conditions or diseases which have been reported as responding positively to upper cervical chiropractic. The reports are in documented case studies, newspaper reports, scientific studies and other materials, as well there are many anecdotal reports. This is not a complete list, as it seems endless the list of conditions or diseases which have responded to this type of care. What this really highlights is an absolute need to research this further. If there were a drug, which had the same affect it, would be hailed a ‘wonder drug’ and millions of dollars would be poured into its research and manufacture. Because these results are emanating from chiropractic all that the results attract are sceptics. Unfortunately, chiropractors have no where near the resources that pharmaceutical companies have and therefore until this changes research will not be forthcoming and patients will be relegated to accepting less than satisfactory solutions such as drug therapy and surgery. Pharmaceutical companies should not be subsidised by Governments for research, they don’t need it – chiropractic does.

* Allergies
* Arthritis
* Asthma
* Arm pain
* Athletic injuries
* Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD)
* Back pain
* Bed wetting
* Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
* Cerebral Palsy
* Child development problems
* Chronic infections
* Constipation
* Depression
* Digestive problem
* Epileptic seizures
* Ear infections
* Eye infections
* Female disorders
* Fever
* Flu symptoms
* Frequent colds
* Hacking cough
* Hay fever
* Headaches (all types)
* Herniated disc
* High blood pressure
* Hip pain
* Hyperactivity
* Immune system deficiency
* Indigestion
* Infertility
* Knee pain
* Learning disability
* Leg pain
* Loss of sleep
* low back pain
* Migraine headaches
* Multiple sclerosis
* Muscle spasms
* Neck pain
* Nervousness
* Neuralgia
* Neuritis
* Numbness
* Pain (chronic)
* Parkinson’s diseases
* Poor vision
* Restlessness
* Scoliosis
* Shoulder pain
* Sinus problems
* Sore throat
* Tendonitis
* Tight muscles
* Tingling Sensations
* T.M.J. Syndrome
* Tourett's Syndrome
* Whiplash
from the page - http://www.upcspine.com/respond.htm

ol cs
 

For what it is worth, your description of your head and shoulders is very much what I run into when I have a little too much sinemet. Any chance that is the problem?

no two people are alike
 

I've reaped the rewards of years of hard work this month by speaking at a congressional briefing and attending the Udall centers meeting followed closely by the PDF 50th anniversary symposium. In the last 3 weeks I've listened to the top researchers in the country and also in person to Braak. Two members of pipeline are attending the FOX scientific symposium, a first, and two of us are attending the FOX round table in Cleveland next week.

I would never discourage anyone from trying something but will be very surprised if it turns out to be something just out of line in our skeleton.

Baby boomers are the "chemical generations". We have been exposed to everything under the sun plus we experimented ourselves. We are all different. And, to quote Braak, we are always changing, we are dynamic. Rats and monkeys are different. If I were to pick five words that dominate the research right now they'd be[my opinion]:

alpha synuclein
genetics
non-motor symptoms
parkinson models
parkinson biomarkers

There is no cure in sight. Gene therapy researchers are working hard at it. We can all help ourselves by watching who does what research and always question if it is necessary. The body is like the Bible. the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know.

I 'm going to leave the stem cell advocacy to others as it's too big a battle and the money isn't in it either yet. I think adult cell companies like Brainstorm or Dr. Cady at Bradley U. in Illinois - people who are getting adult cells to act like neurons and even produce GDNF should be strongly supported, not because of the moral issue, but because it is now just starting to look a little promising and should be heavily funded. The "list" of suggested adult and cord cell treatments was a lie. But the recent research does show some promise.

I think other groups and illnesses will press on for what they need - such as spinal cord injuries. But, personally, I'm going to stick to monitoring the research, watching the clinical trials, and creating a new paradigm that will change the face of medical care permanently.

If we just communicate with the medical research community, share information and work as a team.....Guaranteed, we'll do better at teamwork than our incompetent congressmen who are unable to negotiate their way out of a paper bag.

I'm not saying the battle over cells should not be continued. I just dont have time to concentrate on something that is a very long way off. The more they learn about cells, the more they realize how complicated they are.

But. as Dr. Ole Isaacson says, you need to have cells to be able to be cured or treated.

Our generations got screwed. GDNF would have done it until something better came along. Same old song. I am seriously thinking of having my permanent resting site engraved with, "I told you so- you a--h----".

Hmmm, anger, emotion - must be the steroids in the epidureal shots I just got.That and watching the DVD of Transformers that just came out for two days. It's a cool movie!

Dear CS
 

I don't know if it will make you feel better or not, but I know I have Parkin disease because of genetic testing. The testing was paid for by my health organization. This gives me the confidence to challenge my neurologist when she attempts to brush off many of my complaints as being caused by Parkin.

Neurologists need to rethink what their job description. Neurologist study the brain and only the brain. Ten years ago, the main study of the brain was to know what part of the brain is responsible for what body function. Which is the creative side? How does the brain and where are the receptors in the brain which react to the stimulous of the five senses (Sight, Sound, Touch, Smell and Taste)? This gave the neurologists the ability to understand what part of the brain would be affected if the patient had a tumor, or if surgery was urgent, would it be feasible.

We have learned that the body cannot be separated from the brain when the brain malfunctions. The brain is the motherboard in the human body. Every movement, sensory perception, movement is chemically commanded to occur by the brain. Neurologists need to broaden their vision of their jobs, to include learning more about how the chemical processes in the brain affect the body. Movement disorder specialists espiecially must broaden their job description to include knowledge of not only the neck and up but the neck and down.

CS, only you understand what your body feels. Our caregivers have to worry about finanaces, job, family, and begin to look at their former spouce as a unwelcome patient. I am sure after awhile, they deal with the loss of their spouce and lower their expectations of what they thought the marriage would be. That doesn't give them the right to treat us like children.

Maybe you might consider massage therapy. I have been suffering from severe dystonia causing me problems walking (both my toes are pulled under giving me caullouses on the top of my toes. I have severe charlie horses constantly. They occur more at night than during the day. They are not something you imagined. I, too, exercise flexibility positions every day.

I really understand your fear of adding more drugs to what you already take.
Everytime you add another drug, you have the fear of what it will take away more than what it will help. When I have a good day, and symptoms are minimal, I beat myself over the head thinking of how hard my spouce works and feel I should also be earning more income to get beyound the check to check type of lifestyle. When we married, I also was working and earning more than my spouce. The likelyhood of my husband's earning potential as a music teacher was likely not as lucrative as my career might have been as an Information Manager.

On bad days I am grateful to be able to not have to get up and make like I was like everyone else. I am up alot of nights and often sleep deprived. My husband and I had a talk about our marital issues the other day. Maybe it is time to have a heart to heart to ol' Mrs. CS.

The hardest part of Parkin Disease, is the lonliness of being alone to much with my own thoughts. I can't use my old tried and true stress reliviers like going for a long drive, taking a long walk, etc. I can feel the stress build up over a period of time and it spills over in self-pity, anger at my spouce for not spending more time with me, or depression. I am my own worst enemy. I sit and feed my brain with negative thoughts. I try to keep myself occupied with music, walking or caring for my pets, etc. but I want too much.

I get very enraged at neurologists who act like they know what symptoms are related to PD and what aren't. I wish they would understand how demeaning it is to be told that pain or other symtoms are caused by anxiety. I would be much more open to hearing the truth. They just don't know, but are doing their best with the tools medicine has on hand. The disease would be easier to live with if neurologists would admit the tools don't exist yet to diagnose or treat my problems.

To quote an ex-president, "I feel your pain."

Peace to you,
Vicky

dearest cs?
 

dear cs, -
did your doc realize you were on klonopin when he gave you a script for oxycontin - there are many accidental overdoses daily.
be careful! here's some info - that I know you know -I will put it here for others to read...
:hug:
there is a drug interaction between oxycodone and clonazepam...



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drug-Drug Interactions
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/oxycontin_ad.htm

Opioid analgesics, including OxyContin®, may enhance the neuromuscular blocking action of skeletal muscle relaxants and produce an increased degree of respiratory depression.

Oxycodone is metabolized in part to oxymorphone via cytochrome P450 2D6. While this pathway may be blocked by a variety of drugs (e.g., certain cardiovascular drugs including amiodarone and quinidine as well as polycyclic antidepressants), such blockade has not yet been shown to be of clinical significance with this agent. Clinicians should be aware of this possible interaction, however.

Use with CNS Depressants
OxyContin, like all opioid analgesics, should be started at 1/3 to 1/2 of the usual dosage in patients who are concurrently receiving other central nervous system depressants including sedatives or hypnotics, general anesthetics, phenothiazines, centrally acting anti-emetics, tranquilizers, and alcohol because respiratory depression, hypotension, and profound sedation or coma may result. No specific interaction between oxycodone and monoamine oxidase inhibitors has been observed, but caution in the use of any opioid in patients taking this class of drugs is appropriate.


The safety of OxyContin® was evaluated in double-blind clinical trials involving 713 patients with moderate to severe pain of various etiologies. In open-label studies of cancer pain, 187 patients received OxyContin in total daily doses ranging from 20 mg to 640 mg per day. The average total daily dose was approximately 105 mg per day.

Serious adverse reactions which may be associated with OxyContin Tablet therapy in clinical use are those observed with other opioid analgesics, including respiratory depression, apnea, respiratory arrest, and (to an even lesser degree) circulatory depression, hypotension, or shock (see OVERDOSAGE).

The non-serious adverse events seen on initiation of therapy with OxyContin are typical opioid side effects. These events are dose-dependent, and their frequency depends upon the dose, the clinical setting, the patient's level of opioid tolerance, and host factors specific to the individual. They should be expected and managed as a part of opioid analgesia. The most frequent (>5%) include: constipation, nausea, somnolence, dizziness, vomiting, pruritus, headache, dry mouth, sweating, and asthenia.

In many cases the frequency of these events during initiation of therapy may be minimized by careful individualization of starting dosage, slow titration, and the avoidance of large swings in the plasma concentrations of the opioid. Many of these adverse events will cease or decrease in intensity as OxyContin therapy is continued and some degree of tolerance is developed.

Interactions with other CNS Depressants
OxyContin should be used with caution and started in a reduced dosage (1/3 to 1/2 of the usual dosage) in patients who are concurrently receiving other central nervous system depressants including sedatives or hypnotics, general anesthetics, phenothiazines, other tranquilizers, and alcohol. Interactive effects resulting in respiratory depression, hypotension, profound sedation, or coma may result if these drugs are taken in combination with the usual doses of OxyContin.

Interactions with Mixed Agonist/Antagonist Opioid Analgesics
Agonist/antagonist analgesics (i.e., pentazocine, nalbuphine, and butorphanol) should be administered with caution to a patient who has received or is receiving a course of therapy with a pure opioid agonist analgesic such as oxycodone. In this situation, mixed agonist/antagonist analgesics may reduce the analgesic effect of oxycodone and/or may precipitate withdrawal symptoms in these patients.

Ambulatory Surgery and Postoperative Use
OxyContin is not indicated for pre-emptive analgesia (administration pre-operatively for the management of postoperative pain).

OxyContin is not indicated for pain in the immediate postoperative period (the first 12 to 24 hours following surgery) for patients not previously taking the drug, because its safety in this setting has not been established.

OxyContin is not indicated for pain in the postoperative period if the pain is mild or not expected to persist for an extended period of time.

OxyContin is only indicated for postoperative use if the patient is already receiving the drug prior to surgery or if the postoperative pain is expected to be moderate to severe and persist for an extended period of time. Physicians should individualize treatment, moving from parenteral to oral analgesics as appropriate (See American Pain Society guidelines).

Patients who are already receiving OxyContin® Tablets as part of ongoing analgesic therapy may be safely continued on the drug if appropriate dosage adjustments are made considering the procedure, other drugs given, and the temporary changes in physiology caused by the surgical intervention (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

OxyContin and other morphine-like opioids have been shown to decrease bowel motility. Ileus is a common postoperative complication, especially after intra-abdominal surgery with opioid analgesia. Caution should be taken to monitor for decreased bowel motility in postoperative patients receiving opioids. Standard supportive therapy should be implemented.
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/oxycontin_wcp.htm

warnings
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/oxycontin_od.htm


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

verry important info -
 

Oxycontin® is a pain medication whose potential for abuse is very high.

It is an extremely effective analgesic called Oxycodone. Other products containing Oxycodone, like Percocet® and Percodan® have been abused for years. The reason why Oxycontin® is of particular concern is because of its time release characteristic. The drug is designed to be taken orally and it will break down slowly, so its effects last for up to 12 hours.

This makes the drug ideal for those who suffer constant pain and need medication at all times. However, if Oxycontin® is crushed and inhaled, chewed up and swallowed, or injected; the time release factor is bypassed. A large dose of Oxycodoneis released into the bloodstream all at once, sometimes with fatal results. Use of narcotic analgesics over time can result in addiction and physical dependence. If the drug is discontinued, severe withdrawal symptoms can occur.

_____________

Benzodiazepines
Valium®

Valium®, or Diazepam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders and convulsive disorders such as epilepsy. Use of Valium® can cause addiction and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drug is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms can range from sleeplessness and anxiety to seizures and even death. Tolerance develops when the drug is taken over time, meaning that higher doses must be used to achieve the same effect.

Librium®

Librium®, or Chlordiazepoxide, is a benzodiazepine used to treat short term anxiety and withdrawal symptoms of acute alcoholism. Use of Librium® can cause addiction and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drug is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms can range from sleeplessness and anxiety to seizures and even death. Tolerance develops when the drug is taken over time, meaning that higher doses must be used to achieve the same effect.

Xanax®

Xanax®, or Alprazolam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders, panic attacks and agoraphobia. Use of Xanax® can cause addiction and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drug is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms can range from sleeplessness and anxiety to seizures and even death. Tolerance develops when the drug is taken over time, meaning that higher doses must be used to achieve the same effect. Xanax® are commonly known as bars, z's or xanies.

Ativan®

Ativan®, or Lorazepam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders. Use of Ativan® can cause addiction and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drug is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms can range from sleeplessness and anxiety to seizures and even death. Tolerance develops when the drug is taken over time, meaning that higher doses must be used to achieve the same effect.

Klonopin®

Klonopin®, or Clonazepam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat panic attacks and convulsive disorders such as epilepsy. Use of Klonopin® can result in addiction and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drug is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms can range from sleeplessness and anxiety to seizures and even death. Tolerance develops when the drug is taken over time, meaning that higher doses must be used to achieve the same effect.

Serax®

Serax®, or Oxazepam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders. Use of Serax® can cause addiction and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drug is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms can range from sleeplessness and anxiety to seizures and even death. Tolerance develops when the drug is taken over time, meaning that higher doses must be used to achieve the same effect.

Tranxene®

Tranxene®, or Clorazepate, is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders and convulsive disorders such as epilepsy. Use of Tranxene® can cause addiction and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drug is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms can range from sleeplessness and anxiety to seizures and even death. Tolerance develops when the drug is taken over time, meaning that higher doses must be used to achieve the same effect.

Halcion®

Halcion®, or Triazolam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat insomnia. Use of Halcion can cause addiction and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drug is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms can range from sleeplessness and anxiety to seizures and even death. Tolerance develops when the drug is taken over time, meaning that higher doses must be used to achieve.

Dalmane®

Dalmane®, or Flurazepam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat insomnia. Use of Dalmane® can cause addiction and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drug is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms can range from sleeplessness and anxiety to seizures and even death. Tolerance develops when the drug is taken over time, meaning that higher doses must be used to achieve the same effect.

Restoril®

Restoril®, or Temazepam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat insomnia. Use of Restoril can cause addiction and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drug is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms can range from sleeplessness and anxiety to seizures and even death. Tolerance develops when the drug is taken over time, meaning that higher doses must be used to achieve the same effect.

Just me
 

cs, I came in late and haven't read the whole thread (wowzers, you guys are great), so I will only add my personal experience.

I took oxycontin for a year, before and after my hip replacement a year ago. I started at 5 mg and was at about 10 mg/day for my daughter's wedding in May of last year. I was grinding bone on bone inside the hip and wearing down the femur. There almost wasn't enough left of the pelvic socket to attach the prosthesis. So we're talking serious osteoarthritis pain here, like "real" people have. I believe the PDdystonias I have in my left foot compromised the position of all the joint in that leg and accellerated the degenerative process. When I went in for surgery in October I think I was on 40 mg/day of the long-acting oxy and 5-20 prn of the little boosters.

All the oxy did was take the edge off. I learned a lot from spiritual sources that helped me. I became a Reiki practitioner so i could practice its calming and somewhat pain-relieving effects on myself. I prayed in desperation but also at regular times to help keep myself stress-free as possible. I see no reason why someone couldn't meditate or do yoga to good effect. A spiritual resource I have states that when you are in pain, your enemies are fear, loneliness, anger, guilt, grief, and helplessness. If a person got stalled on any of those, that person could consult DocJohn's excellent indexed blog articles, their pastor, or a wise and good-listener friend.

Not having the support you need makes it harder. My marriage of then-27 years went over some its roughest ground yet, but we both learned from the experience. Messages from people on this board--especially from one who understood the kind of pain I was experiencing and even said "no reply necessary"--were worth solid gold; a couple and an individual from the old MGH board sent two lovely vases of flowers to the hospital (thanks, people!).

In April it was time to go off the oxy. I had incomplete control of my, shall we say, disposition. My spouse found me unpleasant. I spent two weeks with Paula, who ignored the crap and laughed with me when I could (a thousand blessings be upon her). I had lowered my dose of Sinemet; now I had to increase it slightly again. I tried to keep it high enough to avoid the twitching legs that kept me awake and low enough to avoid dyskinesia while I was healing (it takes a year for a hip). By the end of the month I was down to 5-10 mg/day in crumbs, and off completely by the second week in May. By August I was on good terms with everyone again.

Everyone has to find their own tapering-off schedule. A pharmacist told me that another pharmacist he knew who was in BIG trouble with narcotics checked into a rehab hospital and was kept nearly anesthetized when he went off cold-turkey. That person was addicted. Officially, I was habituated--since I never got pleasure from it and other pschological stuff. I fought hard to keep the "addict" label out of my medical records because for me it wasn't true.

I learned more, but that's life, and you've been reading long enough (if you have). Whatever course you take, for you and all readers who find this useful, I wish you the best.

Jaye

Ouch.
 

Cs, you might want to try physical therapy. I have been helped beyond belief by gentle physical therapy. I will never forget the feeling of being coddled and taken care of and downright mothered when I first went into the therapy room, and the therapist wrapped me in hot blankets. I almost cried, it was the closest I have come to being truly comforted since I was a small child and my mother tucked me into bed when I had a bad cold.
I am convinced that the feeling of being comforted was as important to my recovery as the exercises the therapists helped me do. They took my pain seriously, and they did everything they could do to help me.

Of all the techniques they used, traction gave the most relief. My neck and shoulders were so painful that the touch of my clothes caused pain, and I couldn't turn my head to the left at all. Traction took the pain away immediately so completely that I wished I could stay in traction day and night. That and the gentle manipulation of head, neck and arm slowly loosened my neck and shoulder muscles, and the pain went away, not to return. And I can turn my head without pain, too.

Physical therapy also put my spine 'back in place' last year, after two years of chronic pain in hip and leg, and it was done so gently that I could not tell at which point the pressure lightened and the pain went away.

I would strongly recommend to you to get a prescription for several weeks of physical therapy. It helps body and soul, and you could use some comforting.

Good mending,
birte

I know nothing about pain meds. so have no input on that.