Could You Help Me Please??
 

Hi All. My name is Mark. Even though I have never come to this forum I am no stranger to this site. I am a long time member of the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy side of the house since 2000 following a car accident. I am 44 years old. I have a couple of questions. Here goes. I have been diagnosed with arthritis in my knees, feet, hips as well as wrists, shoulders and hands. I always say I inherited my grandmother's legacy. Anyway, the pain just never ever goes away. From a dull ache to sharp paining constantly. What can I do. Took Celebrex forever with no real luck so I stopped.

I have been using Capsacian Cream and even though it burns I think the only thing that is effected is my skin. The joints never get relief. Oh by the way I also suffer from Peripheral Neurophathy (sp) in my feet. Walking is more than a challenge on a daily basis. I use a walker for balance. I notice that the pain is always worse at night when I am in bed and when I get up in the mornings the pain in my fingers is out of control for at least 2 hours or more. So bad in fact I cannot even bend them. They are also very stiff.

I currently take 120mg of morphine twice a day for pain plus Zonnegran for nerve disorder and Cymbalta for depression. Thats about it. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much . Mark :)

Maybe new doctor
 

Mark,
Are you seeing a rheumatologist? They are doctors who specialize in the types of rheumatic diseases like arthritis. You might see one of these to get your type of arthritis diagnosed and see if there are some other medications that could help you. Good luck,

Billye

Billye
 

Thank you so much for your quick response. I will talk to my doc and ask her about doing just that. I would not have thought about going in that direction. Thank you again. Mark :) :hug:

Mark,

I'd definitely ask for a referral to a rheumatologist (or, rheumy. as some say ;)).

Have you possibly tried water therapy? or physical therapy that has a water program? The weightlessness might make it possible for joint movement without pain increase.

If your skin is burning from the Cream, it doesn't seem that that's the "right" match for trying to ease your symptoms. Seriously.

There are other NSAIDs (non steroidal anti inflammatories) that might work in a more targetted way for you, and especially for your joints.

My rheumy. currently has me taking Mobic for my knees and ankles. It's a bit rough on my stomach (despite taking it after eating), yet it has decreased the pain in my knees quite substantially. Mobic isn't ideal for everyone; it's just an example of another NSAIDs. One that could possibly work better for you is something that could be discovered by trial-and-error; it is, admittedly, a tedius process of elimination but an important one (so that the med. doesn't do more harm to someone than possible good).

I don't know if you may have visited the following site, yet it does have some good info. about medications, and conditions:

http://www.arthritisinsight.com/


Not knowing how long it's been since you were dx'd, I don't know if you are also aware of the Arthritis Foundation (AF):

http://www.arthritis.org/

In my estimation, I've not found one that tops it in terms of breadth of information and longevity. It's premier and I'd be surprised to find a rheumy. whom hasn't heard of the AF; many rheumatologists have its brochures and also free patient copies of the AF's magazine, which also presents some excellent articles/tips respective of living with arthritis.

Of course it totally bites having arthrits. Though no one can magically take away the pain and there is no cure for arthritis, thank goodness there are people looking for ways and sharing some that might help ease the pain of living with arthritis.

Hello Mark: I am sorry to hear you are in such pain.

I cannot use the capsaisen as well and switched to aspercreme.

If you are in as bad pain - the medications you mentioned would do the trick. I would talk to your doctors about Emla cream. It has helped me.

I know what you mean about that deep inside ache that will not go away, and what works for me (Naproxen) may not work for you. So I try to stay away from making those types of recommendations.

What type of arthritis did your doc's say you have? Osteo or RA - it is important to know because with one - you can radically change your life with how you eat. RA can be controlled with a anti inflammatory diet. RA runs in my family and my grandmothers had it in their hands and mother in her hips, they lived the traditional subsistence lifestyle, and salmon, berries and fish oils were a part of their diet.

I would talk to my doctors....all the best to you

Kim

Hello Mark. I am so sorry your having such a bad time of it. I went through a time when I was also in much pain, joints and just about everything else. I decided to TRY to figure it all out, doctors didn't help me, just wanted to fill my body with chemicals. I have made some great improvements though. Let me see if I can suggest a few things that MAY help you.

Drink a lot of water. Joints don't function well otherwise.

TRY to do some sort of physical activity each day. STRETCHING Really helps get things looser and moving again.

Go to a Warm swimming pool if you can. If you can't swim then just float and stretch.

Sit in a whirlpool if you can.

Get a massage once in a while.

See a Chiropractor.

I take extra Potassium and a good Natural Multi like NatureMade at least 3 days a week.

Talk to a friend every day.

Use warm baths and a heating pad instead of a lot of pain meds.

Listen to Soothing music.

Take a nap if you can.

Do you have a pet?? ;)

Talk to God a lot.

Go have an ice cream. :eek:

Hi,
I hope you will see this. Please read www.DrMcDougall.com

HI! Have you tried the drug Lyrica? It's for nerve pain. I have been taking it for the past few months with no side effects. Roxie

Hi WG. I came back in this thread because someone had replied and I got the EMail notification. I just reread your first post. Mark, you have such Generalized pain I am wondering if you MAY be doing something "dietarily" to cause this. Can WE talk about your diet? so many things are in the foods we eat and the things we drink now a days that to me, and I'm NOT a doctor but it sounds to me like you MAY be poisoning yourself with something. I mean your ONLY 44 and to be so crippled up and debilitated at your age I can't help but suspect this.

Can you give us/me a run down on what your diet is like and MAYBE it will shed some light on this whole PAIN thing. I mean I'm almost 60 and I have SOME pain but am able to figure out what's causing it and make it stop. Many people my age around me are walking with canes and walkers but one thing they ALL seem to have in common is they are regulars at the doctor's office and have a litany of medications they take everyday. This isn't right. :o Our bodies weren't meant to take in all this sythesized chemicals and function normally. Can we do this? Either on this thread or in a PM? I am usually online everyday so we can PM back and forth. :hug:

mrs. D
 

I'd like to ask you to jump in here and give us your take on the most effective/least invasive anti-inflammatory that can be taken for arthritic diseases. Granted most of these are serious arthrtic diseases.

Thanking you in advance....
Billye