Every person with tos is soooo different.
I had a successful rib resection and scalenectomy but post op I had a dorsal scapular nerve injury diagnosed. This is the cause of my pain and Dr Jordan told me that if I had a rib resection that the parascapular pain would persist and he was right.

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdo...interview.html



http://www.nationalpainfoundation.or...bletherapy.asp

If you click on psychology of pain, it describes what most tos'ers do...bracing.

http://www.nationalpainfoundation.or...etSyndrome.asp

When pain creeps up on me, taking a higher dose of my opana for a few days in a row can calm it down so that I can taper back down. Pain meds definitely have their place in reducing overall pain by breaking the cycle.

Pain=tension=more pain which leads to more complications (like RSD)...because the pain signals don't get a chance to turn off.

Definitely, though, if you are taking pain meds nonstop, probably good to make sure you have done everything else you can do for yourself



Thanks for all the links Martha.

Johanna

Towelhorse, I find that any use of steroids, including the pulmacort help my symptoms. In major flares, unrelenting a steroid dose pack has been perscribed. Wht the heck is it called...I never can think of it.

Steroids do reduce inflamation though.
dianne

What is Pulmiocrt a steroid?

Hi Shelley
The Pulmacort, is an inhaler for asthma. I use mine two ouffs twice a day, it is actually like a powder, I have Seravent. I was negligent to keep up with it due to cost of all the meds, but Martha's scar has me cutting other meds in half and refilling the asthma meds.

"Your PULMICORT TURBUHALER is both an asthma medication and a delivery system that is used by adults and children 6 years of age and older.

PULMICORT TURBUHALER is an inhaled corticosteroid. The medication in your PULMICORT TURBUHALER works to reduce and prevent inflammation in your airways and helps manage your asthma symptoms when used regularly.

Common side effects include respiratory infection, headache, oral candidiasis (thrush in the mouth), pharyngitis (sore throat), voice alteration (hoarseness), and sinusitis.

The actual device for the medication is called a TURBUHALER. PULMICORT TURBUHALER is a simple-to-use delivery system that is inhalation driven.

"Inhalation driven" means that when you breathe in through your PULMICORT TURBUHALER, your medication is delivered to your lungs. Unlike aerosol inhalers, no propellants, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), are necessary to deliver your medication.

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What is the medication in PULMICORT TURBUHALER?
The medication in PULMICORT TURBUHALER is called budesonide, a synthetic corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are natural substances found in the body that help fight inflammation. Corticosteroids are used to treat asthma because they reduce swelling and irritation in the walls of the small air passages and ease breathing problems. When inhaled regularly, corticosteroids also help prevent asthma attacks.

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How does the medication in PULMICORT TURBUHALER
reach my lungs?
PULMICORT TURBUHALER uses the airflow created by your breath when you inhale. Simply by taking a deep and forceful breath, you get the medication into your lungs.

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Does PULMICORT TURBUHALER contain Chlorofluorocarbons?
No. PULMICORT TURBUHALER does not contain CFCs, other gas propellants, or lubricants.

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How long will it take for my PULMICORT TURBUHALER to work?
Improvement with PULMICORT TURBUHALER can occur within 24 hours. It may, however, take 1 to 2 weeks or longer before you feel maximum benefit, so it is very important that you use your PULMICORT TURBUHALER regularly and as directed by your doctor/health care provider. Do not stop treatment or reduce your dose even if you are feeling better, unless told to do so by your doctor/health care provider. Call your doctor/health care provider if your symptoms do not improve or your condition worsens.

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Should I keep using my Pulmicort Turbuhaler®
(budesonide inhalation powder) even when I feel better?
Yes, it is important to use PULMICORT TURBUHALER every day even if you feel better because it treats the chronic, underlying part of your asthma. This is the inflammation--the "quiet part" of asthma that you may not hear, see, or feel. When it is left untreated, it can worsen. Your lungs can become more inflamed and your asthma symptoms and attacks can increase. When you use PULMICORT TURBUHALER every day, it works to reduce and prevent your asthma symptoms and flare-ups.

You should keep using your PULMICORT TURBUHALER as instructed unless your doctor/health care provider tells you otherwise. Only your doctor/health care provider should instruct you to stop taking your medication.

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Di, are you refering to Mederol DosePak? That's the steroid they gave me. Helped a lot, but I gained weight and kept it on for over a year. I try to steer clear of steroids if at all possible.

Anne

Hi everyone...

I have weaned myself off most of the meds, I feel that some of them were making me feel worse- blurry vision, bad thoughts, sleepy and of course weight gain.. ( Lyrica, Lexapro)
But.. I still take Amitriptilyne to help with sleep and the depression.. the pain is still very much there but I feel I can concentrate and make better judgements now..Just did it in the last 3 months and feel a little better....

Hope everyone has a "Pain free" day...

I've gone from trying not to take any meds to trying to limit what I have to take. I look forward to the day when I can wake up and NOT take any medication. I'm on the same page as Di- while I would prefer not to take some of "heavy-duty" stuff, i would rather take 2-3/day than have to take 2 tylenol/advil/aspirin, etc 4x daily (and that STILL wouldn't help as much).

My daily regimen includes: Keppra, Lortab, Provigil, Klonopin, Lidoderm patches

I would say that the 4 most effective things are: Cardio/PT (carefully tho), heat, lortab, and nerve blocks/trigger point injections - can't forget BioFreeze!!


To over-simplify, is the relief of my pain and suffering today worth the potential unknown cost 2,3, 5, 10yrs down the road from taking the medications? My answer was yes, it is worth it.

oh- and thank you for the linky to the quiz.

another aside..... I took amitryptelene (sp?) in the past to help with IBS, and it just made me grumpy and over-irritable. just a word of caution