Soaps.com - MESSAGE BOARDS

the beginning of arthritis started when i was 49, i am now 58, i ignored it and it just started getting worse and worse, i have had 6 arthritis related surgeries since 2004(thank God we have health insurance) prior to getting surgery i tried eveything and it sounds like you have too, lovesit, pain meds, PT, epidural where i swear i thought i levitated from the pain from the needle, got shots in my knee, cortisone in knee, hand , shoulder,when i could no longer stand it i went for the surgeries, first back, then left shoulder twice, then right shoulder, right thumb, last total knee replacement in oct. now i am having back pain in another area, i cannot bear to have another operation so i went to a new pain management doc, those were the 5 shots i had today, love, don't know if they work yet, he did numb the area but i still felt it, but i am a tough nut and i took it, nothing like the epidural, if i would have had a gun, i would have shot the doctor, he tried it in 3 different areas when i screamed, stop, i have osteo arthritis, i also have to take actonel


if you want to e mail me my address is 2katsfornow@gmail.com

what a surprise LOL

bringing it up for lovesit

Geez, you have had more shots than me! I'm only 25 (with the bones of an 80 year old) though, so I'll just give it some time and I'll meet you count!
Mine isn't for arthritis, at least not that the docs have found. Personally, I think I have a form of Fibromyalgia, or whatever that disease is that Paula Abdoul has/had. I am in constant pain, and there is no scientific reason why. I also have chronic fatique since the pain started in Jan 2003. Even had to go on narcolepsy meds to stay awake (I kept falling asleep at the wheel )
I have sworn off shots without anesthesia for the rest of my life, though. The shots they always gave my (in my hip bone) are like liquid fire made of needles. Anywho, I'm interested in seeing if you find relief. If so, exactly what kind of shots were they? For all I know, I have arthritis, too! Thanks for sharing. Or I could email you if you do not want to have this personal info out here.

not at all, i am surprised you are only 25, i know exactly what you mean about anesthesia, never again for me too, i think you need to pursue this and get some definite answers, have you had xrays? MRI?, if not you need too, i would look for a doc that specializes in arthritis, i got allot of answers from him, you need to be aggressive, it is your health

In the beginning, I had every test done, tried every medication known to man. A lot of those are now recalled due to deaths. I was on Vioxx for almost a year, and that was awesome (sarcasm). After about 2 years, I kind of got discouraged in trying to find reasons. Every test came back normal - nerves reacted properly, no torn ligaments, nothing our of wack in the spine. And some of the test were quite painful. It got to where I was just put on Vicodin and Provigil.
Anyhow, I actually did try to get ths process started again a couple of months ago. But the doctor was a nightmare. She told me I needed to suck it up (her wuote, not mine) and that it must be all in my head (also her quote). She was 9 months prego at the time, and she told me she was having contractions all day. I wanted to say "You know, I know my vaginal canal is not expanding as we speak, but that does not mean your pain discounts mine!"
Instead , I just left pissed off.
So you can see my frustration! I will be very interested to see if your shots work. Were they a pain block of some sort? Do you have any tricks to make the pain go away? And thanks again for sharing all this with me.

i am going for an epidural on tuesday, had one 6 years ago, did nothing, i am desperate, saw my neurosurgeon, yesterday, says i need another back surgery, i am very upset about this news

update for lovesit
went for the nerve black yesterday, was not nearly as bad as it was 6yrs ago, different doc, he used a local before the procedure, don't know if it worked yet, i do feel a whole lot less pain but i am worried it won't last, you need to get to a very good pain management doc, it took me awhile to find this one, good luck and never give up!!!!!

once more for lovesit

Sounds like you have a doctor who listens and tries to work with you! I would like to find one of those. I used to have one, then I got married and moved and now am stuck in this rut. I was on Vicodin for the pain (it barely affects me, so I could even take a couple at work)but had to stop because I am now prego. SO the pain is unbearable sometimes, and I'm not even big yet! So I am going to talk with my ob/gyn and see if there are any options for me now. If he works out well, I think I will have at least found a primary care doc who will at least try and help me.

As for the epi, does that last longer than the pain/nerve block shots? I would think so, since it goes straight into the spinal cord?? Thanks for your updates! And sorry about the needed back surgery. I can't imagine...

The tens helped me a little at first, not at all any more. I gave it to my father, who had back surgery 3 months ago.