Today I'm going for a bone scan of my body to see how extensive my osteoporosis and osteoarthritis is. I know its in my elbows, ankles, knees, shoulders, wrists and fingers-but it may well now be in my hip joints and other places too.
I'm on a new non steroid medication and it dulls the pain enough that I can get around a little bit with the walker.
Wish me luck today
Thinking of you, Joydie - you're in my prayers today. :)
I wish you the best possible report.
Praying for you Joydie today Shirley
Not good news...the osteoarthritis is EVERYWHERE. My bone density is within the high normal range so that's a blessing.
I'm seeing the family doctor again on Thursday. I still have the pain in my knees for the torn ligaments. I'm going to demand that she send me to a Sports Medicine surgeon. I can't go on like this much longer. Even if I move slightly in my sleep I wake up with screaming pain.
Sports Medicine people know their stuff as a rule Joydie Good luck and hope the pain is better.
Sorry to hear your bad news. Praying you'll find relief and that God will lead you to the right doctor.
How are things going JOydie>> Shirley
Hi! joydie I too have serious bone problems and take steroids most of my life, have had numorous replcements because of the excruciating pain. it has dwarfed me and I now have to use a power hair. I take it one day at a time and try to keep my mind off the pain by keeping busy. It's very hard to do when you're hurting. Night time seems the worst because you have all that time to think about it. that is when I pray, and soon I am in dreamland.(((HUGS)))I will add you to my prayer list, GOD BLESS!
The pain has not lessened any. Today I had so much pain I cried myself to sleep as I lay on the couch. Everytime the weather changes it gets worse. We've had heavy rains on and off for 3 days now.
I try to go for a short walk each day at least to the corner as I'm losing the muscle tone in my legs from inactivity. I tried the assistance of the walker, but the pressure on my elbows from my arms compensating for my body weight got to be too much. Some days I just wish I could cut my limbs off just to have one day without severe pain.
Joydie I am sorry to read this=your pain is o evident. It is so difficult to do ittle things even and you are to be commended for trying to take a walk every day even a little one. Walkers are hard to use. Sometimes my feet dont want to klift very high and I have to use one or a cane. The weather is changing today because of storms in the nE also. Always a pain bringer--but then we need rain so badly Hope you can get some rest tonight Shirley
Thanks Shirley you are a dear.
Joydie, have you tried taking MSM(I use the 1000 mg) & Gloucosomine/Chondrotin(double strength)for the joint conditions? Knox gelatin capsules are good too. It will take a few weeks for you to notice results, but I can almost promise you will see an improvement. All of these are available as over the counter items. I like Spring Valley brand, but there are many other good ones too.
Leaflady...what is MSM? Currently I take glucosomine sulphate, mobucox and cal-mag-citrate plus micro nutrients. I should try the glucosomine/chondrochtin and Knox gelatin. The gelatin will help my nails too which tend to be too soft.
Joy, I feel for you so much because you sound like me. I take vicadin and it helps some but there is so much weakness and pain it is hard to get anything done. I will keep you in my thoughts and hope you can find something that brings relief.
Keeping both you ladies in my thoughts nd prayers Shirley
Joydie, I know what you are going through and I know the level of pain that you deal with on a daily basis. I also had a bone scan last week and the manipulation of my legs and hips put me into another attack. I haven't gotten the report from the doctor yet (he's on vacation), but I can only imagine!
Using Glucosamin/Chondrotin does help the average person, but I fear that your pain level far exceeds its medicinal strength. You should see several doctors besides a Sports Medicine specialist. Have you been to an Orthopedist or Rheumatologist yet? They might be able to help ease your pain. It's worth your time and peace of mind.
Shirley thanks. With all the funding cuts here to Ontario Hospitalization Insurance Plan the waiting list for a Rheumatologist is over a year. Can you image...that really sucks. I'm determined that if I need surgery on my knees that I'm going to a Sports Medicine Surgeon. They get those football players back in good standing in no time. I don't want just anyone hacking on my knees. That's what gets me around!
Yikes, I can't imagine waiting for over 1 yr. to see a Rheumatologist. That is unheard of in the States. I would assume that most Sports Medicine Surgeons have had rotations in Orthopedics. If they think that someone would be better suited for your condition, will Canadian doctors make referrals? Sorry, I'm NOT familiar with your healthcare in Canada. It's hard enough to keep it straight in the U.S.!!!!
Shirley our health care system is a mess right now. There is an acute shortage of many doctors since so many of them are also going to the States. You have to have a referral from your family doctor to see a specialist, but in some areas of medicine the wait is still a long time.
Just thinking of you Joydie and checking this thread to see how things are going Shirley
I'm still "hanging in there"!!!
Just came back from a visit to my "pain" Doctor. YUP, he's a ROYAL pain in the _____! He never encourages me, but wants me to realize & understand that the medical technology to help me, is still years away :~( BUMMER!!! Now I know why I came home in such a grumpy mood! BAH HUMBUG!!!
I know, I'll go to tonight's meeting/lecture of the Baltimore Horticultural Society of MD. Holly Shmizu (from the Victory Garden) is speaking on growing great roses in your garden. That will cheer me up for sure:~)
Jodie, My wife Bobbie has just been diangosed with MS and she was having an awful time with pain in her arms and shoulders. She was put on Neurontin and she says it is great for the pain. She also has a liver condition and the doctor said it was safe and wouldn't harm her liver. The drug was invented in the early 90's for seizures but later was discovered to be a great pain reliever. Here's a couple of links. I found 38,000 links on a google search for neurontin. Ask your doctor about it. Hope you find some relief soon.
http://www.pfizer.com/hml/pi's/neurontinpi.pdf
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/D6AC6.htm
Georgiaredclay thats good to know. One of the meds I take side affect is liver disease. I'm going to ask my doctor about this one. Thanks.
Marclay and Shirley I just get up everyday and do what I can. The best therapy for my hands is pulling weeds, but it gives my elbows a fit. I was laid up over the long weekend. I guess I did too much and my right knee swelled up again like the size of a softball. When I start to feel down and depressed I just go out into the front garden with a cup of tea and marvel at how beautiful it looks. I have so many things to be thankful for.
Neurontin has given me a new life! I take it for fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis pain and LOVE it. I have not had any side effects with it and I can garden and carry on with an almost normal life. Normal for me, that is. I take a chair into the garden with me to sit on while I hoe and DH mows the yard now instead of me. I also take celebrex for the inflamation but I think my insurance will not let me have it beyond November. My Doc is going to write a letter requesting it to continue but we shall see.