It is getting worse!

[Aysha]

My knees are in so much pain the past few days.
I guess I have arthritis. It use to be mostly my right knee. Now it is both and it feels like they are broken.
They ache...hurt real bad and make it very hard to move without looking like a duck.
Dr only wants me to take 800 Ibuprofen. We all know why that is.
But they arent doing anyhting anymore.
So Yea..I really dont want any pain meds. I dont like pills and we all know where narcs will end up. Especially with me.
ANything anyone knows of that will help me?
I dont have any money and need to do somehting.
I feel like I am in a cold sweat at times and turning white it hurts so bad.
No heating pad...I am at a loss.
I just want to dull it at the very least at this point.


Let me add I am not asking for medical help. Just maybe some home done remedies. Like propping ym legs up or soemthing like that.

[historyteach]

Chi,
My mom has Rhumitoid arthritis; has had it most of her life. Yet, until the last 6 years, she was walking, swimming, dancing, gardening, etc. She also took ibprophren. Six years ago, after my dad died, she had a big flare up, and it never went away, though. But, she knows that by keeping active, that kept her limber and going.

My aunt has the same thing. She takes Humera, one of the "miracle" drugs for RA. It's non narcotic and she swears by it.

I have osteo arthritis on both knees. I also have torn ligaments on both knees and water on one of them. As long as I keep my legs muscles built up, and in decent shape, they support my knees, and then the knees don't hurt as badly. Eventually, I will need to have something done, but, for now, it's working out.

I know cortosteroid shots into the knees can help significantly. Knee replacement, which my mom finally had to have, is an option too. Osteobiflex, an over the counter pill that builds up the cartiledge in the knee does help me too.

I hope others come and share their wisdom with you for your relief.

Shalom!

[Aysha]

I dont know...Talking to my Dr is like talking to myself.
I really do think it is time to find another. But when I told him I went to Urgent Care one time he got mad. Well what the hell am I suppose to do when he is only in the office 3 days a week.
All that is in his mind naymore is that I am an addict.
So I feel that is effecting me. And that I may not get the care I could or should need in regards to that.
I am in alot of pain today as well.
I dont know. I have so many other things to take care of this week. I wont have time to figure this out until sometime next week.
Guess I will just have to deal with it for now.

[grateful2b]

Chi, I have osteoarthritis in my knees as well...
Doing exercises to strengthen your thigh muscles in particular, will really support your knees.
Castor oil packs are very helpful for 45 minutes with heat or overnight..
ibuprophen really helps with the inflammation as well as massage..

[DesertEyes]

Hey there chiynita, and pleased to "meet" you.

There is a kind of doctor that specializes in conditions like arthritis, it's called a "rheumatologist". My ex-wife had a horrible case of arthritis all over her body. Her docs gave her a variety of meds just for arthritis called "anti-inflamatories". Aspirin is a very, very mild kind of anti-inflamatory, steroid shots are middle of the road and the heavy duty ones are also used for cancer patients (like Methotrexate). These meds reduce the inflamation, which in turn reduces the pain a _lot_.

See if you can find a rheumatologist, they were wonderful for my ex-wife.

Mike

[serenityqueen]

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as Lupus.

A Rheumatologist usally does not treat "regular" arthritis. A Rheumatologist only treats those patients, like myself, who have been diagnosed through lab work with RA, Osteoarthritis, Lupus or diseases of that nature. By no means am I saying that "regular" arthritis is not terribly painful. Please don't think I am saying that.

An Internal Medicine Dr. is a good one to go to for arthritis. They have a little more specialized training in the area of this type of diseases. If there is a diagnosed condition of the knee, your Dr. can refer you to an Orthopedic Dr., one who specializes in the treatment of bones and many times ligaments and tendons.

Humira is one of the classes of drugs that are used when anti inflamatory drugs and the like are not getting any results. These are only used when someone has diagnosed RA and sometimes, depending on the severity of the disease, Osteo arthritis and Osteoporosis. I cannot afford these meds but my Dr. wants me to be on them but unless you have good insurance, they run into a few thousand dollars per treatment. In the beginning of the course of treatment, one starts with an injection or infusion, depending on the meds approximately every 2 weeks. Some of the meds stay at this 2 week time frame throughout the entire time. The ones that are given in an infusion eventually are given about 4 weeks apart. But due to the nature of these meds, side effects and a correct diagnosis being mandatory, they are not recommended until generally other treatment options have not had any results.

I take Methotrexate, which was designed for Cancer patients. It is one of those extremely dangerous drugs if taken by someone who does not have RA. I also take a med, Plaqunil, that, believe it or not, was designed to be for patients with Milaria. I am also on Prednisone, which is a steriod that I have to take daily that has numerous horrible side effects such as bone density loss, it causes one's skin to become extremely thin, can lead to Diabetes . . . My Mom is suffering from all of those conditions due to having to have been on the drug for many years. She has had her pelvis break twice, just from normal wear and tear, her hip broke from walking and she has broken her ankle twice. These are all called stress fractures. I have had to take Prednisone for over 2 1/2 years now and will most likely never be able to be taken completely off of it. If they get my dose down too low, I have so much inflammation around my heart, lungs, kidneys . . . that I am in danger. Prednisone is given in short lengths of time for asthma, other types of inflammation and believe it or not, for severe acne. It is a miracle drug, but, the long term side effects are horrible. Cortizone shots, which are also a steroid based med, most times have fantastic results. They hurt when they are given directly into the joint but these can bring up to around 18 months of relief so I think they are worth it.

Chiy, I think maybe it's time to look for another Dr., in my opinion. Some Dr.s, once they find out someone is an addict, no matter how well they may be doing in their Recovery, are unfortunatey real a$$ holes. I have ran into this myself. Last fall, when I blew my knee out, this one Dr. looked at my old records at the hospital, and even though I had 2 years in Recovery and made it very clear to everyone I came into contact with that by no means do I want any kind of narcotics, he still treated me awful. And he flat out told me that drug seekers need to stay away from the ER. Nearly every hospital has clinics that are based on the person's income and even have different programs where those who make under a certain amt. of money do not have to pay at all. I go to a satellite clinic where I am seen by a Rheumatologist, I have an Internal Medicine Dr. and also, if needed they have Orthopedics, Family Practice, OB GYN, Pediatrics . . . and it only costs me $10 a visit. These Dr.'s are generally residents but they are supervised by regular Dr.'s. I have never been given any care that I would consider less than wonderful. Most of these residents haven't been practicing long enough to have developed the, what I like to call, Holier Than Thou Attitudes.

Until you can get in to see someone else, you can either use Ace bandages wraps for support of your knees or you can buy knee braces for relatively cheap. WalMart, Kmart and alike carry these. Also, anti inflammatories, such as IBU 800, have to be taken as prescribed for them to build up in your system to get the best results. You can use heat, (a heating pad or make some rice socks, see my thread in this forum) and use them for up to 20 minutes at a time, every couple of hours.

I am only speaking from MY experiences as far as anything in this post. None of what I have said is medical advise.

Chiy, I'm very proud of you for doing everything you can to see that your medical needs are addressed the proper way and that you have not picked up out of frustration or pain. Way to go girl, way to grow!

Love and Hugs,
Judy

[Sugah]

One caution on the wraps & braces: I was using them to rest my joints, especially on days that I had to do a lot of writing in class. My doctor warned against keeping them in the braces too long, as range of motion as well as strength can be compromised.

Judy, I know a woman on methotrexate. She swears it's a wonder drug. My RA has been out of remission for about nine months now, and I've been avoiding any tests for it until August, when my new insurance kicks in. I don't want to divert chynita's thread, but I have to ask: have you had any problems, between the methotrexate and the steroids, with your hair falling out? The woman I mentioned told me she's on some mega-folic acid, and her hair is still very thin. The vain part of me fears that. My hair is long (past my waist) and thin as it is. I keep telling myself I don't want chemicals in my body, but if I were to be rigorously honest, the vanity issue is a large part of my reluctance.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[serenityqueen]

sugah, to be honest, I don't know which one of my meds is causing the thinning. It's not too noticeable. I notice it, but I've asked several friends who I know would give me an honest answer if they noticed it and they all said they didn't.

But, like I said, I am on so many meds for these conditions that I can't honestly pinpoint which one is causing it, or it very well could be the menopause I'm going through. I have hot flashes so bad that for all I know, my hair could have singed off! lol

[Aysha]

And still is.
I just got back from urgent care because the knees are really killing me. And my fingers and wrists. Does it ever stop.
Well they gave me a shot in the butt of somehting. And it didnt do anything either.
Monday I am contacting infectious disease myself. Since my Dr said he was going to and hasnt yet.
If you want soemthing done right. I guess you gotta do it yourself sometimes.
I am also looking for a new physician Monday.
Mine is just getting ridiculous.
He is defining me by addiciton. And I think that is ao wrong.

[tanyapmc]

Try a hot bath with bath salts, it always helps me. Have you ever tried to meditate?? I sure hope you feel better and I'm sorry your having such a hard time.

[Alera]

Originally Posted by chiynita

And still is.
I just got back from urgent care because the knees are really killing me. And my fingers and wrists. Does it ever stop.
Well they gave me a shot in the butt of somehting. And it didnt do anything either.
Monday I am contacting infectious disease myself. Since my Dr said he was going to and hasnt yet.
If you want soemthing done right. I guess you gotta do it yourself sometimes.
I am also looking for a new physician Monday.
Mine is just getting ridiculous.
He is defining me by addiciton. And I think that is ao wrong.

Sorry your knees are hurting that bad. I think your plan to contact the specialist monday is the best plan of action (as well as getting yourself a new doctor!)

[ksos]

Originally Posted by chiynita

And still is.
I just got back from urgent care because the knees are really killing me. And my fingers and wrists. Does it ever stop.
Well they gave me a shot in the butt of somehting. And it didnt do anything either.
Monday I am contacting infectious disease myself. Since my Dr said he was going to and hasnt yet.
If you want soemthing done right. I guess you gotta do it yourself sometimes.
I am also looking for a new physician Monday.
Mine is just getting ridiculous.
He is defining me by addiciton. And I think that is ao wrong.

Chiy,

This situation is horrible, but I am very happy that you have decided to seek out another MD who hopefully will not prejudge you based on history.

I was just wondering if the Lyme Disease is a factor in all of this since that causes immense pain, and I learned that from you.

What I am now saying is not to be taken as medical advice but I have had injections in my back that did work, albeit short-term and I had to come back for a few more injections. I asked my pain doc what he was injecting, and I beliee that he told me it was steroids--as SerenityQueen was talking earlier about the medication...My point was that the procedures certainly helped me, but one cannot just apply medical procedures unless they are medically appropriate....

I hope you find some peace with your pain...My prayers are with, my friend.

[Klynn33]

good luck with your doctor search Chi -
it's hard when they get that tunnel vision and only can see that about you. it's too bad. you're suffering for no reason, and I would imagine the real problem is not being addressed.
you deserve much better care, and I hope you find it.
My younger sister suffers from rhumitoid arthritis and it's very sad. she goes from a heating pad to ice - keeps switching it up. sometimes that helps takes the edge off for awhile.
sorry you're going through this, let us know how you get along tomorrow. sending good wishes that you'll find someone to help you.

[Aysha]

New Dr the 14th. A woman this time. No offense.
Ksos...The organism is gone from Lyme. As of right now. But the other strand never goes away. But if treated unsuccessfully for a long period of time. Sypmtoms can remain.
I am not sure if it has to do with it. I have had pain in knees for a couple years now. And kept telling my Dr aout it and he never did anything. My Dr is a PA. So the MD of the office took Xrays in Feb when I went to him and they found arthritis.
But it is just all through my legs now and isnt getting better.
I am sure my weight isnt helping any.
But the fatigue and constant headaches are probably caused from the Lyme.
Hopefully this new Dr will prove more helpful.
Thanks guys. I feel like such a complainer.
But just like with my addiction. I need to get it out of my head and express it somewhere.
Thanks for listening..

[Klynn33]

oh good Chi
hopefully this new doctor will work on your issues at hand....and not issues that are in the past.
best of luck!!

(still a long time to go with painfully sore legs, but I guess at least there's a light.........I hope you get some relief soon)

[Alera]

Arthritis is a b*tch. No other words for it. I have sports induced arthritis in my knees, jaw and back. Warm bathes help as long as I make sure to dry off quickly when I get out, otherwise the shift from warm to cool will make is hurt again (due to another condition I can't take 'hot' bathes). I always take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, even when I don't hurt. Otherwise the inflammation will kick right back in when I least expect it, and that is half the pain right there.

I have learned a special way of power-walking that keeps from putting pressure on my knees, yet works the leg muscles so that I can strengthen them and support my bad joints. I learned a lot from physical therapy and my years of ballet. I have also found that using proper posture does amazing things, as it puts the pressure on the correct parts of my body instead of twisting myself into a pretzel without realizing it. Even a slight misplacement of my shoulders can really knock those knees and back out for a loop.

Nearly all of this I learned from my years in sports and seeing a multitude of doctors. Some good, some not so good. Sadly it took years but at least now I have some tools to help deal with daily life.

[jazpoppy]

Chiy;

It gets me so mad to hear that a doctor (who supposedly takes an oath to help and heal the sick no matter what) is so callous and unenlightened to treat you with predjudice just because you have the disease of addiction. You have recovery, he/she knows that, and they still treat you like you're there looking for he/she to write you a narcotics script when you don't even want one! I feel very sorry for you! I have been there, done that though! I have osteo-arthritis of the spine, in my right ankle from a fracture that didn't heal properly(due to a negligent a-hole doctor), and in my left knee from breaking the knee cap a few times in my life, carpel tunnel syndrome in both wrists, and herniated disks in my neck and lower back. I'm miserable quite often. It took me YEARS to find a good doctor who listens to me and doesn't think every person with chronic pain issues is out to "hit them up" for narcotic scripts all the time! I am pending insurance and once I get it, I'm going to look into going to an 8-month long vigorous rehab for my body (total body therapy) and if that doesn't work for certain things (like my disk problem, carpel tunnel, and knee problem) I will start having surgeries one at a time. I think I'll start with having my lower back surgery (remove bad disk, scrape arthritic bone spurs away from my facet joints (spine)). Then I'd see how that goes, I want them to give me one of those "fake" disks not a fusion with bone, so I can remain somewhat flexible. Then I'd move onto replacing the disks in my neck, and have those facet joints of the spine scraped too, as well as widening my spinal canal (to help ease up the spinal stenosis, or "narrowing" of the spine). If all of that really helps my pain and doesn't screw up my back, I'll have arthorscopy of my left knee to remove the cartilage deposits from breaking my knee cap, then after that, last but not least, the supposed "easy" carpel tunnel surgery. I would HOPE and PRAY that after all of that, I would be able to get through a WHOLE DAY without debilitating pain somewhere in my body! I could actually live a life without pain medications, heating pads, ice packs, herbal remedies, topical rubs (like Bengay), and much whining to the doctor to "help me, my pain is worst this month..." It makes me feel like I'm a trouble-maker at the doctors office, but I know I'm not to this doctor I see now. I have been told by a few doctors (one internal medicine doctor who doesn't believe ANYONE should be prescribed opiates/narcotics unless they are dying of cancer or just had major surgery, and he started a TREE of calling all of my specialists and telling them that I'm a drug addict and to NEVER prescribe me any controlled substances. Even though I asked this doctor to "wean" me off my MS Contin (morphine sulfate extended release) and vicodin, he did it so quickly I failed. I ended up taking more medication as I was in h311 and could not function (I had to work full-time and take care of my son while detoxing). He would not let me check into a hospital to detox, he said I was being a big baby! So now, my orthopaedic doesn't want to treat me anymore, even though I explained that I was not abusing the morphine, I asked to be taken off of it sensibly, but the doctor thought a program that was nothing short of cold turkey would be fine. Then I started at a new pain clinic, and low and behold that doctor's office called them and told them not to treat me with ANY oral narcotic medication and to examine me closely, as he thought I was lying about my pain and that its all in my head, I use it as an excuse to use drugs! I was LIVED! This doctor was not even supposed to know I was going to this clinic, he found out through my insurance, and I had STOPPED going to him! Guess I should have notified my insurance quicker that I dumped this primary care doctor. So naturally I don't like to "trouble" my doctor, I don't ask for increases of NOTHING because I'm afraid of looking like a junky (I've had a few years of good recovery, my "out on drugs" experience was very short lived, I only used for about 8 months before I got clean, I had a few relapses here and there, but those were over 2 years ago, I'm going strong in recovery, I DON'T even WANT to be high EVER AGAIN! I made that clear to all of my medical team doctors. Even my psyciatric doctors know this. So I felt so humiliated and I ended up going to a methadone program to get pain relief and hey, I got some great recovery tips and made connections with more support groups. I was there for about 6 months, they I found a doctor that does pain mgt. who was willing to treat me with a low dose of methadone, and other non-narcotic medications that work well for me. So, yes, I'm on methadone, not a large dose (well under 100mg), and I also take aleive, tylenol, and vitamins, and I was taking Lyrica but had a bad allergic reaction to Lyrica so I'm off of it now, and my doctor is thinking of another break-through medication for me. I may have to refuse oxycodone or hydrocodone if she offers it, as I truly believe it won't help much, I think the only thing that can be done to help me now since my pain has increased and I have quite a bit of time between now and when I start getting evaluated for surgery, I would say yes to a 20mg increase in my methadone temporarily, its better than taking other narcotics with methadone (which is a heavy narcotic itself). I love myself and have no problem telling people I have to take methadone for my pain syndromes otherwise I'd be in bed all the time, unable to move without help, and unable to dress myself without help, unable to shower or bathe without help, forget driving, walking, or any sort of physical exertion. I could not live like that anymore. I lived without proper pain management for 3 years after I hurt myself and the arthritis (which I inherited) started getting much worse. I lived in daily horrific pain, I missed 3 or more days of work per month, until I was "layed off". I was useless. I collected workman's comp and unemployment for about 6 months, I lost my insurance, so I found that the clinic was the only place I could kinda afford ($105 per day!!!!), and I would skip days to save money. I got one-on-one counseling there, my counselor told me that I didn't act like a lot of junkies that he sees. He felt sorry for me being in so much pain, but I was NOT allowed to use the words "chronic pain" around the clinic, I had to be there for methadone maintenance and recovery ONLY. I left after I found my wonderful doctor who only charges me $10 per visit. I am not ashamed anymore. I told her about those other doctors (my old primary care, my orthopaedic, and my old pain mgt. nurse practitioner). That NP at the last "fancy" pain clinic I went to, belittled me. He told me that I could not be trusted with pills (even if my mom held on to them for me and I took urines and pill counts for them), so he made me wear a Duragesic (fentanyl, a very strong narcotic in gel form in a patch that lasts 72 hours) and I was so allergic to it, it made the skin under the patch bubble and burn, then the patch would leak more medicine into my body then it was supposed to and I overdosed when he put me up from 25mcg to 50mcg, I told him this and he REFUSED to listen, and gave me the choice of leaving and finding another "sucker" to prescribe me "drugs" to abuse or if my pain is real, I'd stay there and suffer with the "minor" burns from the patch. He did x-rays and scans and he found more stuff wrong with me that I thought I had. I actually have 3 herniated disks (1 in my lower back and 2 in my neck), SEVERE bone spurs all over my facet joints up and down my spine impinging on nerves causing my legs to give out and go numb, and making my neck very stiff and painful, and the sacroiliac joint arthritis, as well as SEVERE narrowing of my spinal canal all the way from my tailbone to the base of my neck. I was devastated! I am only 31, what's going on? I exercised compulsively and ruined a lot of my spine and joints myself. Now my left knee is on the fritz from breaking it in the past a few times, so I need that cleaned out with a scope sometime soon (after I get my new insurance). I ultimately hope to NEVER have to take another narcotic medication (including methadone which has been a Godsend to me for the pain conditions I have) AGAIN after I get some procedures completed. Well, I wrote a really long and possibly boring response. But Chiy, you deserve as much pain relief and medically sound treatment as the next pain patient regardless of whether you were an addict in the past or not!!!! If you have a good program and good people supporting you in your program, you can utilize all of the best treatment options out there, even if it did come down to you having to take a chronic pain med that's narcotic just until you get surgery or heal through accupuncture or another intervention and do some PT. If you are worried about taking more than prescribed, HAND those pills OVER to someone you trust 100% and sign a contract with them stating that you will only be given the amount of pills you need for one given day at a time! That way you will NEVER be in possession of the whole prescription at once (even if your doctor gives you weekly prescriptions to fill to keep an eye on you on his/her end). That person could be a significant other, a mom or dad, a trusted SOBER friend, etc... They will be responsible to either lock the medication up where you can't get to it, or take it out of the house and store it in a safe locked area. My bf does that for me. I have NO clue where my methadone is. I only get what I need for each day. I stay honest but for people who can't, the medication needs to be off-site and locked away from where you can see it and so you don't even know where it is. Its fool-proof! Also your doctor can be extra-vigillant as well, he/she can have you in for random urine tests to see if you are being compliant, and he/she can have you in for random pill counts to see if you are taking the right amount, no more and no less. Break those rules and you lose the priviledge to have narcotics for pain relief, and must find a new clinic to take care of you. So I believe you Chiy would be fine, as you seem to have a solid number of years in recovery. Good luck to you and let us know what happens. I would be much happier for you if you got something non-addictive that worked totally awesome for you! Sorry for this being so long again! Good luck!

Love

Jaz