Meadow2345

Open Back Pain

I've had lower back problems most of my life, and it's probably because of working at at desk for 40 years or so. There's some osteo, cervical spondolosis, scoloiosis, compression, arthritis, things that like. All combined, when "IT" rages, it's painful and am now working on finding out what causes IT to happen so I can deal with it better and move on with a life without pain.

Treatments

Acupressure Too Soon to Tell

I'll be starting accupuncture January 2009.

Acupuncture Not Working

Bedrest Somewhat Helpful

bedrest for lower back problems, in my personal case, causes more problems. It's hard to walk around 24 hours a day, but I force myself to get out of bed, off the couch and stretch those muscles.

Celebrex Working / Worked

I believe taking Celebrex is the sole reason for the sciatic pain to lessen.

Chiropractic Adjustment Not Working

I tried a Pain Management doctor, thinking oh the pain will go away because I'll get adjustments, massages AND meds. Well, I received adjustments and that was it. 3 weeks into the treatment, I left the office near tears in pain, went to my doctor and took my first pain prescription in 61 years.

Darvon Working / Worked

I had a 7 day supply and it worked. After the 7 days ended, the pain in my chest from my shoulder came back, along with the sciatica. I have a new prescription for Darvon and take 1 a day, but can take 1 every 6 hours. I'm taking it carefully. I want to be out of pain, but don't want other complications to show up making it a lifetime struggle.

Heat Working / Worked

I love using heating pads. It's easy to pop them in the microwave and then place them on my shoulder, lower back, and sometimes leg. But be careful, don't overcook them in the microwave, lol! You'll find out what happens if you do,

Ibuprofen Working / Worked

I would love to take Advil, but I have a hernia and have to be careful. So I take Naproxyn which is stronger, but take less of the Naproxyn than Advil, so it's a tiny bit better.

Naproxen Working / Worked

I took Naproxen years and years ago and it worked then. It is working again now since I started taking it this summer of 2008 for a few weeks, and again in Dec. 2008 because of pulled back and shoulder muscles. I hope to take it sparingly since it does bring out pain in my ribs because of my hernia.

Physical Therapy Working / Worked

When I first pulled my back, and also my sciatica became out of control, I went to a PT. The treatment was heat and some exercises. The exercises I just couldn't do, I couldn't bend, or raise my leg. So I tried another therapist, not much in the way of anything except my own exercises there and at home. I knew I could do better than this and asked around and found a great PT that does mild manipulations, massages, stretches, and of course prescribed exercises that I do at home religiously.

Stretching Working / Worked

works a lot.. with the right exercises, I'm getting less pain in my legs from the sciatica. The shoulder and chest muscles aren't as painful and I'm on the mend, YEAH!!!

TENS Working / Worked

I loved the TENS when I was in Europe for 6 months... they use that and deep massage religiously. I'd love to get my own machine, and just may one day since my PT doesn't use TENS. I'll ask his advice and if he says NO then it's no.

Open Psoriasis
Affected Areas: Psoriasis of the Skin

I've been looking thru this site because my husband and daughter both have Psoriasis and Psoriatic arthritis, though to different degrees. I know some about it, but not as much as I need to know and DS is helping so much.

Open Hiatal Hernia

I've had a hiatial hernia for over 10 years. Sometimes it acts up, especially if I drink too much coffee. Asprin is out, so is wine, they just make the hernia act up immediately.

Treatments

Nexium Working / Worked

I've been taking Nexium for 4 years and it works. I stopped for a while, but had to go back when my hernia became active again and will never stop this medicine.

Open Lung Cancer

Open Tuberculosis (TB)

when I was 20 or so, my job required x-rays done, my first. Heal marks from TB showed. I never knew I had TB (still don't actually). But family members in the late 1940's, around the time I was 1 or so, had TB and were in sanatariums. One aunt died from TB when she was 19. So a spot showed up on a routine x-ray because of some chest pain I've been having. It might be heal marks, or something that has to be checked further. I'm so not sure, that's for sure *s*

Open Chronic Pain

this is for my husband. He was prescribed Meloxicam for diabetes, or so he thought. After posting this, I'll do an online search for what it is excactly but also rely on DS'ers because you all know from 1st hand experience, and that's what matters most.

Open Hypothyroidism

Last March I had an ultra sound done on the carotid artery because my neuro doctor was concerned over my high cholesterol. She wanted to see if there was any justification to taking statins or not, and if there was plaque this would help. A nodule on my thyroid showed on the ultrasound and I went to an endo in April of 2008. He told me to wait a year to see if it grew.

Open Smoking Addiction & Recovery

I started smoking when I was about 13. Not much, but it was enough to give me chronic bronchitis and asthma. I didn't know back then that I had weakened lungs because of TB heal marks, and was very stupid as a kid. Even dumber as an adult because it took years to stop. But I did, and know without a doubt I wouldn't be writing this now if I hadn't stopped 25 years ago.

Treatments

Cold Turkey Working / Worked

My health was so bad, and I was only 25. It was the hardest thing I've done in life, and that's saying a lot. I had to reinforce the thought, I AM NOT A SMOKER constantly. The first day was the hardest.... of many efforts.... but finally did stop. Thank God!

Smoking Cessation Class Working / Worked

Years ago, this is around 1970, there wasn't much information about stopping smoking. But my mom and her friend, both heavy smokers, founder a seminar that we all attended. It relied heavily on the buddy system, which works, as long as you keep it up, along with the resolve to stop. The mind has to say it and mean it.

Open High Blood Pressure

Treatments

Cozaar Working / Worked

it's working so far. I had to up the dose to 100 mg from 50 recently. I'd sprained my back and shoulder and the pain probably brought it up. So once PT is over, I'll try halving it again with the doctor's ok though.

Open Lupus

2 friends have Lupus, and worry about them so am looking up what it involves.

Open Arthritis

My arthritis sort of flares up just at the same time my back gives out. Because of the hiatal hernia, I'm just very cautious about taking anti-inflammatories, but have to at some point to relieve the pressure and get back to normal. This is always at a price to my stomach though. I've joined this group to see how other's with the same problem are dealing with it also.

Open COPD & Emphysema

just checking out this site since I'm going thru a respiratory infection and learning about treatments

Open Peptic Ulcers

Open GERD & Heartburn

Open Gastritis

Open Diverticulitis

Open Rheumatoid Arthritis

I was looking up rib pain and came across this site

Treatments

Celebrex Working / Worked

I've taken Celebrex before but stopped when my hernia worsened. I'm back on it because of lower back pain and sciatica. It definitely helps but already feel a queasiness in my stomach which worries me because then it'll be another progrem, grrrr *s*

Crestor Working / Worked

Im so against taking any statins after going thru a terrible period when I couldnt hardly remember a thing. It was very embarassing at work mostly. But with 500 count in cholesterol I was bullied by my doctor and started on 10 mgs. I took it for 2 weeks and think I stopped because I didnt want to create more health problems and have this on the backburner.