We're on Facebook!
Check out our page!
DS Store is Open
DS t-shirts and more
Advertisement
  • About Me

    Image of Caren28

    Caren28

    Female, 29, Married
    Seattle, WA, USA
    Member since July 1, 2008

    • About Me

      I'm 29 and live in Seattle WA, with my wonderful partner and two cats. I have a master's degree in public health and work at a low-income children's clinic. I was just diagnosed with RA and also have nerve damage due to severe spinal stenosis.

      I'm 29 and live in Seattle WA, with my wonderful partner and two cats. I have a master's degree in public health and work at a low-income children's clinic. I was just diagnosed with RA and also have nerve damage due to severe spinal stenosis.

  • Recent Activity

    Recently:

    • 1 journal post

    Tuesday

    • Caren28 wrote a journal entry: Flare- week2 6:18pm

      This si week 2 of my latest RA flare. This is the first time I've had significant shoulder problems,…  
    • Caren28 and carolinebelle are now friends 11:48am

    November 16

    November 12

  • Journal

    • Flare- week2

      Mood November 17, 2009 6:18pm

      This si week 2 of my latest RA flare.  This is the first time I've had significant shoulder problems, and it sucks!  There's just …
    • This entry is private

    • This entry is private

    Read Journal

  • Hugbook

    Give Caren28 a hug



    • Hug

      From misababy October 15

      hi caren!

      i just read your reply post to bothsidesnow on the chronic pain board, and i'm also 28 (about to turn 29) in a similar situation to you - not the same exact injuries, but the not knowing when the pain will be so bad that you can't keep your plans, so on ... it's so awful, huh? and people might think they get it, and some might, but others truly don't. it's everyone could be as spontanious as i have to be now, life would be perfect! or, if every doctor experienced my pain for one hour, one time, ever. it's crazy.

      i'm sorry to ramble and run, but i have to get going ... if you'd like to chat, please message me - i'd love to hear more about your situation and what you're going through. have a great day!

      xoxo, misa

    Read Hugbook

  • Support Groups

    • Close Rheumatoid Arthritis

      I'm 28 and live in Seattle, WA. I was just diagnosed with RA after about 2 months of pain and swelling in my hands, wrists, hips and knees. Also have long history of back pain and nerve damage to feet due to severe spinal stenosis. I work full-time and am hoping to keep that up as long as possible (both for the money and to save my sanity!). I have a wonderful supportive family and group of friends.

      Treatments

      Prednisone Somewhat Helpful
      Have been on 20mg/day for the past week. Brought swelling down but still hurting. Doc decreasing dose to 5mg/day.
      Plaquenil Too Soon to Tell
      no help so far, but no side effects either.
    • Close Chronic Pain

      I'm 28 and live in Seattle. I had cauda equina syndrome 6 years ago (too much pressure on the nerves at the base of my spine caused damage to the nerves that go to my bladder and legs). Surgery fixed the bladder issue (hooray) but left me with low back pain and no feeling in my feet except for burning, shooting electrical pain. Recently I've developed signs of rheumatopid arthritis, (dull, achy pain and swelling in my hands, wrists, elbows, knees and hips).

      Treatments

      Heat Working / Worked
      Hydrocodone Working / Worked
      helps with arthritis and back pain but not nerve pain.
      Marijuana Working / Worked
      Helps calm me down when pain is very intense, helps with sleep.
      Methadone Not Working
      Made me so sick! Constant nausea and crazy swings in mood and energy levels.
      Morphine Not Working
      I was on daily oral morphine for over a year. When I tapered off it, I realized it really hadn't been helping- opioids are not very effective for neuropathic pain.
      Naproxen Not Working
      Neurontin Working / Worked
      Works wonders for me. I take 1200mg 3x/day.
      Pamelor Working / Worked
      works as an addition to Neurontin helps decrease breakthrough nerve pain
    • Open Arthritis

      I'm 28 and live in Seattle with my wonderful partner. I have imflammatory arthritis in my hips, knees, elbows, wrists and many finger joints. Just started treatment a few months ago.

      Treatments

      Anti-Inflammatory Diet Not Working
      I couldn't really keep up with this, but I am trying to limit nightshade plants and wheat.
      Ibuprofen Somewhat Helpful
      works ok, but my stomach can't tolerate it.
      Naproxen Not Working
      Surgery, Knee Replacement Somewhat Helpful
      I had spinal surgery to relieve stenosis that was compressing the nerve that control bowel/bladder function. Did work, but left scar tissue that has caused a lot of pain.
      Swimming Working / Worked
      Helps a lot! Even on a really bad day, everything feels better in the pool. Sometimes I just walk laps instead of swimming them.
  • Groups

  • Friends


Advertisement
Content on DailyStrength.org is for informational purposes only. We do not provide any medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. More info
Portions of support group and treatment information provided by Wikipedia under the GNU FDL license
Copyright 2006-2009, DailyStrength, Inc. All rights reserved.
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Report Abuse | HSW International | HSW China | HSW Brazil