lorelei29

Open Arthritis

A little over 4 years ago I went to my doctors for a routine exam and mentioned I was having pain in the fleshy area of my palm just below the thumb. She gave me Vioxx which took the pain away asap but we all know what happened to Vioxx. Fast forward to now. Advanced arthritis in both hands and possibility of surgery on the L hand if we cannot find any treatment to at least ease some of the pain. I am exhausted,depressed and desperate. Has anyone had surgery to "fix" their arthritis?

Treatments

Acupressure Somewhat Helpful

This along with mild electric stimulation during physical therapy gives relief for a couple days at a time

Glucosamine/Chondroitin Not Working

Took it but never felt it did anything.

Ibuprofen Working / Worked

Ibuprofen helps somewhat with the infalmmation especially after a bad day. But after a while it tears my stomach up so I stop using it for a while.

Naproxen Somewhat Helpful

Helped but cannot take presecrition dose due to hive-like side affect.

Tylenol Somewhat Helpful

Taking tylenol along with 2 tramadols help a bit, but I think the tramadol makes me too tired.

Zostrix Not Working

It did not do much of anything but set me back the few dollars it cost.

Open Back Pain

Back pain is just another ailment for me. I put it in the same class of arthritis since I have that too and the pain treatment I use for one works for the other. I have 2 wedge deformaties and a stress fracture on the mid to lower spine. After a long day it hurts the worse and all I can do is pop a pill, hot shower and lay down. Usually I feel better within an hour but it is usually a full day before I feel fine, for a while at least.

Treatments

Chiropractic Adjustment Somewhat Helpful

While the adjustments can't help the injuries getting the stress off my neck and shoulders and legs helps keep the back from hurting as much.

Flexeril Working / Worked

I have not used flexeril in ages as I only want to use something that will cover all bases in my pain mgmt. Before other things came into being the flexeril worked really well for my back. No side effects that I noticed.

Hydrocodone Working / Worked

I only take Norco in the evening or when I know I do not have to "function" outside the house. It handles pain very well but I turn into a goofball. I can't drive safely, forget about doing anything productive as it simply cannot be done. Vicodin is not as bad but does not help the pain as much, I know it is the same med but Norco is stronger, less tylenol, more drug.

Relaxation Somewhat Helpful

It works only if I am very tired. Resting too long can actually make it hurt worse, Sometimes, even though I still feel tired, I have to get up anyway.

Stretching Somewhat Helpful

Sometimes a few stretches that my dr showed me how to do help. At least they seem to relieve pressure and they help with the tightness or stiffness I feel.

TENS Considering

This is the treatment my Orthopedist wants to try for the arthritis in my hands, I am hoping that if it works there we can try it on my back. At least it isn't a drug. I am willing to try just about anything at this stage of the game, I am too young to feel this bad.

Open Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

I started having hand pain about 5 years ago now. I got bounced around from dr to dr as no one would committ to any one diagnosis. So after many tests, many drs visits, x-rays, mri's etc it was finally determined (after nerve tests) I had CT in both hands. I still have arthritis in both hands in the same place, the lower joint below the thumbs. So I am still working on trying to get some relief whatever way I can.

Treatments

Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery Working / Worked

Had 1 done in Nov and second one Feb. The first one is fairly well healed but still get "twinges" of pain when I work my hands too hard but the radiating pain I had from it is gone and I can grasp well again. The 2nd CT is healing a bit slower. It was worse and my age most likely has something to dow ith that. It is still sore, and gets tired faster than other hand. On bad days I wear my hand splints and that helps so much. Scar on 1st hand barely visible, other hand geting better each day.

Chiropractic Adjustment Somewhat Helpful

I was getting adjustments on my hands until a month or so before my CT surgery. It helped a lot at first but as time went by the good it did got less and less until I decided it was not worth the time nor money. But it did help in the beginnins.

Ibuprofen Working / Worked

When my hands get tired and sore the ibuprofen or aleve does help. I do not like to take too much as it tears my stomach up but I find relief.

Wrist Splint Working / Worked

Even after the CT surgery my hands will get very tired and feel weak so I put on the little hand splints I have and it helps a lot. I wear them at night when I sleep so I can't clench my fists. If I am going to be driving a lot I wear them then too. It is kind of funny since these same splints did not help much before the surgery but they do now. Maybe they should market them as "after surgery" splints.

Massage Working / Worked

I was advised by my surgeon to massage the incision area as much as possible to speed healing keeping the surgery site inside flexed and to warm the area. I use a dab of Coconut Oil and rub away. Now that I have both hands to do I use the method of palm against palm. It also helped a lot in the early days of healing by keeping the skin soft and flexible so the scaring was as minimal as could be. I also flex my hands as much as I can to keep them fluid.

Heat Somewhat Helpful

Before the surgery I would use a gel facial mask and heat it and apply it to the sore areas and that seemed to loosen things up and soothed it for a while. Especially during the winter when it was cold

Open Breakups & Divorce

I am married to a man I have been with for over 18 years. Right now I am seriously thinking of leaving him, at least temporarily but finances probably will not make it possible. He suffers from depression and will not seek any kind of help. I also am BP and the last several weeks it just has gotten so bad I can barely stand to be around him. I asked him straight out today if he would like me to move out and he says why? Because I am sad and unhappy.

Treatments

Leave Considering

Sometimes I just leave the hosue for a while, feel better and ready to come back to try to talk things over but it just starts back again.

Love Considering

I tell him I miss him, I tell him things are different but we can still be a good couple but I cannot do it alone

Music Somewhat Helpful

When I feel sad or unhappy I use music to help me relax but I cannot listen 24/7

Pets Somewhat Helpful

So I hold my cats paw at night and she rests her head on my hand. It is comforting but she is a CAT LOL

Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful

I go to therapy alone, talk with therapist about stuff and try his advice but hubby thinks I am wasting time

Reading Working / Worked

Support from Friends & Family Considering

I have not said anything to anyone but am considering talking to husbands son, maybe he can let his dad know how bad things really are and maybe he can convince him to go to therapy with me or alone

Support Groups Somewhat Helpful

Journaling to DS helps me an awful lot, I get feedback and I can vent and say stuff that may hurt him but he is not knowing what I say. I do not get judged, some feedback is good...just support helps

Talking Somewhat Helpful

Depends on who I talk to. Therapist helps, I gripe to the kids but they have their own troubles. Sometimes I think husband listens but sometimes in one ear and out the other

Time Too Soon to Tell

Maybe if we can just weather what is going on right now things will get better. it never was GRAND but never been like this.

Open Prostate Cancer

Today we learned my husband has prostate cancer. He will be having treatment as soon as possible. We have no idea what kind yet. I am hoping to find answers, ask questions and get some good old fashioned advise and support here.

Open Menopause

I am now about 3 years PostMenopause.It is now almost as miserbale as the premenopause or whatever they call it now. I was fine, no problems until the last year when little by little I started getting pain and irritation after my husband and I had sex. So My dr gave me estrogen creams and told meit was normal and just to take it easy. Well, recently my husband was dx with prostate cancer and since this can lead to impotence he decided to stock up which caused injury to me. I am hurtingangry now.

Treatments

Estrogen Cream Somewhat Helpful

It seems to be helping me heal,I feel somewhat better but the outer vaginal area is still sore and now itchy as Hell

Open Financial Challenges

My hubby is disabled and has a decent BUT fixed income. I don't work due to severe arthritis in hands and now in back but am trying to find SOMETHING I can do. We have bills just like everyone else and it is hard finding ways to stretch those nicles and dimes. I am learning new ways to even save 10$ a month, I recycle what we have but actually save by simply not buying sodas etc. I do not make fun of anyone who is finding ways to make an extra buck or 2.

Treatments

Budgeting Somewhat Helpful

I can do it, it is my husband who I am having trouble with...he just doesn't get it YET

Cut Up Credit Cards Somewhat Helpful

Even though I cannot run up credit now I am still paying off old credit but at least I am not creating new.

Debt Consolidation Not Working

Tried it once. Did not work as promised, payed my payments yet no one reduced any fees, interest or whatever else they promised. The company got a fee but i got little in return.

Filing for Bankruptcy Considering

If all else fails I will consider this. I am not even sure if we owe enough to even qualify. I would have to really search out every creditor and that includes utilities. Did it after a divorce many years ago but I had to, medical bills I was stuck with that in no way could I ever ever pay off.

Holding a Garage Sale Considering

I am seriously considering Craigs List to sell some very good items (mostly unused) we have in our sheds. I don't want a yard sale as I am wary of people coming to my home and seeing what else I may have to "get" free later on when I am not here.