awww im rly sorry. no experience of arthritis but depressions awful - n arthritis on top of that - i can imagine thats horrible 4 u.xx

My mother in law suffers bad arthritis. I can't begin to imagine yuor pain with depression too. I look at her face and see the pain. You just have to keep going back to the doctor until they listen and act. xx

Oh my goodness! I have fibromyalgia and depression. The pain is a constant and I get so down when I feel this way. Im sorry your suffering right now.

We're on the same page -- add in arthritis, nerve damage and a sleep disorder and I'm freakin' fabulous.

Managing/coping with pain just doesn't make sense to me. A life of pain -- no thanks.

At any rate, I have scheduled another mental health assessment this week -- just looking for solutions. Add in a full time job and well, I think you can relate.

Most of the meds have side effects for me and have all sorts of oddities in my blood work, so they aren't as helpful.

(Kidneys and liver are still good though!)

*hand mops perspiration at the brow, saying "phew!"*

Perhaps there is something else you can try that may work better than prescription analgesics.

I have arthritis and use homeopathic medicine when it flares up, particularily an herb called Devil's Claw. It acts as an anti-inflammatory. You can also use glucosamine sulfate and chondroiton to help repair the damaged cartilage and Omega 3-6-9 helps keep the joints lubricated. Also epsom salt baths help draw out the pain and flush it away.

I waited 3 years to get into the pain clinic for my back pain. The shots they give me stopped working. Yesterday I had to take morphine, which is a rarity. I was steady on morphine for years and that didn't cover the breakthrough pain, even with the valium. I use it every day and have for years, it helps the pain and the anxiety too. But there is always the breakthrough pain. Had a near fatal car wreck. Now My left arm has been bothering me. It was the right arm that broke, so I was thinking I overused my left arm but I am going to have to have it assessed I feel like it might be the dreaded arthritis or inflamed rotator cuff because it seems to be getting worse as the weather is changing.
I've been in pain for a long time. I am too lazy or depressed to use the tens unit which gives some relief. I have all these creams and massagers and heating pads. After a while I get tired trying and just take the darn morphine so I can get some pain free sleep. My husband is so tired from work when he does come home I feel guilty asking him to rub me anymore. Pain does interfere with intimacy also. If I weren't here for threads like this I would feel so much worse. I can relate to your pain, I have metal in my right arm and my vertebrae is fusing together at the coccyx from lack of exercise. I cannot take NSAIDS but when I took Celexa for a bit, it did help somewhat. I take glucosamine chondroitin too everyday and fish oil. I've tried everything. Have you any epsom salts? A nice hot salt bath helps somewhat too. And prayer. I pray that you find some relief. I pray that you can stand up to your doctors and get more pain relief from them. It's a viscious cycle, pain and depression, they each make the other worse. Thanks for listening and try some other way for now to get more relief.

I know how you feel- I have Lymes disease and add the depression to that....