RE: AS HELL!! Now Foot Pain - ReA

[Guest guest]

,

I had surgery done on my right foot, to stop the constant pain and to

straighten out the toes. The surgeon removed a mass of tissue that was on the

top

of the ball of the foot. The joints were " fused " together, and 5 " long steel

rods were implanted (temporary) to straighten out the toes. In the end, the

toes went back to being all twisted, but the pain was reduced to where I wasn't

moaning while I (tried) to sleep. The Reiters, and my still working in a

factory the whole time, had damaged the bones to where they could not be " fixed "

with replacement joints. Today, I can't walk very well, and only as far as

from the car to the pharmacy counter. I am taking Methadone for the pain. I

prefer Oxycontin, but the price is too high, $320.00 per month. I hope this

answers any questions you have. Yours, Harv I'm 50! ReA 26 years

[Guest guest]

Harv,

Thanks for your input. Not to sound too graphic but, do you poop? I

have been taking 10mgs of Norco, 10mgs of Percodan, and Dilodid for pain......I

am having SERIOUS belly problems. I have the IBD that goes along with the

HLA-B27 but all of these narcs are really hard on the stomach and make it

IMPOSSIBLE to poop. I had some serious considerations today about going into

the ER today with my head hanging low then resorted to a fleets and that seemed

to take some of the uncomfortable feeling away but at this point, I NEVER want

to eat anything solid again.......Can one just live on pain meds alone?? This

is horrible!!

[Guest guest]

Hillary asked Harv,

Thanks for your input. Not to sound too graphic but, do you poop? I

have been taking 10mgs of Norco, 10mgs of Percodan, and Dilodid for pain......I

am having SERIOUS belly problems.

That was not too graphic at all. Just don't ask the question at the breakfast

or dinner hour.

Narcotic pain killers and other NSAIDs are constipating agents and the sooner

you get the problem worked out, it can be a rather nasty and explosive reaction.

I tend to have the explosive situation so rather than enema's I decided on a

daily dosage of Sodium Docusate, a stool softening agent. It works well, but if

they give you several doses of MagnoLax and you cannot get out of the bed there

are some rather large smelly projectiles a flyin. I like the docusate Sodium as

it is gentle and we pray it happens when we are awake rather than in a sleepy

stage..

I notice that now that the Olympians are moving home to their home countries,

the nasty H5N1 bird flu strain is in Italy, France and germany. Hopefully it

will get contained very quickly.

+Dave

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dave,

I really need to look into just starting on a stool softener. It would have

been pretty bad if I had to go to the ER for this problem.......you see... I

work at my local hospital and know everyone in there....It is just embarrassing.

Are all of these stool softeners over the counter? I made the mistake of taking

ex-lax for 3 days.....nothing. Then a fleets and I think I need to hire a

plumber to come and snake out the toilet...... My daughter referred to it as

" stinky " . At least my belly feels better now. Thanks again and God Bless you

and your family!

[Guest guest]

Hi Hillary

Back in the mid 60's I was s working on a research team that was looking to

improve a new emerging surgical proceedure to resupply heart tissue with blood,

the fore runner of the Bypass's we see routinely today.

The proceedure was called the Vineberg Proceedure and the research was taking

place between the Ottawa Civic Hospital and National Defense Military Centre in

Ottawa. A treatment team was put together for each patient, including physio,

and many other disciplines. All of a sudden I developed a Ganglion on my left

wrist which caused a problem. So the Junior Surgeon on the team was detailed to

excise the ganglion. When they found out that they could not use general

anesthesia they decided on an Axial Block and leave me awake. I should have

caught on to that one very quickly but I didn't.

This was well before the advent of Day Surgery and I lived across the road from

the Hospital. I checked in for processing on the Wednesday Evening. They

wheeled me into the OR and then the fun began. I have a bit of a reputation as

pratical joker, and everybody in the OR knew it.

The surgeon started injecting the freezing for the nerve block and had me

telling him when he touched upon a nerve running down my arms. Loverly if you

like you like your arm jumping up and down as he finds the nerve. When finished

the waited about 20 minutes, came back in, lifted my left arm up above my head

then let go of it. Neat way to check for sucess, drop your hand and with no

control it got my nose, darn that hurt.

As the disected their way through my wrist I heard the short fast footsteps of

the Chief of Surgery approaching the table. He peeked over the cloth drape said

" Hi " , hey, isn't this the clown that ran over my foot with a gurney last month.

My heart sunk. He was then giving me a running commentary on the surgeons

steps. I was watching it all as the drape to keep me from seeing anything

actually highlighted the shiny stainless steel in the Operating Rooms main

lights. Saw every little thing. Quite interesting watching them work. After

they did their work, they sent me back to the recovery room and I was discharged

later in the day.

My arm looked pretty well padded with pressure dressings and stuff. I went home

with the directions to take it easy for the weekend then come back to work on

Monday. Home, I looked forward to it. An 8 month daughter and a wife to look

after me. Ha!!! My wife called me to go into the kitchen and our dear sweat

daughter had crawled over and was right by my feet. Well, after getting

up off the floor, I had to go back over to the hospital and have the whole wound

re stitched.

But I still had my sense of humour as I told the Cheif of Surgery I liked his

work so much I had come for seconds and grinned.

To really understand the level of tension in an OR and the humour that goes with

it, you would have to have worked in one.

BTW in the ten Vineberg Proceedures I worked on the team we saved seven and lost

three.. We also found that if caught early enough a person could reverse some

of the damage to their hearts with an exercise regimen along with lifestyle

changes. One of my friends was accepted to the program and after 3 weeks of

preporatory work, exercise, change of diet, and he did not need the operation

and he is still alive today.

[Guest guest]

Hi :

The doctor told me to take stool softeners when taking codine pain pills, I also

take 2 tablespoons of Metamucil every day in juice before eating anything else.

this keeps me quite regular, and provides some fiber. I have found a big

difference in pain level based on what I choose to eat. Try meditation on

relaxing the muscles in gut, they are closely related to emotion. If you can

get pain reduction results from this, then try to s-l-o-w-l-y decrease the pain

pills. I also use Ultram for pain that dosn't cause constipation.

Thank-you,

danc5@...

[Guest guest]

Dewi,

That is truly an amazing story. Thanks for sharing with me. I have only been

a scrub for 3 years now and I have seen some pretty amazing things myself.

Especially when I worked for County. It is amazing how far we have come and how

many breakthroughs they make every day. This is why I cannot give up on hope of

a cure and I will participate in any studies that I can. 6 years ago, my

progression of AS was partial fusion T12 / L1 and my SI joints were cloudy.

When I applied to work at this new hospital, they insisted on taking x-ray and

me seeing a Orthopedic to make sure that it was in the best interest of the

hospital that I worked there............

Radiology report (after being diagnosed for 5 years and on Enbrel for 4 years)

was NO signs of SPONDYLARTHROPATIES.....Imagine that!! I really don't have AS.

I am still under the care of a Rheumatoligist who still has me on Enbrel who

is saying the report from my MRI is that the pain in my foot is from my

AS..........WOW....did I just go off on another tangent??

I just do believe that there are still modern medical miracles. I still have

hope of a cure. I hope that maybe... just maybe... the Enbrel is helping to

stop the progression of my disease and for others as well. Call it a

dream.....??

I really did appreciate your story.....I just had a " moment "

Hil

[Guest guest]

Thanks !! I have tried Ultram in the past and there was no relief for me.

Can I just say......I just started a large medrol dose 3 days ago and I actually

chased my 7 year old up the stairs...... Too bad they wont just put me on

steroids all the time... I know that there is all of the side effects....I have

dealt with those in the past... but I can poop......and I am not taking any

pain meds now for 2 days!!! jeeez. I feel like a " normal " 33 year old!! I

think this is too good to be true. I am going out dancing tonight.....I think I

will regret it tomorrow....??

Hil

"

[Guest guest]

Of course you got the regular, it can't be AS!!!!!!!! Your a woman!!!!!!!!!!!

Hillary.

Blessings

+Dave

[Guest guest]

Trust me you don't want the steroids.

Try papaya pills at your natural health food store or on the net.

Works like a charm.

Todd

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Stolla

Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 9:30 PM

Subject: Re: AS HELL!! Now Foot Pain - ReA

Thanks !! I have tried Ultram in the past and there was no relief for

me. Can I just say......

[Guest guest]

Todd....

I know that the steroids are bad. I cry everytime they tell me that they are

going to put me on a dose. The pain I have been in on this " flare up " beats all

others and when I can go 3 days (I am going to take something today because it

is coming back) without pain meds.....I don't know. I was Steroid dependant on

massive doses for about 4 years... All of my fingers are bent and all of my toes

as well...I know it does a number on your body but, on the big doses.....I have

hardly any pain... Which is the lesser evil??

Hil