pain control

[Guest guest]

Joy,

I'm a member who has recently rejoined the list and though I have been

interested in asking questions and responding to other posts, I have yet to take

the time, but your post really reached out to me, especially since I have

similar problems and I saw no one else has responded to your questions as of

yet. I will share with you what I can and hope I can help you some.

I was diagnosed with PA in 1990 and fibro in 2002, but of course probably had

them for much longer. For me their is a noticeable difference in pain from the

PA and the fibro. The PA pain for me is mainly joint pain whereas the fibro

pain is more muscle pain. My fibro pain is in the muscles in my legs, back of

my shoulders and going up the muscles of my neck to the middle of my head. When

it hits my legs its shooting pains up and down with a constant ache. When it

hits my shoulder (mostly right one) and neck is when I'm having a stressful day

or a stressful moment. When it gets real bad in this area it will feel like my

neck is completely locked up and the muscles will be very tense and rock hard.

If its real bad, once it lets up it can feel like I have had a cramp in that

muscle and it will ache for days afterwards, this is both in the neck and legs.

What I do for pain control is when it first hits I will do hot packs and some

stretching exercises I have learned in physical therapy. The exercises I have

learned from therapist have helped alot. My first physical therapist also

happened to be a chiropractor so he would do some massaging and adjusting on me

which made me feel amazing for a hour or so after our sessions. If it is near

my bedtime I will take a flexril (muscle relaxer) which helps but makes me very

tired. Sometimes one 10mg tablet will take care of it, but there have been

times where I have had to take two. In addition to this I have been lucky

enough to get my insurance to pay for massage therapy as long as it is done in a

physical therapy clinic.

I also go to a pain management doc who has been able to help alot too. There

are some pain medications that don't have codeine in them that may benefit you.

I have used neurotin (sp?) before which helps with nerve pain that helped some,

but it sometimes made me very sleepy, but try it, it may help you too. I also

have lidocaine patches that I can put anywhere I have experiencing pain. I can

wear up to 3 patches at a time for 12 hours a day. It kind of numbs the area

where I'm having pain, but sometimes I still feel pressure when it is a very bad

day. These have been a Godsend for me as of late since I can't take pain meds

like I used to because I'm 8.5 months pregnant with my first child.

I sure do hope you feel better soon, I so know where you are and how your

feeling, especially now since I'm so close to the end of my pregnancy and

flaring so bad. Try to get some physical therapy that can give you massage

therapy too. If you aren't with a pain management doc (wasn't clear to me from

your post if you were or not) I would encourage you to do that because they are

aware of more things then just your regular rheumy. I'm sending some positive

vibes your way! Hang in there!

[Guest guest]

I just returned from picking Wiggles up after her grooming

appointment. After I paid for services, I sat down and waited for the

groomers to bring her out.

It was then I noticed a new sign up at the Vetinarian's office in

plain sight, in large letters on the counter. It read " We realize

your loved one is in pain and will do everything possible to

administer appropriate medications and keep your pet comfortable

while we proceed with diagnosis " .

I was struck by that. How great it would be if our HUMAN docs had

this philosophy? And humans that we are, we can certainly speak

English and say we're in pain. The Vetinary patients can't verbally

do this in English, so it seems that Vets have 'other clues', well

and the 'crying' dogs do.

Anyway, just an observation, but I still feel Vetinary Medicine can

teach human medicine much. Like in my former ramblings on end-of-life-

care, and more. My Vetinarian for Wiggles is the kindest, most

compassionate woman I know. I'd almost rather go to her for MY health

needs than my Internist and I told her so!

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Hi Crystal,

I'm sorry that I don't have the info that you are looking for. I'm

sure you will get many responses to help in that matter. If you

have lymes I suggest that you do not listen to the well meaning

people that are telling you to go get pregnant so you could get

assistance. That is a really bad idea as you probably already know.

I t has been known that lymes at certain stages can be passed

through childbirth to the fetus and noone would want for that for

anyone. Just thought I would mention that. Someone correct me if I am

wrong.

Thanks,

On Jan 30, 2008, at 10:24 AM, Crystal wrote:

> I was wondering if any of you know of a pain control medication that

> works and will continue to work. I have migraine like pain with

> additional stabs of pain every day. I've been on Ultram ER for about 6

> months and it worked great, but I think it is wearing off now. I

> started counting my stabs of pain again and it's as bad as it was a

> year ago, 116 in one day, this morning 24 in 1/2 an hour (worst ever).

>

> Also does anyone know of any help for medical costs? I'm an unemployed

> adult with no children so I don't know of any programs I qualify for.

> I actually had people suggest that I go out and get pregnant so that I

> would qualify for medical assistance. I'm starting the process to

> apply for disability but I'v heard that they are 3 years behind on

> applications and I at least need help until then.

> Thank you

> Crystal

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

There were two issues of the Lyme Times, a journal

about tick-borne disease, on pain control. Please

email me privately if you would like to know how to

obtain copies.

Marisa

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[Guest guest]

I take Topomax for migraines and it's really been helping me. Penni

Re: [ ] Pain control

Hi Crystal,

I'm sorry that I don't have the info that you are looking for. I'm

sure you will get many responses to help in that matter. If you

have lymes I suggest that you do not listen to the well meaning

people that are telling you to go get pregnant so you could get

assistance. That is a really bad idea as you probably already know.

I t has been known that lymes at certain stages can be passed

through childbirth to the fetus and noone would want for that for

anyone. Just thought I would mention that. Someone correct me if I am

wrong.

Thanks,

On Jan 30, 2008, at 10:24 AM, Crystal wrote:

> I was wondering if any of you know of a pain control medication that

> works and will continue to work. I have migraine like pain with

> additional stabs of pain every day. I've been on Ultram ER for about 6

> months and it worked great, but I think it is wearing off now. I

> started counting my stabs of pain again and it's as bad as it was a

> year ago, 116 in one day, this morning 24 in 1/2 an hour (worst ever).

>

> Also does anyone know of any help for medical costs? I'm an unemployed

> adult with no children so I don't know of any programs I qualify for.

> I actually had people suggest that I go out and get pregnant so that I

> would qualify for medical assistance. I'm starting the process to

> apply for disability but I'v heard that they are 3 years behind on

> applications and I at least need help until then.

> Thank you

> Crystal

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would like a copy, please. Thanks, Penni

[ ] Re:Pain control

There were two issues of the Lyme Times, a journal

about tick-borne disease, on pain control. Please

email me privately if you would like to know how to

obtain copies.

Marisa

__________________________________________________________

Be a better friend, newshound, and

know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

[Guest guest]

Crystal,

There is a thing called Adult Basic Insurance, it is like the same thing as

CHIP but for adults, they have a long waiting list but if your state offers

it, then you should apply ASAP.I was also denied medical assistance for the

fact that I was getting disability insurance payments which were over their

income guidelines. The income guidelines are higher if you can proof

disability. They did not consider me disabled since Social Security turned me

down the

first time. i am now waiting for an appeal hearing. I used to joke around

too saying gee if I got pregnant now I would get insurance. This is pretty

pathetic. I did end up qualifying for 5 month of temporary Medical Aid after

a $22,000 hospital bill and the hospital applied on my behalf, since they

wanted the money. If you are really desperate you may also have to start

getting ER care or something to have visible high bills to make you eligible.

I

think it is really ridiculous that sick people like us have to struggle so hard

to get help.

Dagmar

(former Healthcare Employee fired for illness.)

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

[Guest guest]

HI Crystal,

I have been fighting with Lyme, Babesia and

Bartonella for almost two years. I started out with a

migraine type headache that I had for six months

straight(no joke), and then transitioned literally

overnight to incredible joint and muscle pain. The

bad news is that my pain meds have changed many times.

The good news is that there are pain meds that can be

very effective. For the migraine, I used typical

migraine meds, any of the four triptans, which are

Relpax, Maxalt, Imitrex, and I can't remember the

fourth one, anyway these have been very helpful when

combined with pain meds such as vicodin, methadone,

oral morphine sulphate, and dialauid. The issue with

the pain meds is that you have to find a provider

willing to prescribe schedule 2 narcotics, which the

methadone and morphine both are. I had to go to an

actual pain management clinic to get really effective

help. Also, I am also a single unemployed adult with

no children, and so finding financial aid can be

tricky but by no means impossible. First off, I get

almost all of my medications, even the pain and

migraine meds as well as all of my treatment meds

through patient assistant programs through the actual

pharmeceutical companies. The easiest way to do this

is to go to Needymeds.com and look up, alphabetically,

meds you are taking and you will be able to download

the actual applications to send in. I have been

approved for all of my meds because I am unemployed,

and have no insurance. So in that way, I am really

better off than a lot of people with insurance who

have to make copays, when I can get my meds for free.

As for the health insurance piece, I have always

been able to find local programs, usually through a

hospital or medical group, that offer financial aid to

people without an income or insurance. It depends on

where you live, but I found great coverage through the

University of New Mexico hospital when I lived in

Albuquerque, New Mexico. Now I live in Oregon, about

60 miles east of Portland, and have gotten financial

aid through Providence, which is our local hospital,

that totally covers tests(MRI's , CT scans), blood

draws and tests, doc appointments etc.... All free!

Granted, it has taken me a long time to figure all of

this out, but help is out there if you are savvy

enough to find it.

Kelsey

P.S.Do not get pregnant!

P.P.S. If you need any further help, support or

encouragement, I would be happy to assist in any way I

am able.

--- Crystal <beadgirl_1981@...> wrote:

> I was wondering if any of you know of a pain control

> medication that

> works and will continue to work. I have migraine

> like pain with

> additional stabs of pain every day. I've been on

> Ultram ER for about 6

> months and it worked great, but I think it is

> wearing off now. I

> started counting my stabs of pain again and it's as

> bad as it was a

> year ago, 116 in one day, this morning 24 in 1/2 an

> hour (worst ever).

>

> Also does anyone know of any help for medical costs?

> I'm an unemployed

> adult with no children so I don't know of any

> programs I qualify for.

> I actually had people suggest that I go out and get

> pregnant so that I

> would qualify for medical assistance. I'm starting

> the process to

> apply for disability but I'v heard that they are 3

> years behind on

> applications and I at least need help until then.

> Thank you

> Crystal

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their advice. Don't worry I have no

plans to get pregnant just to get coverage, I was just saying that

because in the town I use to live in, that was very common. I think it

is stupid and wrong, I knew one lady who when she realized that her

health insurance would end in a year or so when the last kid was 18 she

went out and got pregnant again just so she would not loose the

assistance she had.

Does anyone else have the problem of pain meds wearing off after about

6 months?

Now I need to get back to trying to find a lyme doctor here. I had

just found a great one when the house sold the day before it was going

to be taken off the market.