Guest guest Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Dear Liz, Did your doctor know you had EN, or did he misdiagnose it (as so many doctors do)? As I said, I only got the bedrest because I simply WASN'T able to get out of bed due to the pain and flulike symptoms including malaise. Some online articles give bedrest as the first treatment to use--and they do state that one is to stay in bed, if at all possible, for the length of the flare-up. However, several online articles don't even mention bedrest, and this, I think, is an omission. Maybe this is due to the fact that most patients are not able to afford to take off time from work, and so treatment concentrates on pain meds instead of natural bedrest. If I had known I would have stayed in bed until the EN totally subsided, which took a few more weeks as I recall. I needed the money from my summer job, but it was sure not worth a lifetime of flare-ups. :-( Love, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 I think docs just don't like that treatment anymore, or are finding that it's " old hat. " I have a 'for instance': My back went out when the twins were 2 years old (13 years ago, YIKES!) My doc put me to bed with pain killers for 3 days! The second time it went out a year or so later, he didn't put me to bed . . . he said it wasn't recommended anymore . . . need to keep the muscles moving. I don't doubt for a minute that that's what's going on in the medical community across the 'illness/injury' board. It's probably not taught anymore in the med schools. Maybe, as more and more docs are finding out NOW, some of the 'old school' stuff IS the best medicine!! My UCONN doc was ready to put me to bed for a week the first time I saw her with the EN, and she continues to tell me that she will any time I'm ready! But the " have to work " tends to win out . . . not because I love it, but for financial reasons. That, and sick days follow you wherever you go . . . not good. imo =) M > > Dear Liz, > > Did your doctor know you had EN, or did he misdiagnose it (as so many > doctors do)? As I said, I only got the bedrest because I simply WASN'T > able to get out of bed due to the pain and flulike symptoms including > malaise. > > Some online articles give bedrest as the first treatment to use--and > they do state that one is to stay in bed, if at all possible, for the > length of the flare-up. However, several online articles don't even > mention bedrest, and this, I think, is an omission. Maybe this is due > to the fact that most patients are not able to afford to take off time > from work, and so treatment concentrates on pain meds instead of > natural bedrest. > > If I had known I would have stayed in bed until the EN totally > subsided, which took a few more weeks as I recall. I needed the money > from my summer job, but it was sure not worth a lifetime of flare- ups. :-( > > Love, > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Dear M and Group, Your theory on the " new school of medical thought " is probably right, M. That, however is a real disservice to the patient. If a patient is lucky enough (?) to be diagnosed correctly with EN when they get it the first time, they should be informed that the old way to treat it is with bedrest for the duration, and that if they don't adhere to that, they may run the risk of reoccurrances that may last a lifetime. If members wish to read the best Link I have ever found on EN it is: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/DOJvol8num1/reviews/enodosum/requena.html and in part states: ******** Treatment of erythema nodosum should be directed to the underlying associated condition, if identified. Usually, nodules of erythema nodosum regress spontaneously within a few weeks, and bed rest is often sufficient treatment. However while searching our links for info on bedrest as a treatment, I must say that I came upon many where it was omitted altogether. ;-( This link also states: Most cases of erythema nodosum regress spontaneously in 3-4 weeks. More severe cases require about 6 weeks to resolve. Relapses are exceptional, but they are more common in patients with idiopathic erythema nodosum and erythema nodosum associated with nonstreptococcal or streptococcal upper respiratory tract infections. ******* My thoughts are that " idiopathic " simply means the cause has not been found, not that there is none. I think if every known cause of EN were tested for, fewer of us would be thrown into the very convenient and all too common " idiopathic " category. In my opinion, that way of thinking is " old school " . Wishing Everyone a Painfree and Happy Day! Love, > > > > Dear Liz, > > > > Did your doctor know you had EN, or did he misdiagnose it (as so > many > > doctors do)? As I said, I only got the bedrest because I simply > WASN'T > > able to get out of bed due to the pain and flulike symptoms > including > > malaise. > > > > Some online articles give bedrest as the first treatment to use--and > > they do state that one is to stay in bed, if at all possible, for > the > > length of the flare-up. However, several online articles don't even > > mention bedrest, and this, I think, is an omission. Maybe this is > due > > to the fact that most patients are not able to afford to take off > time > > from work, and so treatment concentrates on pain meds instead of > > natural bedrest. > > > > If I had known I would have stayed in bed until the EN totally > > subsided, which took a few more weeks as I recall. I needed the > money > > from my summer job, but it was sure not worth a lifetime of flare- > ups. :-( > > > > Love, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2004 Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 It would be so easy for me to give up and stay in bed all the time. But me, and all of you have to remember that we still have to have some kind of life. We hardly ever get what we want. But what we need, we can usually get. Love to all Jim aka Sponge Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2004 Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 " Did your doctor know you had EN, or did he misdiagnose it (as so many doctors do)? " My doctor diagnosed my EN from the beginning, but she said that there was nothing that could be done for it. I don't think she ever had any other EN patients. She then sent me to a dermatologist when I asked for a second opinion, and he said the same thing. So, I suffered in pain for 9 or so months. That was around 1995/6. My second flare happened in, I guess 1998 and by that time, I was moving and went to a doc who knew more about it. He prescribed first Indocin and then Prednisone. He knew a lot more and sent me to the other " gamut of doctors " that we see. But no one said bedrest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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