Guest guest Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 --- Silverbells2006@... wrote: > As of right now he is in so much pain that he cannot > tolerate it. His joints > have all swelled, turned red and he cant bend his > fingers. He is taking apx > 20 Tylenol a day and has gotten some prescription > painkillers from a friend > to use at night and he only gets about 2 hrs of > sleep per night because of the > pain. Hi Debbie You're friend is fortunate to have someone who cares, and is helping him join a support group. I'm very sorry that he has 2 types of arthritis, plus lymphoma. I'm surprised that his physician didn't start him on an anti-inflammatory drug such as Ibuprofen. Maybe it is contraindicated, so I am not suggesting he take it without an okay from his physician. Tylenol, can help with pain, but it cannot help with inflammation. Both of the types of arthritis he has cause inflammation in his joints. Too much Tylenol can cause liver damage. He should never take more than 2 extra strength (1,000 mg or 1 gm) 4 times each day. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is also in many, many over the counter products. Please help him read the labels carefully. It isn't wise to take someone else's prescription medication, but make sure that there isn't already Tylenol in it. Adding an additional 20 Tylenol, generic named acetaminophen, here in the states is in many narcotics. It is already in Lortabs, (hydrocodone), Percocet, (oxycodone), Darvocet, (propoxyphene), and Tylenol #3 (acetaminophen plus codeine), just to name a few common narcotics used here in the states. Anti seizure medications such as Lyrica, or Tegretol can help with arthritis pain. Antidepressants can help with sleep. Medications such as Klonopin, Valium or Ativan, can help with all the anxiety pain causes. The Duragesic patch might irritate his skin. There is also many drugs other than the DMARDS, such as corticosteroids, but all those decrease the immune system. Please help your friend contact his physician immediately for his own prescription pain relief. Shame on his physician for not prescribing adequate pain relief already. Please help him contact his physician today. If he can stand to wear gloves for warmth, that might help. There are also inserts you can put in gloves that make them warmer for up to 7 hours. I believe there are feet warmers too. Welcome to the group. I wish you and your friend the very best. I'm sorry his immune system is wrecking havoc in his body. Kaylene Moderator Here is a good site about Psoriatic Arthritis http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/psoriatic_arthritis.asp Here are several sites about Rheumatoid Arthritis http://www.medicinenet.com/rheumatoid_arthritis/page4.HTML http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/RA/ra_treatments1.asp http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rheumatoidarthritis.html Kaylene Moderator __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Hi Debbie, What a nice friend to try and help. I feel sorry for your friend knowing how he feel myself. My hands are not as bad as your friens but I have gone to a rhumy and not had much success. I was put on folic acid, methatrexate and relefin. No of which helped. I do not have rhumatoid arthritis. It is some kind of inflammatory and I have a very hard time with my hands too. It has not affected any other part of my body, but your hands are enough. Every dr. that just looks at my hands thinks I have rhumatoid, but all the test come back inflammatory. The dr. suggested embrel and I told him NO. I take enough meds. for a broken back that healed wrong. I wish you the best of luck with your friend, and hope all turns out well. And welcome to our little group. donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 HE did mention Methatrexate to me and it was either that he was on that also or that he asked about it and the Dr. didn't want to give it to him. There was one medication that his own dr had given someone and they actually died from it. I wish I could remember which one it was. But the Embrel is just as dangerous in my oppinion. Im glad you said no when they offered it to you. Some drugs should not have been approved by the FDA because the risks are too severe. I know there are side effects for almost everything but some are just not worth it. Deb Donna B. wrote: The dr. suggested embrel and I told him NO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Thank you Kaylene. My friend, his name is , he does not want to take so many Tylinol but the pain is so severe. The doctors (he is seeing 3, his internist, the rheumotoligst (sp?), and the surgeon), they all wouldn't give him anything because they dont know if the Embrel caused the tumors in my friends face. They said that after the tumors are removed (April 5th) then they can give him pain killers and medication for the arthritus. They do not know if he has lymphoma yet, the biopsy came back inconclusive and they will know for sure when they remove them, we are praying they are not. So in the meantime my friend is suffering so badly. I am wondering if acupuncture would help? Has anyone ever tried that? Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Hey Debbie, For one thing, taking 20 tylenol (assuming they are extra-strength) is 10 grams of tylenol per day. That is 21/2 times the max dose. He needs to get to a pain clinic to get on non-Apap meds. That much tylenol is worse than narcotic pain meds. All I can say is quit the tylenol and go Dr. shopping until you can find one that believes the need is legit. Good luck, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Moderator's Note: Please remember to trim your posts prior to sending them in to the group. Also Trim the previous post that you are replying to, down to one or two lines so that your reply ties into that post. Thanks for your help. Welcome, I cannot believe that they took him off ALL painkillers. That poor man needs some relief! Goodness, those doctors sound heartless to say the least. Perhaps he or you could call and get him something to get him through until the surgery - that is inhuman to expect him to get along without any painkillers. sending much love and relief from pain, barb k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 That is just wrong, I would keep calling even if you get the same answer - the poor fellow is in huge pain for goodness sake! They could talk to the anesthesiologist to get some ideas or even an oncology dr to help him out. much love, barb k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Hi Debbie; Just tell your friend that he is in my prayers. I do not know if this will take his mind of the pain, but maybe some relaxing music or the type of music he may enjoy, it may relax him take his mind of what is going on right now, at least for a little while. I'm praying for you and your friend. LaDonna > > Hi, my name is Debbie and I am new to the list. I am here for my friend, he > has never joined a Yahoo list, I have to explain to him how it works. > > Thanks, > Debbie > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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