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Why test for neuropathy if there is no cure?
I was diagnosed a little over 2 years ago by my PCP I do have RA and when I would tell my ruhematologist about the pain in my feet he would just blow it off. So went to my PCP and he listened, looked at my blood work from ruhematologist and said it's neuropathy we thought maybe trigged by the biologic I was on at the time. He started me on Gabapentin and at my next ra appt we stopped that biologic and started a different one. Silly me I assumed this would clear up and go away after that. Fast forward to now things have progressed enough that I use a wheelchair when not at home and am on permenant disability now. I read these posts and a lot of you know a whole bunch about your PN but the one common theme I see is there is no fix. Somethings help some with the pain others are just a distraction but bottom line nothing gets better. So why go thru all tests, trouble and money to identify all the details when they don't help?
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I respect your choices!! All the best Sunnyflower
Hi Colleen, this is better: Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA). So people can look up the SHIBA phone number in their own state. They say they are a non-biased, government agency. Take care Sunny
Guys, this is the best info for all states: Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA). So people can look up the SHIBA phone number in their own state. They say they are a non-biased, government agency. They should know about every possibility for us.
Take care Sunny
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1 ReactionThere is a thc patch that works for me! Too expensive! Mary’s medicinal!
@wilcy can I ask was a thc patch is?
Doctors don't have to accept Medicare or any insurance company. They have to 'apply' to Medicare and each insurance company and be 'approved' before they can be compensated by any of them. The government has added so much paperwork to Medicare that doctors say it would take them 8 hours a day to do it themselves. As soon as they build up their practice to where they don't need Medicare, some of them quit accepting it. The rest are obliged to join 'billing companies' who do all their billing and collections and paperwork with the government and insurance companies so they can just see patients. It's cumbersome for patients too: The billing companies are staffed by entry level people who have no medical training so if there is a mistake and you need to call them, you get people who can't fix anything. You have to insist on going up the ladders of administrators to get corrections - it takes hours and hours and days and days. I have friends and family members who are doctors - they live in other states too far away for me to go to them for health care.
I am making note of the health insurance companies that people say they are happy with. Thank you all for your input. Peggy
Peggy, I think it is very difficult to find a Dr. or practice which accepts Medicare and also accepts new senior patents, some newer practices and doctors would be an exception. My PCP practice did not accept Medicare up until a few years ago but I paid upfront and was always reimbursed by Medicare within 2 wks. because the practice did file making it easy for me. Helen
bustrbrwn, sunny, hank, et al: check out peripheralart.com, interesting info regarding supplements for neuropathy and 1persons journey and research. Also, for Chris: have you tried Quercetin (can’t remember) for your itching? Hemp oil supposed to help also. Just FYI. Helen
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1 Reaction@helennicola thanks so much for sharing!
Hello Helen, hope this finds you well. A friend of mine has told me about Quercetin I just haven't taken the time to look into it yet but now you have motivated me to do so. So thank you and take good care of yourself, Sunny flower. 😊