Arthritis ... is causing pain in my back that's reaching the 'intolerable' stage. I have been to all the doctors, I don't want to take opiates, I can't do pot (allergic), except, my pain doctor gives me 100 XL Tramadol a day (it's mild, doesn't make me sleepy). I do exercises I learned in physical therapy (when I don't do them, I get so stiff I can't move but I have to start moving through the pain to loosen up). I take Gaba and Lyrica for Axonal Sensory Neuropathy, Iron for RLS, Tylenol, asthma meds, I do stretches ...

Do you have arthritis? If so, what are you doing/taking that blocks the constant pain?

I thought that hubby and I would travel and play golf when we were retired ... so far, I've been dealing with pain the entire time and he has too (same thing: arthritis). Our Orthopedist is in his 60's, he said he has arthritis too and there is nothing to fix it, it will get worse, we may as well accept it. There might be something new that Mayo Clinic knows of but he doesn't. I took Dolobid then changed to Etodolac for some post-surgery pain years ago, it worked and had no side effects. Are any of you taking those? Do they help with arthritis?

I have to make one last try to find something. I know the arthritis in my back can't be cured but something to block the pain without making me sleepy would enable me to do a few things before I kick the bucket.

Peggy