1. < Bones, Joints & Muscles

Arthritis and Joint Conditions

Posted by reecy @reecy, Mar 4, 2012

I am 68 yrs old and have had fibromyalgia since my late twenties. I have learned what works for me and keep it under control 99% of the time. Recently, the pain was so severe that I went to the ER and was eventually diagnosed with degenerative joint disease. My doctor put me on diclofenac and tylenol arthritis. The pain has been excruciating since Fri am and nothing is working. Massage, icy hots, TENS unit, excercise and hot shower and heating pad. I also tried tiger balm. Nothing. I talked to 'Ask a Nurse' and my doctor with no help. Please, any suggestions?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bones, Joints & Muscles Support Group.

Roxie43 | @roxie43 | Mar 12, 2012

Hi
My mom has osteoarthritis and the cortisone shots really help her. She also left the cold weather behind moving to a tropical island and she reports that this change also helped. She's not pain free 100% of the time but when we communicate I notice she complains of debilitating pain less.
So sorry that nothing seems to be working for you. Stay on top of your docs until you find some relief.
Take care & I hope that you are pain free very soon.

REPLY
2 replies
reecy | @reecy | Mar 12, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "Hi My mom has osteoarthritis and the cortisone shots really help her. She also left the..." + (show)
@roxie43

Hi
My mom has osteoarthritis and the cortisone shots really help her. She also left the cold weather behind moving to a tropical island and she reports that this change also helped. She's not pain free 100% of the time but when we communicate I notice she complains of debilitating pain less.
So sorry that nothing seems to be working for you. Stay on top of your docs until you find some relief.
Take care & I hope that you are pain free very soon.

Jump to this post

Thank you. Two more days until the MRI and 3 more until I can get a shot in the neck. The pain is still pretty bad but each day slides by minute by minute!

REPLY
reecy | @reecy | Mar 12, 2012
In reply to @anon12697042 "Hello I have fibromayalgia high blood pressure anxiety depression I'm taking cymbalta my doctors double the..." + (show)
@anon12697042

Hello I have fibromayalgia high blood pressure anxiety depression I'm taking cymbalta my doctors double the dosage .last night I keep turning did not get enough good sleep I tried Bengay ointment and have a massage ball it helps sometimes and I needed more exercise more walking to ease the pain and theraphy pool which is hot swim and try sauna also whatever works tried talking to friends and text to distract the pain massage as well hoping things will work out for everyone pray sometimes it helps.

Jump to this post

Thank you. I also have all of the side effects of fibro but found out what I had to do to get through each day. After a while, I realized that it was working and I felt great. Hang in there.

REPLY
Roxie43 | @roxie43 | Mar 12, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "Hi My mom has osteoarthritis and the cortisone shots really help her. She also left the..." + (show)
@roxie43

Hi
My mom has osteoarthritis and the cortisone shots really help her. She also left the cold weather behind moving to a tropical island and she reports that this change also helped. She's not pain free 100% of the time but when we communicate I notice she complains of debilitating pain less.
So sorry that nothing seems to be working for you. Stay on top of your docs until you find some relief.
Take care & I hope that you are pain free very soon.

Jump to this post

I can't imagine the pain you're in. Just hang in as best as you can and I pray the shot alleviates your suffering.
God bless
Roxie

REPLY
jeanie64 | @jeanie64 | Mar 19, 2012
In reply to @reah1 "I can really sympathize, as I have severe osteoarthritis (which is most likely "the degenerative joint..." + (show)
@reah1

I can really sympathize, as I have severe osteoarthritis (which is most likely "the degenerative joint disease" your doctor referred to) and neuropathy in my feet due to chemotherapy. Rather than Tylenol, may I recommend ibuprofen or buffered aspirin (if you can tolerate it). You need something that helps reduce inflammation. Tylenol doesn't do that.

Recently, I had a cortisone shot in the affected joint. It's not fun to get it, but the benefits can last for many weeks or even many months. The benefit is that it works immediately, by getting right to the spot where you have the problem.

The problem with osteoarthritis is that the padding & fluid provided by your bursae is eventually eradicated. The cartilage between the opposing joints gets worn away, and you wind up with bone rubbing against bone. Which is extremely painful.

The way to diagnose osteoarthritis is through X-rays of the affected joint(s). In my case, after years of pain I finally went to see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle problems. The X-rays taken were taken by his staff, with me standing on the weight-bearing joints rather than lying down on a table in the X-ray department.

Since my diagnosis, my choices have become rather clearer and I am much more able to cope. Good luck!

Jump to this post

My mom suffers from that to she has more trouble with the left knee and it gets swollen real bad durin this type of weather when it cold or raining. She went to this doctor in Hondo, Tx and got a shot on her knee it helped a little, but the medicine wore off and she is in terrible pain sometimes she can't even get out of bed. She can't travel to San Antonio, Tx and been tryin to get an appointment with the doctor here in Hondo, Tx but to be honest the doctor that comes to Hondo is nice but the nurses are such ??? well can't say it on here. I've gotten into it with them and try to explain to them my mom can't not travel to San Antonio so my mom got upset and told me to jst stop calling and now she is in pain. I hate to see my mom like this and it makes me cry with her, what else can I do for her I saw something bout baths where can I go to, to find out more Please thank you.

REPLY
reah1 | @reah1 | Mar 20, 2012
In reply to @reah1 "I can really sympathize, as I have severe osteoarthritis (which is most likely "the degenerative joint..." + (show)
@reah1

I can really sympathize, as I have severe osteoarthritis (which is most likely "the degenerative joint disease" your doctor referred to) and neuropathy in my feet due to chemotherapy. Rather than Tylenol, may I recommend ibuprofen or buffered aspirin (if you can tolerate it). You need something that helps reduce inflammation. Tylenol doesn't do that.

Recently, I had a cortisone shot in the affected joint. It's not fun to get it, but the benefits can last for many weeks or even many months. The benefit is that it works immediately, by getting right to the spot where you have the problem.

The problem with osteoarthritis is that the padding & fluid provided by your bursae is eventually eradicated. The cartilage between the opposing joints gets worn away, and you wind up with bone rubbing against bone. Which is extremely painful.

The way to diagnose osteoarthritis is through X-rays of the affected joint(s). In my case, after years of pain I finally went to see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle problems. The X-rays taken were taken by his staff, with me standing on the weight-bearing joints rather than lying down on a table in the X-ray department.

Since my diagnosis, my choices have become rather clearer and I am much more able to cope. Good luck!

Jump to this post

Yes, it's typical for changes in weather to impact the discomfort of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. My best guess is that the doctor who came to Hondo gave your mom a shot of cortisone. If there's any way she can do it, she probably needs for him to refer her to an a orthopedic specialist who deals with knee replacement surgery. A friend of mine had a problem with her weight which made her arthritis problems and the deterioration of her knee joints that much worse.

She went on a weight loss program before she was able to safely have the surgery. Following the knee replacement, she underwent physical therapy which helped her strengthen her muscles around the knee joint. She's now able to work again, though she gets around with a cane. The last four months were very hard, but losing the weight was really helpful and she's determined to get some more off. She can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and is on her way back to improved health and a lot less pain.

Weight loss is really important. I've been trying to get weight off, myself, but it's hard to do when pain is slowing you down. I think the key is getting exercise, even if all you're doing is sitting in a chair.

If your mother is on Medicare, she should be covered for those benefits. In addition, if you call the local agency on aging, they should be able to provide information about transportation for disabled persons. The much-reviled Dept. of Health & Human Services has a very helpful web site where you can get a ton of information. For starters, here is the link to the Federal Administration on Aging: http://www.aoa.gov/

If your mother does not have health insurance, hope like heck that the Tea Party folks and the health insurance industry don't wreck the Affordable Health Care Act. Write your congressman/woman or call up the district office to let them know what your family is going through. Good luck!

REPLY
jeanie64 | @jeanie64 | Mar 20, 2012
In reply to @reah1 "I can really sympathize, as I have severe osteoarthritis (which is most likely "the degenerative joint..." + (show)
@reah1

I can really sympathize, as I have severe osteoarthritis (which is most likely "the degenerative joint disease" your doctor referred to) and neuropathy in my feet due to chemotherapy. Rather than Tylenol, may I recommend ibuprofen or buffered aspirin (if you can tolerate it). You need something that helps reduce inflammation. Tylenol doesn't do that.

Recently, I had a cortisone shot in the affected joint. It's not fun to get it, but the benefits can last for many weeks or even many months. The benefit is that it works immediately, by getting right to the spot where you have the problem.

The problem with osteoarthritis is that the padding & fluid provided by your bursae is eventually eradicated. The cartilage between the opposing joints gets worn away, and you wind up with bone rubbing against bone. Which is extremely painful.

The way to diagnose osteoarthritis is through X-rays of the affected joint(s). In my case, after years of pain I finally went to see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle problems. The X-rays taken were taken by his staff, with me standing on the weight-bearing joints rather than lying down on a table in the X-ray department.

Since my diagnosis, my choices have become rather clearer and I am much more able to cope. Good luck!

Jump to this post

Well actually my mom had a procedure done on her where they cleaned out the knee and that the same one that hurts her she is 80 yrs old and she does not want a knee replacement. She is afraid if does not work it will make it worse for her, and she is allerig to asprin so she can't take nothing with asprin. Thank you for the advice if you have any other ideas please let me know.

REPLY
reecy | @reecy | Mar 20, 2012
In reply to @reah1 "I can really sympathize, as I have severe osteoarthritis (which is most likely "the degenerative joint..." + (show)
@reah1

I can really sympathize, as I have severe osteoarthritis (which is most likely "the degenerative joint disease" your doctor referred to) and neuropathy in my feet due to chemotherapy. Rather than Tylenol, may I recommend ibuprofen or buffered aspirin (if you can tolerate it). You need something that helps reduce inflammation. Tylenol doesn't do that.

Recently, I had a cortisone shot in the affected joint. It's not fun to get it, but the benefits can last for many weeks or even many months. The benefit is that it works immediately, by getting right to the spot where you have the problem.

The problem with osteoarthritis is that the padding & fluid provided by your bursae is eventually eradicated. The cartilage between the opposing joints gets worn away, and you wind up with bone rubbing against bone. Which is extremely painful.

The way to diagnose osteoarthritis is through X-rays of the affected joint(s). In my case, after years of pain I finally went to see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle problems. The X-rays taken were taken by his staff, with me standing on the weight-bearing joints rather than lying down on a table in the X-ray department.

Since my diagnosis, my choices have become rather clearer and I am much more able to cope. Good luck!

Jump to this post

Latest and greatest diagnosis. There is very little arthritis. I have a herniated disc. It really defines the pain running accross my scapular and right arm down to my right pinkie. My neurologist gave me pain meds that take the edge off until I can have surgery on Mar 27. I was also told that this was probably the source of my pain since January. Teaches me to quit assuming that a doctor always has the answers. My PCP cancelled the pain management session!

REPLY
Roxie43 | @roxie43 | Mar 22, 2012

Saw an infomercial on cactus juice for pain and inflammation called Napolea.
They said its 100% natural and had testimony of its users.
I don't suffer from any pain yet but thought I would pass the info ....check with docs before trying any new products by it sounds promising
good luck

REPLY
1 reply
reecy | @reecy | Mar 23, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "Saw an infomercial on cactus juice for pain and inflammation called Napolea. They said its 100%..." + (show)
@roxie43

Saw an infomercial on cactus juice for pain and inflammation called Napolea.
They said its 100% natural and had testimony of its users.
I don't suffer from any pain yet but thought I would pass the info ....check with docs before trying any new products by it sounds promising
good luck

Jump to this post

very worth asking the doc about. thanks for the info. when you have chronic pain, you look for anything that might help.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.