Hello Sharonmay7,<br />
<br />
Thanks for your reply! I apologize for getting back to you so late -- its<br />
9:28 PM and my day (night) is just starting. I've been asleep almost all<br />
day since 6:30 AM when I tried to start today. Yes the pain is really bad<br />
today. I've had to resort to taking the prescribed narcotics to try to<br />
ease the pain, and one of their several side effects is that I sleep all<br />
the time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Although I have a B.S. in telecommunications, I can't find a job because I<br />
always have to take a nap during the normal workday. Additionally, no<br />
company wants to take a chance on me because I am too much of a liability.<br />
If I fall on the job, they all think I will sue the company. Even though I<br />
have offered to sign a waiver stating I would never sue any company that<br />
interviewed me, I have still been rejected. Yes it’s really tough trying<br />
to live on a fixed income. Sometimes I get so mad at the politicians who<br />
always seem to find a "loop hole" so there is rarely a real COLA on my SSDI<br />
check, but really that doesn't help. I have finally realized that a bad<br />
attitude doesn't help the pain at all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have tried just about every "latest cure" for the arthritis, but nothing<br />
has truly worked. My last attempt was to buy Dr. Ho's pain therapy system<br />
-- but it barely helps. It’s a TENS unit that is pretty strong and has 7<br />
modes or treatment options. The real problem though is that for it to<br />
really work, I need to attach 16 TENS pads to my whole body, and then run<br />
it all day long. Additionally, it does nothing for the constant migraines<br />
I suffer from.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I too joined this site in hope that I might be able to find something that<br />
will help me. So it was really nice to hear from you. I have tried and<br />
tried to help my family (brother and sister-in-law and their grown<br />
children) to understand why I rarely make any of the family get togethers,<br />
but honestly, they have no clue. Although I wouldn't wish this on my worst<br />
enemy, it wasn't until my brother hurt his knee and couldn't walk without<br />
limping, that he finally caught an idea of what it’s like to have constant<br />
pain all the time. Fortunately, a shot of cortisone eliminated his knee<br />
pain so of course, he told me to make sure I should see his doctor so I<br />
could get cortisone shot in every area that causes the pain. I kept his<br />
request to myself because I would need at least 30 or more shots of<br />
cortisone if it were to help, and there is no guarantee that it would<br />
help. Oh well...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks so much for listening Sharonmay7! I really appreciate being able to<br />
talk or chat with someone about this hell I live in. I think the hardest<br />
point for me is that I watch my body falling apart while my mind is still<br />
active. Unfortunately another side effect of the narcotics is that I can't<br />
seem to remember much of anything. My short term and long term memory is<br />
fading, and if I don't write most everything down and make notes for<br />
myself, I forget what I am doing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I hope you don't mind, but I added your name to my prayer list, and truly,<br />
I pray that things will improve for you. If you don't mind, and please<br />
know I am not a 'stalker,' what state are you located in? Thanks, I live<br />
in Arizona -- actually I live in Tucson, Arizona. Thank you again for<br />
the good thoughts and your wish for better nights for me. I do hope to<br />
hear back from you as well.<br />
<br />
Best Wishes,<br />
<br />
Bob815c<br />