Hello @dante, welcome to Connect, and thank you for sharing your concerns regarding pain medications, knee replacement, and back surgery.

We would love for you to start a new discussion in the Bones, Joints & Muscles group asking other members about your concerns with back surgery. We have a lot of members who have talked about back surgeries and we think a new discussion specific to back surgeries would be a great addition to the group.

You can start a new discussion by going to the https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/arthritis-and-joint-conditions-268850/ group and clicking on the "Start A Discussion" tab. Then, start a discussion specific to the surgery you will be having or are concerned about. From there we can bring in members who may have experiences similar to yours.

I would very much like to see a discussion on back surgeries and non-surgical options.

Surgery isn't an option for my scoliosis as I have osteoporosis. Am taking a stretching and Pilates class and also pool walking to help strengthen muscles for back and leg support. I don't want to take meds at this point. My back will continue to worsen and I'll look at meds later

I would also like discussions on compression fracture of the spine. I have three in the thoracic area and one in the lumbar area. I have been told that no surgery can help. I am in constant pain.

I tried to connect with other persons who suffer from burning mouth syndrome, and was sent return suggested email addresses, but slipped from my iPad.<br>Please redirect<br>Thank you<br>Elaine<br><br>

How can you I connect with persons suffering from burning mouth?<br>Thank you.<br>Elaine Swanson<br><br><br>

Hello @connielaine. I edited your previous post and removed your email from public view. For your privacy and safety we ask that you exchange emails via the private message function.

I see that you found one discussion regarding burning mouth syndrome, but here is another you may wish participate in, http://mayocl.in/2d5g7f5.

If you have any other questions about emails, or how Connect works, do not hesitate to send me a personal message with your questions. To do this click on my name, and then click on the envelope symbol under "contact me."

Dear Connielaine: I got burning mouth syndrome the last time after I was diagnosed with hypothyroid, (I had had BMS off and on for a few weeks at a time several times ever since I was in my 20's (I'm 64 now), but it always went away "on its own". I don't know whether this time the thyroid had anything to do with it.) This time (this was six years ago) the BMS lasted over a month, so I decided to do something about it. My doctors and dentist had no solutions, so I looked on the internet and found that there was some scientific evidence that 600 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid a day relieved the BMS symptoms to some degree. (There is also something out there called Alpha Linolenic Acid, also abbreviated ALA, which is DIFFERENT from Alpha Lipoic Acid, which is the one you want, if you chose to take it.) So I bought a 4 month supply (it's not prescription, but a dietary supplement) of Alpha Lipoic Acid, and began taking it. After a month of taking it religiously 600 mg a day, my burning mouth symptoms had gone. In the six years since, they haven't returned. Whether Alpha Lipoic Acid was the reason, I can't say, because I also started taking Levothyroxine for my hypothyroid at about the same time, and when I was younger BMS went away on its own. I am NOT in the medical profession at any level; I am just relating to you what happened to me as a patient. You might want to try this, but CHECK WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE YOU DO. Also you can search the internet for "alpha lipoic acid and burning mouth syndrome" and find a number of scientific references. I hope this is of some help to you. Frank