hard to believe but true - the history of Coca Cola

[UNCBear4SJ]

... or other neuropathy, hope you're taking B12.

Thanks for sharing this. I have some neuropathy due to chemotherapy. the "phantom pain" can get pretty bad in the winter when it is cold. I'll have to look into this.

[drunk]

Freightman, shoulda mentioned, with sciatica issues, or other neuropathy, hope you're taking B12. I hate the supplement industry. Huge frauds. But, two neurologists told me the standard range for B12 is wrong.

thanks to you and Freightman for the suggestions
I've had this for so long and tried so many things - everything I use is just temporary - I've pretty much given up and accepted it
as everybody knows the lower back is very difficult to treat - I had pain in my upper arms and was able to get rid of it with various stuff
it's not all that bad usually - just a constant nagging thing - the latest thing I've tried is self massage which is helpful but again temporary

update - I did look up B12 and it got a strong recommend from N.I.H. so I am going to give it a try



https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-Consumer/

[Freightman]

the latest thing I've tried is self massage

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-Consumer/

Proficiency in self massage makes you an absolute natural for the regaled FBM ASC.

For Feel Good Play with improved results, give it a try.

[21frogman]

I said I need a pain killer. NPR says no because that would mask the pain.

Masking the pain is what "pain killers" are supposed to do.
you should have received a narcotic and sent to an ER where the necessary information would be available within hours and your appendix would have been removed that day.
Needless to say, waiting until an appendix bursts is ridiculously and unnecessarily dangerous.

[Freightman]

I called their emergency number and said I think I have appendicitis. She said the symptoms fit, but there was nothing they could do for me -- if it bursts, go to the emergency room. I'm no longer with that HMO. Oh yeah, test for pancreatitis was neg.

Now, propofol is great. Of course you're out.

If true, medical personnel telling you to go to emergency if your appendix bursts, is so incredibly moronic and beyond belief, that it qualifies for Riley’s believe it or not.

The very real possibility of extremely painful death from either Sepsis, Peritonitis, raging burning fever, as well as the potentially massive lifelong bowel problems this can create, would be justification for a massive medical malpractice suit.

Extreme pain causes a rash of problems. Opioids such as morphine, hydro morphine and others are designed to numb the bodies pain receptors. Doses of various strengths are prescribed by licensed physicians. Method of delivery also varies. Emergency room Doses are injected directly at the IV site resulting in almost instantaneous relief. In a hospital ward, drugs are mixed with IV solutions for receipt by the body over a 20 or 30 minute time frame. Subcutaneous injections (Intra muscular) are still used but to a lesser degree. Oral doses are slowest to interact with the body.

To allow someone to anguish in extreme physical pain is cruel.

[Norm]

Yeah. Had a motorcycle accident once, high speed around a bend, slipping on sand leftover from a recent snowfall. Hit a parked car head on. Smashed the car's headlight with my body and windshield with my helmet. ER doc said I had bruises everywhere, but no broken bones. Told me if I turned pale the next day, I had a ruptured spleen and get to an ER fast.

[21frogman]

Here is the result of a Google search for laws affecting the prescription of pain meds. https://www.google.com/search?client...g+of+narcotics
These laws are passed in order to combat the narcotic and other substance abuse epidemic in the US. Some drug seekers shop for physicians and Emergency Rooms who will write narcotic Rxs with no good reason.
Unfortunately, the laws also interfere in the legitimate use of these meds. Physicians are afraid that an Rx will be misused, duplicated with someone else's name, etc. Physicians are held legally responsible for good faith decisions and have become reluctant to write for narcotics due to personal risk.

Paliative Care is a recognized subspecialty that has evolved over years It is not limited to dying patients. Internists, anesthesiologists, and other specialists practice it.
If you have a persistent or recurring symptom that your physician hasn't been able to resolve, ask to see a paliative care specialist.

[Norm]

Yeah, you have to show your driver's license and sign to get pseudoephedrine, a simple decongestant, since it can be used to create speed. But, you can get all the nasal spray you want, which is habit forming and might cause cataracts. Gabapentin was mentioned earlier in the thread. It's schedule IV in NY (bill to make a new schedule VI, but I don't know if it passed.) Addiction is rare as it only has a slight sedative reaction in some patients. But, for some reason, it is used as a filler in some street drugs. That means you're supposed to be reevaluated every three months and can't get a long-term scrip, even though it's a long-term drug. BTW, I looked up the pharmacology once. Gabapentin only works if it is present in the nerves for 17 consecutive hours. But, it has a half-life of about six hours. So, taking it once a day has little effect.

[BJPloppy]

Unfortunately, the laws also interfere in the legitimate use of these meds. Physicians are afraid that an Rx will be misused, duplicated with someone else's name, etc. Physicians are held legally responsible for good faith decisions and have become reluctant to write for narcotics due to personal risk.

I solved this issue with my primary several years ago. I had a laminectomy in the early 1990's and since then the pain has flared up infrequently. Each follow up visit to my doctor, I took my unused pills to him to show him that they had expired and I was not abusing them. I don't know if that worked, but I have never had an issue with getting pain meds when needed.

[Freightman]

BTW, I looked up the pharmacology once. Gabapentin only works if it is present in the nerves for 17 consecutive hours. But, it has a half-life of about six hours. So, taking it once a day has little effect.

My arthritic disc and sciatic issues were explained to me as follows. I may be off on exact terminology.

Arthritis and disc are skeletal. Sciatic is neuropathic.
Arthritis and disc pain are controlled by Tramacet, CBD oil and Diclofenac Gel. Arthritic pain is very well controlled. Disc pain kept me up a couple of nights this week. Controlled reasonably well during the day. Can’t sleep on my back due to disc issues.

Sciatic pain is 80-90% down left leg, 10-20% down right. Medication is Gabapentin. When initially prescribed, I was brought up over a period of weeks to 3-300mg capsules 3x/day, or in other words, 2700 mg per day. I reacted badly to this with lots of, for lack of better terminology, jerk motions in arms and legs - almost fell a couple of times. I complained a lot, was allowed to reduce dosage to 3-300mg capsules 1x/day, or 900 mg. Total. I was requested to take those capsules early evening, no earlier than supper. I mention this because if Norms comment regarding Gabapentin half life.

Can’t sleep on my back due to disc, or on my left side due to sciatica - in other words, sleep on my right side. I can’t walk any appreciable distance, though I seem to be able to pedal quickly forever when using a recumbent bike.

A deCision which we had to make was whether to remain living in our home, or move to a 1 level house, or condo. For a variety of reasons, we’ve decided to remain in our house. This means that the house needs to be adapted to suit my increasing pain and mobility issues. I’ve just ordered a handrail to be installed on our front steps. Though I don’t need it yet, I’ll likely order next week a stair lift to get me up and down main/upstairs. Grab bars to balance in the shower, a cut out for the tub to more easily get into the shower, and to bring 8n an occupational therapist to make additional suggestions. I ordered a few months back one of those lift recliners for my den.

Don’t think we will ever move.