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Hi, I've been putting posts out for the last hour at least but thought I better give...

Posted by Dot2Dot2Dot

Hi, I've been putting posts out for the last hour at least but thought I better give some background:
I am 56, I was a Registered Nurse, graduated in 1977. But I had the misfortune of being in other driver's fault auto accidents since then that have put me out of nursing for 9 months to 5years at a time in the very serious ones 4 times &close to 2 doz other bizarre car accidents (one on the way home from PT.) In the 1986 accident I suffered a closed head injury (TBI) that was not diagnosed for almost 6 years. The accident end of May, 2002 fit the perfect description of causes of Fibromyalgia - (a trifecta of crisis)recent new promotion & a routine State Inspection going on & sister in hospice w/family providing care when a car pulled into my lane/my car hitting me 3 times. Within days, I had severe fatigue, severe pain, unable to concentrate & several other Fibromyalgia symptoms. On Med Leave by the end of July, discharged in Oct. NO income & lawsuit netted $46.00 (too many accidents even though I completed therapy & deemed fine & had been working). The Dr. I saw was a pain specialist & was terrific & when my Ins. changed (Med Assistance) he referred me to another excellent Pain Mgmt specialist in 2004 who gave me the official diagnosis of Chronic Unremitting Pain, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue. I also have PTSD, depression & general anxiety disorder. I had a chance to try many meds by samples until finding THE ONES. Meds include MS Contin 30mg every 12 hours, Topamax for migraine prevention, Amrix 15mg at night for control of muscle spasms (with Flexeril then Skelaxin for breakthrough spasms.Maxalt for both aura& non-aura migraines Xanax for anxiety as needed. Other treatments are ice packs, warm packs, back knobber, "China Gel cream",light exercises, NUCCA chiropractic which worked wonders to finally literally get my head on straight by realigning the first vertebra with the axis, the base of the skull. (I have the xrays to prove it), straighten my spine by allowing the muscles to realign so that Migraines dropped from 4-5 days long 4 X/mo to easily controlled with Maxalt & maybe 1 day in bed a month, pain 8-10 to 3-5 or less, & no limp. Also take Vit D 10,000IU Calcium Citrate wZinc &Mg 500mg 3Xday, Lovaza 2caps2xday which all help lower muscle pain & Vit D helps concentration & fine finger feeling. Also use Alpha Stim 100 ear clips & probes (allergy to patches) & Lidoderm patches. Armour Thyroid & other meds, too.On SSDI 2006(applied 2003) & Medicare. Had to give up TH, live in subsidized Sec 8 apt. Do volunteer with a Fibromyalgia Support group & with Friends of the Library. I came in with some education but I've learned a lot along the way. I get frustrated & depressed but I keep going. I keep helping others to learn & cope with their symptoms & share my knowledge so that really helps me to feel I have something worthwhile to give back to the world.View Thread

Posted byDot2Dot2Dot

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:New to community Hi, I've been putting posts out for the last hour at least but thought I better give...

Reply: Strong non-narcotic pain killers?

The type of pain you are referring to is Acute pain not Chronic Unremitting pain where...

Posted by Dot2Dot2Dot

160 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Strong non-narcotic pain killers? The type of pain you are referring to is Acute pain not Chronic Unremitting pain where...

Reply: Strong non-narcotic pain killers?

You sound like a candidate for NUCCA. This is unfortunately not the best name that...

Posted by Dot2Dot2Dot

160 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Strong non-narcotic pain killers? You sound like a candidate for NUCCA. This is unfortunately not the best name that...

Reply: Strong non-narcotic pain killers?

Contact the AMA and the pain physicians association regarding her behavior. This is...

Posted by Dot2Dot2Dot

160 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Strong non-narcotic pain killers? Contact the AMA and the pain physicians association regarding her behavior. This is...

Reply: Strong non-narcotic pain killers?

I agree totally, Annette with you about the Narcotic. When prescribed correctly by a...

Posted by Dot2Dot2Dot

160 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Strong non-narcotic pain killers? I agree totally, Annette with you about the Narcotic. When prescribed correctly by a...

Reply: Strong non-narcotic pain killers?

The pain specialist was correct on titrating the narcotic level for Tasha. Who ever put...

Posted by Dot2Dot2Dot

The pain specialist was correct on titrating the narcotic level for Tasha. Who ever put her on the medication obviously had no clue what to do. It is imperitive to start with very low doses & work up and when done correctly work wonders with very low side effects (dry mouth, possible constipation or difficulty starting urine stream. These normally go away or can be remedied easily with gum, Biotene oral hygiene products, Miralax (dr can prescribe a generic), a wheat bran & natural applesause concoction 1to1 equal amounts, 2 tsp /day for help to prevent constipation, and plenty of water -the 8 -8 oz/day above regular fluid intake).
There is a machine called Alpha Stim 100 that can be used 3 different ways-it's a microelectric current using the body's hertz & is set specific to the problem being treated, It works directly on the nervous system -the alpha waves & is used to treat pain, anxiety and insomnia. (most Ins. co don't cover but most places have payment plans.) This clinic should have this option available or refer you to one that does. It uses ear clips (people think I'm wearing light blue earrings or have earphones in), patches up to 4 of them and 'probes' which look sort of like pencils and areas are treated very specifically. This has been around for 35 years & the VA uses it extensively on injured military personnel. It can be worn as long as needed and the body builds up a reserve so to speak so it keeps working even after taken off. This helped me to decrease my narcotic medication and really helps my anxiety(if anyone is interested). It works much better than the TENs unit which has its limitations.The cost isn't that much when you calculate the lifetime usage. Lidocaine or Lidoderm patches are also another non-narcotic choice that works well anywhere (legs, hips back, neck) & can be left on 12 hours & off 12 hours. You can easily research both of these ideas.View Thread

Posted byDot2Dot2Dot

(FromChronic Pain Management: Member Discussion)

160 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Strong non-narcotic pain killers? The pain specialist was correct on titrating the narcotic level for Tasha. Who ever put...

Reply: HELP....PLEASE!!!!

You don't say where you live so this is tricky to answer.Try to find a Mental Health...

Posted by Dot2Dot2Dot

You don't say where you live so this is tricky to answer.Try to find a Mental Health Community in your area called Clubhouses and be connected with a Case Manager. This is a free service and they may (& I do have to say "may") be able to connect you to County Services including Medical Assistance and get you insured.
I'm assuming you had been seeing a Pain Management specialist or Rheumatologist prior to becoming unemployed. If so, they should be able to set you up on a pay as you can and provide you with samples. Don't be afraid to talk to your previous providers. One of the worst things possible to go off your medications because your body is going to flare even worse after having been controlled.
In my area, Minneapolis, MN there is a place called Pathways for people going through critical health situations including family members. It has professionals from every possible complementary care (every kind of massage, therapists, individual & groups ) that VOLUNTEER their time so it's free to use.
Try Ice packs 30 min MAX. Ice helps to decrease blood flow to the muscles & nerves which helps quiet them VS warm which increases blood & increases inflammation.
Check out Facebook for support groups. I am co-leader of both a virtual & live support grp - Try Chronic Pain & Fibromyalgia (lots of overlap with symptoms but great resources from members.
Courage Center,Golden Valley Fibromyalgia Support Group is on Facebook https://facebook.com/#!groups/71371164865/
Also, make an outline of a body front & back, keep daily records by marking areas of pain, describe the level of pain, feeling/sensations, what triggered it, what decreased it if any and any other symptoms I used a 3ring binder & made copies of a body from the web, started from whatever time I woke up until I go to bed & then some. I used 3 different colors, red ink =night, blue=day, black =evening(used nursing timing Midnight to 7A, 7A-3P, 3P-Mid. add in meds (try Percogesic OTC uses Magnesium instead of Aspirin. Depending on $ use Vit D at least 5,000IU/day -helps with pain & depression, Calcium Citrate(not Carbonate)with Mg,& Zinc 500-600mg 3Xday-helps the muscles, Fish Oil- Omega 1200mg 3X daily. Nature Made is a very good product often BOGOfree plus have a points counter on their website to get $7 coupon with so many points. Show these to your doctor -they can't argue with facts which are better than trying to recall and tell the doctor everything & it's usually not very coherent from my experience.
Contact Now a Social Security disability attorney & start the paperwork for SSDI. there is no upfront charges & the Fed gov't limits how much they can charge only if you get SSDI. Note: you do not need to be SSDI to live in Handicapped/Elderly housing as long as a doctor writes you are disabled (doesn't even have to go into detail).
If you go to the Courage Center website I can watch for your name & give you more info. But even if you can't sleep, stay in bed, rest can be helpful even if you don't sleep, use a sleep mask to block any light (can make your own or get one for cheap at a dollar store. Call 211-United Way or Disability Linkage Line 1-866-333-2466, or try Disability.gov .Call your city for a list of resources for the disabled with no/limited income and free/low income Medical clinics. All drug comp. have pt assistance programs.
Hopefully something here can help. There is a LOT of resources, I've found most of them over the last 10 years plus had a head start with my career in Rehab then Long Term Care. Don't feel humiliated to use these resources, you've been paying taxes to support all these programs-it's your turn. Be proud, be courageous and know you are not alone, ever.View Thread

Posted byDot2Dot2Dot

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:HELP....PLEASE!!!! You don't say where you live so this is tricky to answer.Try to find a Mental Health...

Reply: Judged by Others?

Tim, I'm responding to this line in your message: "That must be what it's like to be a...

Posted by Dot2Dot2Dot

Tim, I'm responding to this line in your message: "That must be what it's like to be a PM doc except you can also make them drug addicts or worse. "
I'm not sure what you could mean by "or worse," but I do want to clarify the point about becoming addicted. There is a difference between physical addiction & physical dependence which might be to what you are referring. Physical dependence is common even with regular medications such as Benadryl for allergies for example as with Controlled drugs such as MS Contin (long acting Morphine Sulfate) or Codeine. A body will build up a resistance to a drug over time and by this I mean several years 5-10 or more even. This is normal and the dose may need adjusting upward, an additional med added if at the maximum or change for awhile & return to the drug.
Physical addiction occurs when a Narcotic is taken when there is no pain receptors for it to "work on" and instead works on the receptors that produce the effect of Euphoria, etc. that people find enjoyable & thus become addicted. Even persons with chemical addictions with Chronic Pain can be prescribed Controlled drugs because the drug will be working on the correct receptors. And, these addicts are going to be sure to use the drug correctly in order to have the pain relief they so desperately need. Most studies have been done related to Cancer Care & the Chronic Pain related to this.
My information is based on my previous career, Long Term Care Nurse (RN) including care of Cancer pts, research done /family members with cancer & my own Chronic Persistent Unremitting Pain, and Fibromyalgia & Migraines with no aura to name a few since 2002 (Actual year of unset same as year of diagnosis). I am seen by a specialty trained Nurse Practitioner at a Pain Management & Rehab clinic owned/run by a Physiatrist. MS Contin is not my only pain relief treatment but the main one & I have actually decreased my dosage over time.View Thread

Posted byDot2Dot2Dot

31 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Judged by Others? Tim, I'm responding to this line in your message: "That must be what it's like to be a...

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