I have dealt with this for more years than I'd like to admit. Everyone hates the pain meds and the side effects. I do love those cortizone injections, unfortunatly, it takes so much more to get the same effect. You need to develope a plan on how you use your pain meds and mitigate the side effects. Diet becomes very important. Pro-biotics seem to help me a lot. I don't believe you will ever get rid of the joint pain. I've heard they can destroy the nerves in some areas, but most of them can grow back and be even more painful. Bed surfaces don't seem to help, but a bed that moves to a comfortable position is important to have. I take two oxycontin 20s time release, and vicodin 5's in between as needed. I have chewed an oxy to get relief but i don't recommend it. The oxy amount can be raised as its effect wears off. Then you have to use methadone to get off the oxy's and start more experimental pain control. You need to make plans with your doctor about how to deal with the side effects. Constipation doesn't sound like a big deal if it is a normal patient, but constipation can cause AD and kill a quad. As far as the mushy brain, you should return to normal brain function as your system gets use to the drugs.
Best Wishes, john ________________________________ From: Billy Lang <[email protected]> To: quad-list <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 2, 2009 12:53:00 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] Bone on Bone I saw the doctor yesterday about pains in my shoulders and hips. The pains are infringing on my quality of life, after 20 years in the chair but doctors say there's nothing they can do. I'm averaging about three hours a night's sleep. Seems the joints are all bone on bone in both shoulders caused by using muscles to compensate for movement in ways the joints were not designed. My hips have stress fractures, causing that pain. So, it's pain meds for me. I don't like taking them because they turn my brain to mush. So, I have some questions for the group: Is there anyway to replace fluid in the joints? Are there any pain meds out there without the harsh side effects? Will a foam memory mattress provide some relief in sleeping on a bad hip? The doctors injected cortisone in both shoulders to give me some temporary relief. Any suggestions would be welcome. Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do! Billy www.langfoundation.org
