Re: Does the pain ever really stop?

June 8, 2008

i am seeing a naturopathic doctor who believes food is the culprit. i got so

frustrated with the pain and trying to figure out what foods were causing it so

i just quit eating for 6 days. i picked 6 days because that was how long it took

before my next doctor appointment. it worked i was pain free after the 3rd day.

my doc told me not to fast like that again and i gradually added foods back and

gradually my pain came back. i do know that when i eat tomatoes or potatoes

especially fries im in an awful lot of pain the next day. i totally avoid those

foods. most days i can keep my pain at a mimimum. i am currently taking no meds

only supplements.

From: Mimi & lt;mimi212@... & gt;

Subject: [ ] Does the pain ever " really " stop?

Date: Sunday, June 8, 2008, 6:38 AM

I've been dealing with the pain of RA & amp; FMS for years and years. I've

been seeing a Rheumatologist for over a year and a half. I take

Sulfasalazine 1500mg twice daily, Methotrexate 15mg once a week and

Percocet 10/325mg as needed. I know this Florida weather doesn't help

matters any with the ups and downs of the barometric pressure, but

sometimes I feel like I will never have any " real " relief from the

pain. I don't have any insurance and we don't qualify for Medicaid,

I'm still waiting for approval from SSD, but unless they've changed the

laws, it will be another two years after approval before I would

qualify for Medicare. My Rheumatologist has told me that any other

treatments would cost around $1500 per month and I definitely can't

afford that.

So, my question is - does the pain ever " really " stop? Most days I

just hybernate and putter because to do much more makes things worse.

June 8, 2008

To be honest, no, I do not think pain ever really stops. & nbsp; There are people

in this world without RA and FMS that have some sort of pain every day. & nbsp; I

have a friend/dr who has no health issues, but constant severe shoulder pain

that they cannot find a reason for. & nbsp; Considering that not a whole lot is

known about FMS, and there is no cure, there will always be some sort of

pain. & nbsp; There will be flares, remissions, but any changes in weather,

humidity, cold, stress, environmental triggers will cause flares. & nbsp; If you

have other health conditions on top of FMS and RA, there will most likely still

be some pain. & nbsp; I take 3000mgs of Sulfasalazine, was also taking 400mgs of

Plaquenil, I take 15 mgs of Mobic, have also taken 50mg of Diclofenac, have had

Hydorcodone, oxycontin at times, morphine even at times during FMS flares, and

nothing has taken away the pain completely. & nbsp; It may take me from my normal

level 10 to maybe a 5 and if

I'm lucky a 3, but I don't see pain ever really going away. & nbsp; Everyone when

aging experiences aches and pains as the body wears. & nbsp; It's like my anxiety,

no cure, anxiety is a part of life, I can only modify my behavior to remain

calm. I'm currently working on techniques to help focus my mind on something

besides pain. & nbsp; I have seronegative RA, liver disease, cardiac issues,

asthma, FMS, myofascia syndrome, and bilateral patella femoral syndrome. & nbsp;

Some medications will help flares for the RA become less frequent but I've had

no luck with that for that and as for my FMS I can only take Ultra or Darvocett,

and Flexeril. & nbsp; Cymbalta after 2 years made me extremely moody and Lyrica I

could not tolerate. & nbsp; hang in there though there are new treatments

everyday! And although we might not be pain free, we might experience a lot less

pain:)

From: Mimi & lt;mimi212@... & gt;

Subject: [ ] Does the pain ever " really " stop?

Date: Sunday, June 8, 2008, 9:38 AM