Re: Talk to the MD

[Guest guest]

Lynne,

I know that the pain you are feeling is so very real. One thing that we do is to get defensive when our docs are blowing us off when we try to explain what is going on.

Is your pain in your legs "inside the bone pain?"

Is it that your muscles ache constantly?

It is that you have muscle cramps, or the joints in your hips and knees and ankles ache?

Send me more info about how this pain is effecting you-- is it a burning pain, a deep bone pain, a constant dull ache, and I'll be glad to try to help you explain it to the MD.

Lynne, have you tried the MSM Powder? It helps me with my leg and muscle pain- both in my back and legs.

You know that I preach hydration-- getting enough fluids down. Any small amount of dehydration is going to make the arthritis pain issues worse. All of our joints and muscles and ligaments are supported by synovial fluid.

If this fluid level is low, or our electrolytes are out of sync- then we have muscle and joint pain.

Caffiene, sodas, high fructose corn syrup juices and alcohol are all dehydrators. So you have to change over to decaf teas (herbal teas are great) and water and 100% juices.

If you are a lover of dairy products-- this too can cause all kinds of joint pain. The lactic acid ends up building up in your muscles, and you hurt. Try cutting back on the cheeses, the ice cream, and milk-- and see if there is a difference. Try taking an antacid and see if your muscles hurt less.*

This is a sign that your bones are deplete of calcium and magnesium. Since you are a mother of 8 kids-- I suspect that calcium levels are probably shot from all the pregnancies, and that since you have been on high dose steroids in the past- that you have insult to injury.

ASK your MD to run a calcium test, both blood and urine, and see if you are low. Do you have osteoporosis?

Do you eat lots of fruit and veges, or are you a pasta and meat eater?

One of the biggest problems I've found is that my diet and fluid intake, along with the years of prednisone, my body was so deficient in nutrients, and it hasn't been until I've started to question this part of my program, and started making ONE change at a time, that I was able to put alot of my pain issues aside.

If I took one thing away-- like dairy foods, and saw a change where I felt better; then I knew that was contributing to my pain.

If I took away the sodas and caffeine drinks, and I felt better, then I knew that those were contributing to my pain.

If I took away my glass of wine or my screwdriver or tequila sunrise and my pain lessened, then I knew that was part of the problem also.

Once I started making those small changes, and started eating more fruits and veges (I go for the organic when I can, or rinse the grocery store stuff really really well), I felt better and had more energy. Not huge amounts more--but more.

I also discovered that my craving for sweets was undermining me. Even when my blood sugar is in the "high normal"-- 118 or so, I hurt-- my neuropathy is so much worse. But if I keep it in the 80's or 90's-- I don't hurt near as much.

By adding the MSM, which is a natural mineral that we've engineered out of our soil and foods; and taking a low-dose calcium/magnesium tablet, I don't have the muscle pain that I was having.

One thing they know about vitamin and mineral defiencies-- if you are deficient, then your body will deposit excess minerals in places it does not belong in. Like with calcium, if you aren't getting enough, your body starts to leach the calcium from your bones, it deposit it in your kidneys (as stones) and in your joints and ligaments (our granulomas?) because it thinks it won't get what it needs to survive.

Take each section-- write down how often you drink something, what you had, how much, how often, and see what you come up with after 2 or 3 days. It will really tell you how you are doing-- and you'll be surprised at what the list does tell you.

Write down exactly what you eat for a couple of days (don't make any changes) and see what you're doing. Then make your changes. Don't cheat on your list. This will give you a really good picture of what you're doing for yourself.

These are small things we can take control of, and we have to. You will find that you are so much more empowered and able to take care of some to these issues. It's well worth it, and for me- and i hope for all of you, that you find some hope at the end of the tunnel, because we all deserve to be comfortable.

Take care,

Tracie

NS Co-owner/moderator

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