I've read a bit about prolotherapy but am skeptical….the premise seems to be to inject something into the joints that causes an inflammatory response which is supposed to "heal" tendons. But I always figured my problem was too much inflammation so how could this be good. Its just me being skeptical, no experience to feel this way…..I've often been proven wrong, so if you try it and have good effects, I'd like to know. Hope someone can give you an experienced viewpoint, not just an opinion.
I've not used pain med patches but do use a flector patch over my SI joint. These are nsaid patches. All oral nsaids that work for me give me side effects of gastritis and/or edema. But the flector patches cause me no side effects. They won't help big flares, but do help my lower level chronic daily inflammation and pain there. Most days very little pain there so long as I don't overstress the SI joint.
I am finally on Humira; best decision ever made…wish I had done it sooner….seriously, consider it….
and my CRP and ESR has always been relatively low….very common for these to be low for spondyloarthropathy…..either mine have been low because I had the tests when not in a flare, but others have said they are low even in a flare…elevated makes it easier for doctors to believe…but a good rheumatologists knows that negative results don't matter….pain and symptoms are much much more important.
LDN: if they doctor doesn't know enough about it, educate that doctor. Go to
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov and use pubmed. Type in naltrexone crohns and start there. Go to
http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org and show the doctor the safety of the drug. Or call the local compounding pharmacy, ask which local doctors prescribe LDN, and go to that doctor…probably a naturpath.
There are other ways: manual PT, chiro, interventionalists, physiatrists, pain management, etc. Use whatever works. I've used them all along the way, as it took me 12 years to find a rheumatologist that could and would diagnose and treat me. Now I'm on Humira. But still use a chiro and interventionalist.
