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Hi everyone!

My Rhumy sent me to pain management about 2 months ago. They have been adjusting my meds to see if we can find one that will work. They suggested I get a shot in my neck (cortizone I guess). Anyway, I went at 7:30 this morning to get it and after talking to the guy that was going to give the shot, he decided instead of the shot, I should try this RS Medical Sequential Stimulator to see if it would work. He does not know how long it will take to get it. I'm just wondering if anyone else has tried this "thing" and if it helps? My pain now is so severe that the only will to live I have left are for my 2 wonderful kids (12 month old Jacob and 8 yr old Ashley).

Isn't there something out there that will work?? Right now I am on: OxyContin 40mg 3x a day, several drugs to keep me sane, Celebrex and they just added Voltaren after I told them I am still in horrible pain. Aren't Celebrex and Voltaren in the same class of drugs? I read that they should not be taken together and called the PM clinic 4 days ago and haven't gotten an answer yet.

Does anyone have any advise????

Thanks,

Beth

Beth,

I am not sure where you are, but I would call a pharmacy about the Voltaren/Celebrex interaction. They may be able to set your mind at ease. But PLEASE remember that MANY drugs say in the literature not to use together, but our doctors sometimes deem it necessary and sometimes it's safer than the alternative. So call the pharmacy but your PM clinic is the final word.

Volt. and Cele. are NOT in the same class, from what I understand. They are both NSAIDs but have VERY different mechanisms of action (one inhibits COX-2 and one inhibits COX-1).

I have never heard of the therapy you mention, but it's worth a try. I hope you have success and please do keep us posted!

Have you tried any DMARD's for your pain???

********
Kristin

TODAY IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL!!

Hi Beth,

I was given the "shock treatment" last summer. Unfortunately it didn't seem to ease my pain at all. It felt relaxing while I was being stimulated, but I had no long-term benefit from it. YOU SHOULD STILL GIVE IT A TRY, THOUGH. Just because it didn't help me doesn't mean it won't help you. Try to see if you can use it at low settings all day. I was given a rather large unit that would have been too bulky to carry around with me at work, but there are smaller units available. I was only able to do the treatments once a day (right before bedtime) and was later told (by a physical therapist) that I may have had more benefit from the low setting all day scenario.

Please let us know how it goes for you... and hang in there. I am so sorry that you are feeling so desperate. I wish there was something I could do to just take your pain away! (I am so thankful for those little ones of yours!)

Have you ever been on Vioxx? It was prescribed for me as well last summer and really gave me good relief. I didn't think I could bear the pain I was dealing with for much longer (my ribs were very involved, so even taking a breath was excruciating... did you know that your body will not let you sneeze when you are in that much pain??? Very fascinating. I would take a wind-up breath, then the sneeze would just disappear because of the pain!). I was started at 12.5 mg, but that didn't do it, so they bumped me up to 25 mg. I was amazed at the relief it gave me! I could function again (and sneeze, for that matter!)! Once or twice I took two tablets (50 mg) when the pain was really bad. I guess it is usually prescribed at 50 mg for awhile, then lowered to 25. The doctor I was seeing didn't do it that way, though (he was an orthopedist and didn't have a clue about spondylarthropathies -- he was worker's comp; I thought I was in pain from a work injury).

Maybe you need to have a serious discussion with your doctor about changing your meds? Are you allergic to Sulfa's? I have had pretty good results from Sulfasalazine and Vioxx...

Keep me posted, okay?

Sharon