New to forum, with question...

Hi, Jenn,
Wanted to welcome you to the chronic pain forum, but am so sorry you have such pain at such a young age. I hope this next orthopod. has some good ideas for you.

My cousin is a pharmacist, and also has serious arthritis in her knees. She gets some types of injections that help - something that's in a series of 3. But she said they can only do these for so long. She's in her 50's though. BUT she also uses a cream called ALCIS which she swears by. You don't need a prescription; she buys it over the web, I think. But it is very expensive. She periodically gives me a tube and I use it very sparingly on my back. She buys it in bulk so it's a little cheaper, but says she couldnt' function without it.

Hope this helps a bit.

Glad you decided to start posting!

PaLady
Jenn- I just read your history and am so sorry for all your losses, but you know in your head you cannot save everyone. Yet you need some help making peace with this in your heart. I encourage you strongly to find a good therapist to help with grief and depression. That's a lot of serious loss in a short period of time for anyone to handle. Hugs to you.

Post Edited (PAlady) : 2/28/2009 3:40:07 PM (GMT-7)

Jenn,

I wanted to say hello and I am sorry for the pain you are in and have lived through, both physically and emotionally. I wish I could help with some info about your knees but most of my problems are with my back! I did want to mention that I too read a lot on this forum before ever posting anything. I always felt a lot of relief that "hey, these people KNOW what this is like". They may not have the exact same problems as I do but they know what constant pain does to a persons life.

I hope you find the specific information you are looking for on your knees but I know for sure you will find some help and empathy regarding the general condition you find yourself in. I would not have believed how much just hearing people say "I understand" and "I'm sorry" would really help. Best wishes...


Skrape

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Fentanyl Patch - 75mcgs x 72 hours
Baclofen - 5mg x 8 hours

The ALCIS that PALady can help, I use it and you can find it at Wal-Greens, so check there first
It is expensive as it comes from Australia. Hope you can find it...
Lots of good luck with the new ortho doc and definitely get a new MRI...
Nice to meet you so wish it was under better circumstance, as I tell my friends, oh yeah
try a moist heat pad for the fibro it can work wonders, get one with an auto shut off...
Walgreen's has these as well..
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGZ}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

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* Asthma, Allergies, Osteoarthritis, Spinal Stenosis, Degenative Disc, Fibromyalgia, Gerd, Enlarged Pituitary Gland
******** "We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world" from Helen Keller *********

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Thanks for all the responses. It warms my heart to feel so welcome, I will look for this cream and appreciate the suggestions!!!

Welcome to the forum. I am very happy you are here.

Sorry you are having such a problem with your knees. I hope you get some topical rub with medication like you are looking for. I respect your desire to avoid narcotics if you can. Good luck hon.

Just a little note on the side. Your signature line is breaking one of our rules by being a bit too lengthy. Please take a little time to cut it to ten lines or less.
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Thanks and keep posting.

Lindaloo

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Moderator Chronic Pain

It's very late, EMTJenn ~

I am sorry you have such problems as you do. Maybe work on them one at a
time. That's what I'm doing with the help of a friend here on the board.

I was devastated by ADD when I was 45. Diagnosis and treatment saved my life.l
It is a problem that is far reaching and little understood. Any questions: See me.
I'm the poster child for adult ADD. Once that is cleared up, maybe your other
problems will seem a little lighter?

Later, EMTjenn,
Pamela

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MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Osteoarthritis all levels of spine right down to Coccyx,Spondilytis,Myofascial Pain
Fibromyalgia,Bulging Discs,Spinal Stenosis,Scoliosis,Osteopenia,Chronic Constipation
Carpel Tunel Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder,
Depression & Anxiety

Methadone for Pain, Xanax for Anxiety, and more, of course.

Greetings.....

The ingredient used in the ALCIS cream is trolamine salicylate.......same as in aspercreme. No difference. You just pay a lot more.

copy and paste from med pharmacy......

Trolamine salicylate topical cream products like Aspercreme, BenGay and Sportscreme contain trolamine salicylate, a chemical similar to aspirin. The FDA lists these drugs as safe, but not necessarily effective for pain relief. Trolamine salicylates are available over-the-counter. The makers claim salicylates seep into the skin to help relieve arthritis pain.

Does charge more for same thing with a different name sound familiar? Putting on too much or too often in the cream is one way to OD.

Link from a 2005 year discussion on this cream.

http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=24&m=386288

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Women who behave don't make History!

C3-4 herniation
C4-5 disectomy & fusion (anterior)
C6-7 & C7-8 L laminectomies (posterior) (need R)
Partial removal of supporting Cervical Posterior Ligament
Constant shoulder pain & tightness.intermittent neck pain
bulged discs at C6-7 & C7-8

Vicodin 7.5 for pain
Atarax 50mg q 6 hours for pain
soft collar and heating pad best friends


VIEW IMAGE

Andrea,
The main reason I mentioned it was that my cousin is a pharmacist, has worked as one for 30 years, and it's the only thing that keeps her going. I have to buy the Aspercream, because there's no way I could afford the ALCIS, but I do notice a difference between the two when i use them. I think it may have more to do with the totality of the ingredients than just the main one. My cousin was surprised herself. She buys it in bulk with a nurse she knows; they split the cost so they can get them a lot cheaper. But I think like with everything, it's highly individual. If something like that helped keep me working, it would be worht the money. But my biggest problem is nerve pain in all its varieties. LOL Neither of these creams do anything for that, sadly.

PaLady

Hi EMTJenn,

I've been away from HW for a few days, so I just want to take the time now to welcome you to the CP board of HW. Sounds like you are already getting good advice from everyone! This is such a wonderful place to come for support & understanding, everyone here is like a family! Keep posting with us!

Skeye

ps - Way to go being an EMT! You guys do so much for the community (and are often under-recognized)! I have a lot of respect for EMT's & paramedics (although fortunately, I've never had any personal experience with you guys from a patient perspective, and I hope to keep it that way)! I was actually close to becoming an EMT myself (I've always wanted to & I had a great opportunity open up at school), but then my injury happened, and well, it hasn't worked out since. Maybe one of these days!

Has your doctor ever tried you on NSAID's (non steroidal anti-inflammatory) medications. My friend also has Chondromalacia and had a dramatic reduction in pain using a prescription COX-2 called Celebrex. I am certainly not a doctor, but you might want to talk with yours about non-narcotic options. Medications to reduce the inflammation and swelling may help with the pain and origin of the problem more than trying masking the pain with narcotics.

Good luck.

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Stella Marie

Rare neurodegenerative disease called “Multiple System Atrophy”.  Wheelchair, O_2, & Bipap, intrathecal pump, Neurostimulator, dystonia, neuropathic pain and spasticity.