Something rather remarkable is happening to me

As some here may know, I'm arthritic, and have had pain and other symptoms for years (I had my first total knee replacement at the ripe old age of 42, my second one five years later). The disease is throughout my body, and as any arthritic can tell you, the pain ain't a delightful thing to experience. As a result, I've been on pain medication for a few years now.

Nothing super powerful, but still potent and of lasting effect- my mainstay is Ultram (Tramadol). This is a synthetic opiate, and it stays within the blood stream for a while. It removes the pain, but there's a price- slowed reactions, tiredness (actually I get afternoon sleepiness if I stop and sit for even a few minutes), fuzzy thinking, and so on. I occasionally stop taking it for two or three days just to clear it from my system, but I usually substitute something else. Darvocet is available to me, and it's not nearly as long-lasting within the system. (It also gives me fantastic dreams, which is why I don't take it often- it's too tempting a drug for me!!!)

Well, last weekend I stopped taking ANYTHING. I anticipated the pain returning in three or four days, but I wanted to see just how addicted to this crap I really am, and it's been a long time since I've been fully awake and not trying to think through the fog.

The funny thing is, six days later the pain has yet to return, and this is the first day I actually feel really free of the effects of the drugs. My mind is clear, my natural sleep pattern has reestablished itself without difficulty, as has other bodily rhythms. It's amazing.

I'm sure the pain will return- I've never had any strength in my legs, and after walking my sister's dog yesterday my legs ached badly, but that's gone now. My lower back is involved, and it's a matter of time before something happens to strain it. My neck, elbow, hands, and feet are all arthritic, and it's only natural for them to give me pain. But not for the last week!

In the meantime I'm reacquainting myself with reality, and it's kinda nice to know I still have a functioning mind (when it's not stuffed full of cotton). I haven't been this self-aware for a long time!

I know it won't last, but right now I'm having a ball.

Sobriety- give it a chance. You may just discover how fun it can be!

I have arthritis as well. Had a total hip replacement at age 29 and a revision of it at age 33 because I fell and broke the acetabular cup.

Don't do that again, mkay? :toast:

I recently fell (full body weight) onto my kneecap (my real one, not the fake one). Over a month later I still have to wear this nasty neoprene and steel knee brace to walk, but I'm so used to it I don't feel it there any more, and while it's on I have no real pain or difficulty walking.

I am pretty sure that where I live now will have "the big one" and become either an island or the land mass would cease to exist before there is ice on any sidewalk around here!

:hi:

That is good to know!

Now you realize that if for some reason, you run out of drugs, you might not have to panic...

I'm really happy that you're feeling this well!

:hug:

You know I'm a "recovered" drunk, so it's easier for me to fall into the trap of drugs than it may be for other folk. I just wanted to make sure for my own peace of mind. I'm satisfied, but I'm still gonna go on for as long as I can.

I also have to take some heavy duty narcs on occasion because of the pain. I totally get the needing to clear out the brain after awhile.

NOw that you are off the drugs, can you see an acupuncturist and control the pain that way? The acupuncturist could also prescribe herbs.

Drugs = Free (VA Hospital)
Acupuncture = Money I don't have

I'm not against the concept- my brother did it and he said it helped him. It's just that it's not supported through the Veteran's Administration, where I get all my treatments from.

Perhaps when I win the Lottery- they keep telling me the tickets they sell me are THE winners. Perhaps they just don't know which buttons to push yet... :cry:

Acupuncture and herbs are generally cheaper than drugs.
Tonight is the Powerball drawing. I have some tickets and I hope you do too. Maybe we'll claim the prize at the same time.

I have some of the same stuff going on with me. I have spinal arthritis and its in my fingers a little bit, too. I have my neck and lower back fused. I never have gotten over the L5-S1 deal and have had to be on Lyrica for the last couple of years cuz of the permanent nerve damage in my legs. That stuff makes me so sleepy and I see double for a while after it first starts taking effect. I hate not feeling clear headed. Funny thing is, Norco, wakes me up and makes me feel alert. I almost need it to counteract the neuropathy medication. Thursday, I had epidural steroids infused into my back and low and behold, I feel almost human today. I dead headed the roses and trimmed back some iris. It's good to feel almost normal.

I am very happy for you -- even if the pain comes back, at least you know you have these pockets of pain-free, clear-headed time that are possible. I don't want to sound stupid, but do you think it has anything to do with the time of year/weather patterns/etc?

Also, my brother in law really struggled with psoriatic arthritis and until the diagnosis was correct (took the drs. a while to figure out what was going on) he got some interim relief from freshly grated ginger tea... I don't know if you ever tried that, but perhaps it could give you a bit of a pain-free boost once in a while.

We're coming out of that hundred-plus degree spell (Dallas Texas) and the eighties and nineties feel like heaven.

Psoriatic arthritis is what I also have- looking back, I had the first (undiagnosed) symptoms in my 20s. I was in my mid thirties by the time it got bad enough to see a doctor about. It came as a real shock when the doctor looked at me and said flat out that I had arthritis.

I'm on Remicade (I'm infused every six weeks) but it's just slowing it down, not stopping it. It has been a major factor in my long term pain reduction, but nothing's perfect...