I'm in agony right now...

[catnapper]

Oh Donna..... I feel just awful hearing this! I'm so sorry you are going through this. If it boils down to surgery, there are so many new improvements on surgery in the past few years. Recovery times are getting shorter ad shorter. Still, its not fun thinking of going through surgery regardless how short the recovery.

(((hugs)))


"Loopier than normal" *snicker*

[wombat2u2004]

Wom, please tell us more about the fish oil pills. What does that do? Does it cause you to have a fishy odor?

I PM'd Donna about my "problems" yesterday. I am facing knee surgery in May and I have some long ongoing nerve issues that I'm just getting a diagnosis for. I can't avoid the knee surgery but all the other pains being eliminated, could give me a whole new quality of life. I would be interested in hearing more about the fish oil deal. Thanks.

Not trying to hijack, Donna. Sorry. I hope this will give us all something to try.

D&D,
I have been told that if you take fish oil tabs in very high doses, it can cause one to have a fishy odour.......but very high doses tend to be taken by those people who believe that the more you take, the more benefit you get....which is untrue. In fact....what you are trying to do is balance out Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids, so you really don't have to have a heavy dose. I remember when I was taking it....only about two capsules a day.....which is a pretty light dose. But remember, if you are on ANY other kind of medication, then check with your local doctor first, to see if it's ok to take those Omega 3 Fish Oil capsules.
They worked really well for me......I wasn't on any other medication....so I just bought them at a health shop, followed the recommended dosage, and popped them for a couple of months, and I don't have any more pins and needles or pain. It was actually a doctor, who was the wife of one of my mates who told me about it.
Here's a link for you.............
http://www.fgb.com.au/Natural%20Rem%...oarthritis.htm
Do some searches for yourself on the net.....Omega 3, fish oil, osteoarthritis, etc etc.
Hope you can get some relief from this.
Wom

[wombat2u2004]

And here's another couple of links on that same site for you.............
http://www.fgb.com.au/ProductProfiles/ELJointPP.htm
http://www.fgb.com.au/ProductProfiles/ELFishCapsPP.htm
http://www.fgb.com.au/ProductProfile...GoldCapsPP.htm

Eucalyptus rub is good to...........
http://www.fgb.com.au/ProductProfiles/BosEucRubPP.htm

[Freedom]

Hi Donna -

I can only imagine what you felt like when you posted. I have osteoarthritis in both knees, was diagnosed in January, and 2 knee replacements are in my very near future! (I'm 48) I have days I can barely hobble from bedroom to bathroom and back. Other days I walk around fine; of course always keeping my cane nearby.

I started using Schiff's Move Free Advanced in January; glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and joint fluid. It is an over the counter supplement. That is helping along with the NSAIDS from the doctor and OS.

I found lots of help in understanding what was happening and in talking with the doctors from the folks on this web site:

http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEtalk/index.php?board=7.0

Even though the site is based in England, there are many USA members on there. You may wish to take a peak. I got a list of questions to ask the doctors, pieced together from 7 or 8 different replies. I NEVER would have thought of half of them on my own.

The forum is a bit more complex than what we have here on Pet Talk, but that is at least in part because there are so many different types of knee injuries being discussed. Just start in the "newbie" section, at least that's what I did.

Good wishes being sent your way!
Sandie

[Daisy and Delilah]

Thanks Wom. I'll have a talk with the doc on Thursday. I appreciate the links. We always like to know about anything that will help

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Aw Donna, I know very well how you feel right now! A pinched nerve is one of the most painful things! I got surgery on March 2nd, because I had a pinched nerve on L5-S1. Don't be shocked if the pain isn't gone right away; I am still recovering! I take Tramadol 200 for the pain, and it helps ; what also helps is Dafalgan 1g.
Good luck!

[moosmom]

Thanks for all your advice and input everyone. I woke up this morning and the pain was gone. I KNOW it's only temporary. Of course the tingling and numbness in my left arm and hand are still there. I'm looking into homeopathic stuff and will talk to my doctor about it, since I'm on a couple of meds for my depression.

One of the culprits is my career as a paramedic. 20 years of lifting and carrying people down flights of stairs, through fields of weeds, etc., has taken a toll on my body. I was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis of my neck and back, along with a pinched nerve in my neck.

I didn't realize there were so many PT members who suffer from the same thing.

Wom,

Thanks for the links!

[Miss Z]

Aw Donna, I'm so sorry that you've been in pain, I am glad though that it has subsided a little for now. Sending big (((hugs))) your way!

[Catsnclay]

Just a little side note here, you don't have to purchase the above mentioned pills from a Health Food store.....I get all mine at Wal-Mart and save a ton of $$$$


Along with all my prescribed medications I take daily, I also take the fish oil pills, calciulm with D, Gluscomaine & Sulfate (not the condroitoin - that doesn't work for me) and also I have to take senna pills & tea for all the "wonderful" side effects that the prescribed Rx's do for me I think all I do is pop pills several times a day - but I'm still not better!

Oh, isn't getting older so much fun???

[ramanth]

I'm sorry you're in pain Donna. *HUGS*

I hope the guy in NYC can help.

[Babyboonie]

Hi Donna, sorry to hear you are in pain.

I too suffer with knee problems and have done since I was 8/9 years old (i'm now 26). My right knee is the worst of the two and I have so far had two arthroscopys. This is basically where they give the knee a good clear out and take out anything that is "loose" that shouldn't be. I had quite a bit of my cartilidge taken out as it was next to useless - and was told it would grow back???? Anyway, I have been told that I have the beginnings of osteoarthritis (spelling??) and that ideally I do need a knee replacement.....but hay, they won't consider me until i'm in my late 40's at the very earliest. At one time I was relying quite heavily on strong painkillers which, like you, were making me loopy as well as making me physically sick. It was then that they realised I had become addicted to them - make sure you listen to some of the advice on here about homeopathic stuff....it's got to be better than being addicted to pain killers?

Keep us up to date with how you get on.

[Felicia's Mom]

I'm sorry you are in pain Donna. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[cassiesmom]

prayer for mooshoo's mom

[Catty1]

With all due respect, I would not purchase any supplements from Wal-Mart unless they had DIN numbers on them, or were known for being a good brand.

Cheaper stuff (not necessarily less expensive) might have less or more in it than what it actually says on the label. For example, with Vitamin E, the label might say each cap has 50 IU. But the caps might have 100 IU or almost none.

Better quality stuff is more likely to be produced to pharmaceutical standards, where the label and the actual contents have to agree!

Donna deserves the best stuff.

[carole]

Oh Donna my friend, i am so sorry to hear how much you are hurting right now, ongoing pain is the pitts,I hope you can find some relief somehow, honestly i have had tramadol myself and never again, i could not even think straight, even how to answer the phone on that drug, had it prescribed for a migraine,its a meany alright, do you have a drug called arcoxcia it is for arthritis really, but can be used for other type of pains, it really is very helpful for severe pain.

My dear i sure hope you can get something sorted and not be in so much pain, giant gentle hugs are coming your way,thinking of you and wishing all that pain away.