Pain managment question

Acupuncture is amazing for pain management. Joint supplements (same stuff the dogs get, glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM) help me, a lot. I've had some pretty bad days, lately, with the weather changing. Drinking enough water, not eating inflammatory foods, and taking joint stuff with some sort of omega 3 supplement makes a big difference. Email Callie, too. She has an arthritis article that's helpful.

 *smacks forehead* DUH! Callie! Lol.

Acupuncture here is soo expensive and I don't think Alex's medical will cover it. Lol. But I'll look in to the joint stuff.

Also, don't underestimate the power of a nekkid dog! Even a coated pet that will seek out your sore spots and lay on them is immensely helpful. It's a smidge uncomfortable at first, but they're the right kind of heat.

 I don't own a nekkid dog! Unless I can borrow your's for a bit. Lol. Maze is quite good at laying on my feet under the blankets when I go to bed so that helps a bit until I accidently kick her in the head in my sleep.

A good rice bag is a fair substitute. You can do a tube sock, filled with rice (I dump lavendar tea or chamomile in mine), microwave it, and use it as a heat pack. If you're handier than I am, you can use a pillow case, and sew it shut. Oh, and tie a knot in the sock.

Sorry, it's late, LOL. Rice holds heat for hours. When it starts to cool, you can shake it, and the warm rice comes to the outside. It's great!

And you're welcome to have Ena for the next three weeks, while she's IN SEASON. Gross!

 NEAT!! I think I've got an extra pillow case around here somewhere! I must remember to buy rice tomorrow.

 A dog in season doesn't bother me. I'll return her nice and clean and sane. Lol.

oh, sorry, i missed this before... i heard tiger balm is supposed to help with that as well. i only  bought my first tiger balm yesterday and havent had problems since then, so i cant say from my own experience. also make sure to keep it warm during the day, even if it isnt hurting yet! my knees are sensitive to weather changes and since i hate wearing anything but jeans in winter i bought some knee high socks that i weat to protect my knees... so for you, i'd imagine, thicker socks and maybe ugg-boots would probably help keep your ankle warm...

 Ahh tiger balm.. My grandma's miracle cure.. must pick some up.

It doesn't matter how thick my socks are or how many layers, my feet still turn to ice. I've got steel toed boots but they don't do much for keeping the warmth in.

you said tylenol and all that doesn't help, but have you tried tylenol arthritis?

I am really sorry about the pain you are dealing with !  I understand chronic pain. I find something that helps me a great deal and can be made any where is a moist heat pack.  You take a bath towel and fold it to the size you need, place it in a small kitchen trash bag and before tying it closed you pour about 3-4 cups of really hot water on top. It lasts about 30 minutes ( which is really too long the theory I have alswys been given is 15 on 15 off. ) I stuff mine in a pillow case as I do not like the feeling of plastic.  But it can be re warmed with a minute in the microwave. The reason my Physical Therapist likes this better than the rice bag is the water weight is beneficial to joints making them really absorb the heat.  You can wrap the cloth around your ankles, it's basically free as everything is re usable.  I have had to have heat packs when flying and the attendents can make one of these with little effort using paper napkins in place of the toweling.

Have you looked into excercises that improve your circulation?? Even a simple stretching exercise will worl like flexing your foot gently , pointing toes forward then backward in reps will improve circulation.  The advice about using an anti inflamatory life style is major.  There is a drink sold here in the states at grocery stores called Enable, it puts major does of Glucosamine and Chodroitin in your system for maximum dosing.  drinking one a day ,  ( they are fruit flavored) makes a huge difference for both myself and  DH who has arthritic knees, shoulder and a neck injury. Also can a doctor prescribe you a good anti inflamatory?  I alternate Skelactin with Cymbalta .  There is one more drug for chronic pain that I think really helps and that is Lyrica. It has a "side effect"  as it can mood elevate.  I find pain killers are pretty ineffective for myself. I use the max dose of Fentnyl patch and that is changed every 3 days along with oxycodine up to 4 xs a day , it gives me the same relief that a normal person with a migraine would get from an OTC drug.   My brother was given a lor tab 7.5 and he was spacey for an hour,  after my recent surgery I was taking the equvilent of 4xs that in a single dose to  handle the added pain. I was able to go back off everything cold turkey as I am very cautious about pain drugs and how addictive they can be. The thinking is if you feel a buzz it is over medicating..

Feel better

Bonita of Bwana

Email me (not a pm 'cos I have to send you an attachment) and I'll send you the arthritis article. 

Tylenol essentially tells your brain you don't hurt.  (that's Callie-speak but it's what happens -- it doesn't relieve inflammation - it blocks pain)  It's the NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) like aspirin, ibuprophen (Advil), naproxyn-sodium (Aleve) that actually reduce inflammation but you have to take them day after day to have them continually work. 

I can't take them either much. 

Tiger Balm is a solid gel made from essential oils -- there are bunches of different ones and they do work the best for pain management.

Usually you can't get Nutra-Joint in Canada.  However -- you can do the same thing by getting unflavored gelatin and adding a small calcium supplement to it in a pinch. 

Glucosamine/chondroitin -- those are hydrators.  IF you have cartilage still left in that joint area those "plump up" the cartilage so it cushions better.  But if that cartilage is wearing away there's not much TO plump up (which is why you need the gelatinn/calcium). 

g/c is pricey -- but Sure-Jel is the same thing (it's glucosamine actually -- yep, fruit pectin).  Just taking like 1/4 to 1/2 teas. a couple of times a day can help and it's a more reasonable price.

 Turmeric and ginger are great for inflammation as well.  I've found both in capsule form in the supplement section of Walmart.  Yoga might help to strengthen and stretch the muscles supporting your ankles.  If it were me (and it's not, I know) I might think about the surgery.  If the joint is not properly placed and you wait, it could grind down the structures needed for a successful surgery and hamper your chances for a good outcome.

Good luck, that's really gotta suck!