Thrive Without Janelle: The Accountability Group

[xwordfanatik]

On 5/7/2022 at 6:26 AM, WhatAmIWatching said:

If you can find Penetrex cream, I'd give it a try. Our Walmart stocks it.

My mom had bursitis in her hip, and regularly using Penetrex relieved it completely. I use it on my horrible back when the pain gets so high I'm shaking, and it gives me enough relief that I can catch my breath. I've tried all of the creams and ointments and nothing has shut the pain up for a little bit like Penetrex does. 

Thanks from me too.  I hadn't heard about it, and got a jar for my back pain.  Mr. X uses CBD roll-on for his bad knee, and it didn't seem to work for me.  Icing my back does help, but I can't do that in bed.

[Gramto6]

41 minutes ago, xwordfanatik said:

Thanks from me too.  I hadn't heard about it, and got a jar for my back pain.  Mr. X uses CBD roll-on for his bad knee, and it didn't seem to work for me.  Icing my back does help, but I can't do that in bed.

I have used CBD cream on my knee and it just worked for maybe an hour, same with Arnica cream. The Aspercreme w/Lidocaine seems to work the best of the 3 so far. The Salonpas patches are out for delivery today. Hoping they work longer.  Will try the Penetrex if they don't.

[deirdra]

I found that Salonpas patches worked for 12 hrs, as advertised, even for an inflamed broken toe, which had been aching so much that I couldn't sleep. With Salonpas I didn't feel a thing, even when walking. 

Edited May 9, 2022 by deirdra

[Gramto6]

5,582 steps yesterday.

My knee flared up so badly in the afternoon, I couldn't even think of driving the garbage up to the road or picking up the Salonpas from the mailbox.  My neighbor is going to get them for me this morning. I don't know what caused it but it was awful. It seems  better today but it did yesterday morning too, so I am going to do as little as possible until I get a patch on.

Wow! The patch does seem to help. I've had it on 1/2 hour so. It is going to take a bit to figure out placement for best coverage, but even so it does seem to be helping. Time will tell. 

[Gramto6]

5,394 steps yesterday.

Put first patch on in the morning yesterday and within a half hour knee was feeling better. Put another patch on overnight. Knee feels pretty good today. The only complaint I might have is the menthol/camphor smell is pretty strong. Think I will stick with the one patch during the day and one overnight. The patches are definitely the best thing I've tried!

[ginger90]

7 minutes ago, Gramto6 said:

5,394 steps yesterday.

Put first patch on in the morning yesterday and within a half hour knee was feeling better. Put another patch on overnight. Knee feels pretty good today. The only complaint I might have is the menthol/camphor smell is pretty strong. Think I will stick with the one patch during the day and one overnight. The patches are definitely the best thing I've tried!

So glad the patches are working for you!

Isn’t your second eye surgery coming up soon?

[Gramto6]

Thanks! Yes second eye surgery May 17. I will be so happy when that is done and the tree weeks of drops are over.  Then I can get new glasses.

[Gramto6]

4,687 steps yesterday. Fell asleep in the recliner for a couple of hours in the evening. Have to run 3 quick errands today so that may help today's count. Patches continue to help.

[WhatAmIWatching]

On 5/9/2022 at 12:06 PM, Gramto6 said:

I have used CBD cream on my knee and it just worked for maybe an hour, same with Arnica cream. The Aspercreme w/Lidocaine seems to work the best of the 3 so far. The Salonpas patches are out for delivery today. Hoping they work longer.  Will try the Penetrex if they don't.

The penetrex doesn't last super long, but you're supped to reapply at intervals. My mom followed the instructions and had excellent relief.

I'm an Oh Squirrel! person and forget to keep track, so I just rub it on when I am at my limit of coping, and it gives me a respite so I can catch my breath. It's really subtle. I didn't realize it had muted the pain until I thought about it and was amazed.

 

I haven't yet tried CBD and want to. My pain docs said I can't, because of the possible trace amounts of THC, which is the dumbest thing ever.

[Absolom]

47 minutes ago, WhatAmIWatching said:

I haven't yet tried CBD and want to. My pain docs said I can't, because of the possible trace amounts of THC, which is the dumbest thing ever.

Do people often drug test you?  If they don't, what's the problem?

[Pickleinthemiddle]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

Do people often drug test you?  If they don't, what's the problem?

Some pain management doctors/centers will regularly test to make sure that patients are not taking any drugs.  

[WhatAmIWatching]

8 hours ago, Absolom said:

Do people often drug test you?  If they don't, what's the problem?

Yep! It's a condition for being allowed to take opioids through the pain management doctor. I get tested approx every other month. They regularly tested us at my Calif pain doc, too.

 

7 hours ago, Pickleinthemiddle said:

Some pain management doctors/centers will regularly test to make sure that patients are not taking any drugs.  

And funnily, it's also to make sure we ARE taking our meds! That nugget surprised me as that never crossed my mind.

[Absolom]

5 minutes ago, WhatAmIWatching said:

Yep! It's a condition for being allowed to take opioids through the pain management doctor. I get tested approx every other month. They regularly tested us at my Calif pain doc, too.

I'm sorry.  I had no idea.  I take a lot of meds including for pain, but because of why I've never been sent to a pain clinic.  There was talk once of sending me to a pain clinic and now I'm glad I declined the offer.  Best of luck.  

[WhatAmIWatching]

34 minutes ago, Absolom said:

I'm sorry.  I had no idea.  I take a lot of meds including for pain, but because of why I've never been sent to a pain clinic.  There was talk once of sending me to a pain clinic and now I'm glad I declined the offer.  Best of luck.  

Don't be sorry! There's no way you would know unless you were under a pain doctor/clinic's care. I believe all the rules have to do with the war on opioids.

  Which fine, I get they want to stem the crazy pain pill epidemic, but why come after the people who are probably the most compliant? Because we need them to, you know, live and definitely not to get high! (Do pain pills even get anyone high? I wouldn't choose them if I wanted that 😆) *I do understand that there has been a big problem with pill mills, and clinics have been shuttered, and doctors have lost licenses, but we're in 2022 now. The bad apples should have been weeded out by now with all the increasingly stringent oversights!*

 It's so silly, but they can test me all they want. It's habit now, and doesn't make me feel like a criminal or degrading any more. I just have to make sure I load up on fluids before my appointments 😂 

 They used to count my pills as well to make certain I wasn't taking more nor less than I was prescribed, which could earn a dismissal from the practice. My understanding is that the DEA had that as a part of the contract for the doctors.
  Since I've lived here, the practice I see has changed hands three times, and the first one counted, the second one did for a couple years then stopped--I think the federal rules must have changed or something?-- And now the current practice doesn't count them at all. 
 

I do appreciate the pain doc because they also do injections and other procedures, which add more layers of relief (though short acting for me) and I love when we can burn the misbehaving nerves, which can decrease my pain a few steps for a few months. They have more tools than a non specialist, so I gladly jump through their hoops so I can be somewhat human part of the time.

 What I really want is a bionic spine transplant, but apparently we aren't quite there yet! 😆 🤞 

[Absolom]

3 minutes ago, WhatAmIWatching said:

Which fine, I get they want to stem the crazy pain pill epidemic, but why come after the people who are probably the most compliant? Because we need them to, you know, live and definitely not to get high! (Do pain pills even get anyone high? I wouldn't choose them if I wanted that 😆) *I do understand that there has been a big problem with pill mills, and clinics have been shuttered, and doctors have lost licenses, but we're in 2022 now. The bad apples should have been weeded out by now with all the increasingly stringent oversights!*

Right they're going after the wrong people.  I don't get any high from the pills either.  

If it keeps you moving, I'm glad.  

 

[Gramto6]

7,093 steps Thursday. Wow! My knee is feeling better than it has in a long time. I ordered more of the patches to have them on hand longer. I'll keep using them as long as they keep working!

6,227 steps yesterday.

I forgot to hit submit yesterday so today's post is a twofer! LOL

[ginger90]

Excellent twofer @Gramto6 ! Happy for you that you have found something that works. 😁

[Gramto6]

5,557 steps yesterday. Another nap in the recliner in the evening took away from walking time.

[ginger90]

3 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

5,557 steps yesterday. Another nap in the recliner in the evening took away from walking time.

Naps are a necessity!

[Gramto6]

7,705 steps yesterday. Knee continues to be pain free.

[ginger90]

@Gramto6 How is surgery Eve going for you?

[Gramto6]

2 hours ago, ginger90 said:

@Gramto6 How is surgery Eve going for you?

Thanks for asking! Even though I know what to expect, I am still nervous. I will be so glad when tis is behind me!! The drops I can deal with, it is just the surgery part. Then I will get new glasses and be able to see so much better!

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

@Gramto6 I will be keeping good thoughts for you tomorrow.   You got  this!  

[Gramto6]

8 minutes ago, MaddyMaeboxerbabe said:

@Gramto6 I will be keeping good thoughts for you tomorrow.   You got  this!  

Thanks! I appreciate the good thoughts more than you know!

I have to be there at 9:15AM so may not be posting until later in the afternoon.

Edited May 17, 2022 by Gramto6

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

I will look forward to reading that all went well when you are able to post.   Virtual hugs to you!

[ginger90]

Thinking about you @Gramto6 !!

[Gramto6]

7,726 steps yesterday. Today will be less, lots of sitting around time at hospital.

I'm home! Went well, but he did a block which is really annoying with all kinds of color visions and wavy lines. It is going to take hours to wear off. :(

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

Glad you are home and most of this in now behind you!   

[Gramto6]

A surprising 7,554 steps yesterday. Mostly done after I got home from surgery.This was one of the first times I have kind of pushed the steps to get the number up.

What a difference from yesterday to today!The pad and shield are off my eye and vision is better than it has been in years. My current glasses make it worse, the rx in my last ones works better. I do have to say that drug he used knocked me for a loop yesterday. Fell asleep in the recliner until 6AM and then in bed until almost 10AM. My internal time clock is all messed up but I am feeling better today. Doing everything w/out glasses! Amazing! I know I will need new glasses once all healed, but I can see they will be less strong.

[crazycatlady58]

34 minutes ago, Gramto6 said:

A surprising 7,554 steps yesterday. Mostly done after I got home from surgery.This was one of the first times I have kind of pushed the steps to get the number up.

What a difference from yesterday to today!The pad and shield are off my eye and vision is better than it has been in years. My current glasses make it worse, the rx in my last ones works better. I do have to say that drug he used knocked me for a loop yesterday. Fell asleep in the recliner until 6AM and then in bed until almost 10AM. My internal time clock is all messed up but I am feeling better today. Doing everything w/out glasses! Amazing! I know I will need new glasses once all healed, but I can see they will be less strong.

Yes, the results of cataract surgery are miraculous. 

[Gramto6]

6,016 steps yesterday.

[Gramto6]

5,689 steps yesterday. Didn't wear the patch overnight Wednesday...forgot and yesterday my knee was extremely painful. Hope to get back on track today.

[Gramto6]

6,213 steps yesterday. Back on schedule with patches and by evening no more pain. Not going to push it too much but hope to get number up gradually.

[Gramto6]

Only 4,227 steps yesterday. Slept for hours in the recliner. Don't know why so tired. Woke just after 4AM and dragged my sorry self to bed... Will try harder to stay awake this evening...

[Gramto6]

4,983 steps yesterday. Up, down, up, down, it is frustrating. I guess I just need to accept it as there are other things going on in my body right now... 

My blood glucose has been all over the map and I finally figured out yesterday that it is the steroid drops I am putting in my eye. Two more weeks of them and then hopefully things will get back to normal.

[Gramto6]

6,696 steps yesterday.

Only used the Aspercreme w/Lidocaine yesterday to give the skin on my knee time to recover from the rash (from the patches). Amazingly knee didn't hurt at all, all day. Aspercreme at bedtime and so far today no pain in knee with nothing put on it. My mind is boggled. Will see how today goes...

[Gramto6]

6,300 steps yesterday.

Ended up putting a patch on mid day but nothing overnight. So far today nothing, will see how the day goes...

[Gramto6]

7,327 steps yesterday.

Knee does seem better, taking it one day at a time as far as creams or patches go.

[Gramto6]

6,998 steps yesterday.

Knee pretty good most of the day then put on a small patch for 8 hours. Still going day by day only medicating when pain gets uncomfortable.

[Gramto6]

8,683 steps yesterday!

Knee was fine all day, no creams or patches needed at all. Even overnight.  Had to run a couple of errands this morning and by the time I got home and the car unloaded my knee was starting to ache. Put on a small patch and it seems to be doing the trick.

[Gramto6]

7,401 steps yesterday.

[Gramto6]

6,671 steps yesterday. It was a damp and drizzly day and my knee ached almost the whole day. Large patch on 8 hours. Today is another damp day hoping knee will be better...

[Gramto6]

6,574 steps yesterday. Knee kind of wonky so took it a bit easy. Today is sunny and dry so hopefully knee will be OK.

[crazycatlady58]

1 hour ago, Gramto6 said:

6,574 steps yesterday. Knee kind of wonky so took it a bit easy. Today is sunny and dry so hopefully knee will be OK.

How is your eye healing?

[Gramto6]

2 minutes ago, crazycatlady58 said:

How is your eye healing?

It is doing well. I have one more week of drops then I am done. At this point I only need my glasses (pair before last) for the computer. Will get new ones next month when I see the dr again.

[Gramto6]

5,382 steps yesterday. Knee hurt on and off all day. Tried just using the Aspercreme w/Lidocaine but it didn't seem to help much. Today woke up to knee hurting so put a small patch on it right away. Hopefully that will nip the pain in the bud.

[Gramto6]

6,074 steps yesterday. Still babying the knee a bit.

[ginger90]

@Gramto6

[Gramto6]

6,111 steps yesterday. Going to make a grocery store run today so that may help the count.

Thanks @ginger90!

[Gramto6]

6043 steps yesterday. Knee was sore all day. Today is starting out the same...full size patch on early.