My feet hurt these days courtesy of RA. I used to wear a size 7.5 wide. That is not the case any more. I have a bunion on my right foot which means I need to wear an 8 wide. I have to put orthotics in my shoes so I even wear at 8.5 wide.... Banana feet!
RA often affects the small bones of your hands and feet first. And yes it did get me there. My feet hurt often. I do exercises, wear inserts in my shoes. But I still hobble when I first get out of bed every day. The cat can beat me downstairs when I am having a bad day.
I think we are at the time, where I will need to talk to my rheumatologist about treatment options. I am on the ultra cheap, around for decades methotrexate. I can't take a lot of the new ones like Enbrel and Humira because they are not recommended for people who have had breast cancer (cancer the gift that keeps on giving). Those are the ones with the fancy commercials showing professional golfers saying they have RA but their Humira keeps it under control. No, I could get the newer, fancier, and more expensive Xeljanz.
So do I let my feet hurt or start paying a lot more? The real problem is the pain in my feet reflects joint damage there which needs to be stopped before it gets worse.
Showing posts with label pain management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pain management. Show all posts
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Pain control vs opiate management
I am a huge fan of opiates and other pain relief medications. I never used to be. I am also concerned about addiction issues. And if someone got hold of my personal (legal) stash, I would be seriously concerned. My pain meds include several with 'street value'. I would not want to be someone who unknowingly contributed to the local substance abuse problem.
There is a new invention out there for those of us with chronic pain. These are transdermal pain patches which contain varying doses of an opiate - Butrans patches. They have worked very well for me. I started a few years ago about when they first came out at 5mcg/hour and then eventually went up to 10 mcg/hour. You change the patch every seven days and in the meantime, lots of pain relief.
I know people who it has worked for, but also I know some who couldn't tolerate side effects. Like all medications, it is not for all. The best part for me is my feeble brain doesn't need to remember to take a pill to stay ahead of the majority of my pain.
But I digress. There is a real problem with opiate addiction in the US. As a result, the government has cracked down on their availability and has created databases to confirm patients aren't doctor shopping to get multiple prescriptions. This is why I can only get a month's supply of patches with each prescription. Each monthly prescription costs $105. If I could get the 3 month supply, as in the past, the price would be $105 for three months, not one.
This is an example of the problem has been created by more restrictions to the accessibility of these drugs to prevent abuse by the few. Which creates hurdles for those in pain to get the relief they need.
I'll call this progress but the advocacy groups, the regulators, doctors, and the pharmaceutical manufacturers need to continue to work together to help curb the abusers while allowing those in need to get the treatment they require.
There is a new invention out there for those of us with chronic pain. These are transdermal pain patches which contain varying doses of an opiate - Butrans patches. They have worked very well for me. I started a few years ago about when they first came out at 5mcg/hour and then eventually went up to 10 mcg/hour. You change the patch every seven days and in the meantime, lots of pain relief.
I know people who it has worked for, but also I know some who couldn't tolerate side effects. Like all medications, it is not for all. The best part for me is my feeble brain doesn't need to remember to take a pill to stay ahead of the majority of my pain.
But I digress. There is a real problem with opiate addiction in the US. As a result, the government has cracked down on their availability and has created databases to confirm patients aren't doctor shopping to get multiple prescriptions. This is why I can only get a month's supply of patches with each prescription. Each monthly prescription costs $105. If I could get the 3 month supply, as in the past, the price would be $105 for three months, not one.
This is an example of the problem has been created by more restrictions to the accessibility of these drugs to prevent abuse by the few. Which creates hurdles for those in pain to get the relief they need.
I'll call this progress but the advocacy groups, the regulators, doctors, and the pharmaceutical manufacturers need to continue to work together to help curb the abusers while allowing those in need to get the treatment they require.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Pain control vs opiate management
I am a huge fan of opiates and other pain relief medications. I never used to be. I am also concerned about addiction issues. And if someone got hold of my personal (legal) stash, I would be seriously concerned. My pain meds include several with 'street value'. I would not want to be someone who unknowingly contributed to the local substance abuse problem.
There is a new invention out there for those of us with chronic pain. These are transdermal pain patches which contain varying doses of an opiate - Butrans patches. They have worked very well for me. I started a few years ago about when they first came out at 5mcg/hour and then eventually went up to 10 mcg/hour. You change the patch every seven days and in the meantime, lots of pain relief.
I know people who it has worked for, but also I know some who couldn't tolerate side effects. Like all medications, it is not for all. The best part for me is my feeble brain doesn't need to remember to take a pill to stay ahead of the majority of my pain.
But I digress. There is a real problem with opiate addiction in the US. As a result, the government has cracked down on their availability and has created databases to confirm patients aren't doctor shopping to get multiple prescriptions. This is why I can only get a month's supply of patches with each prescription. Each monthly prescription costs $105. If I could get the 3 month supply, as in the past, the price would be $105 for three months, not one.
This is an example of the problem has been created by more restrictions to the accessibility of these drugs to prevent abuse by the few. Which creates hurdles for those in pain to get the relief they need.
I'll call this progress but the advocacy groups, the regulators, doctors, and the pharmaceutical manufacturers need to continue to work together to help curb the abusers while allowing those in need to get the treatment they require.
There is a new invention out there for those of us with chronic pain. These are transdermal pain patches which contain varying doses of an opiate - Butrans patches. They have worked very well for me. I started a few years ago about when they first came out at 5mcg/hour and then eventually went up to 10 mcg/hour. You change the patch every seven days and in the meantime, lots of pain relief.
I know people who it has worked for, but also I know some who couldn't tolerate side effects. Like all medications, it is not for all. The best part for me is my feeble brain doesn't need to remember to take a pill to stay ahead of the majority of my pain.
But I digress. There is a real problem with opiate addiction in the US. As a result, the government has cracked down on their availability and has created databases to confirm patients aren't doctor shopping to get multiple prescriptions. This is why I can only get a month's supply of patches with each prescription. Each monthly prescription costs $105. If I could get the 3 month supply, as in the past, the price would be $105 for three months, not one.
This is an example of the problem has been created by more restrictions to the accessibility of these drugs to prevent abuse by the few. Which creates hurdles for those in pain to get the relief they need.
I'll call this progress but the advocacy groups, the regulators, doctors, and the pharmaceutical manufacturers need to continue to work together to help curb the abusers while allowing those in need to get the treatment they require.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
My poor feet
My feet hurt these days courtesy of RA. I used to wear a size 7.5 wide. That is not the case any more. I have a bunion on my right foot which means I need to wear an 8 wide. I have to put orthotics in my shoes so I even wear at 8.5 wide.... Banana feet!
RA often affects the small bones of your hands and feet first. And yes it did get me there. My feet hurt often. I do exercises, wear inserts in my shoes. But I still hobble when I first get out of bed every day. The cat can beat me downstairs when I am having a bad day.
I think we are at the time, where I will need to talk to my rheumatologist about treatment options. I am on the ultra cheap, around for decades methotrexate. I can't take a lot of the new ones like Enbrel and Humira because they are not recommended for people who have had breast cancer (cancer the gift that keeps on giving). Those are the ones with the fancy commercials showing professional golfers saying they have RA but their Humira keeps it under control. No, I could get the newer, fancier, and more expensive Xeljanz.
So do I let my feet hurt or start paying a lot more? The real problem is the pain in my feet reflects joint damage there which needs to be stopped before it gets worse.
RA often affects the small bones of your hands and feet first. And yes it did get me there. My feet hurt often. I do exercises, wear inserts in my shoes. But I still hobble when I first get out of bed every day. The cat can beat me downstairs when I am having a bad day.
I think we are at the time, where I will need to talk to my rheumatologist about treatment options. I am on the ultra cheap, around for decades methotrexate. I can't take a lot of the new ones like Enbrel and Humira because they are not recommended for people who have had breast cancer (cancer the gift that keeps on giving). Those are the ones with the fancy commercials showing professional golfers saying they have RA but their Humira keeps it under control. No, I could get the newer, fancier, and more expensive Xeljanz.
So do I let my feet hurt or start paying a lot more? The real problem is the pain in my feet reflects joint damage there which needs to be stopped before it gets worse.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Pain management
Last week I went to the pain management doctor - yes I have one of those. I had a plan, a very well thought out plan, for that visit. I knew what I wanted and it worked out. I had a series of trigger point injections which are wonderful for fibromyalgia points. And I am scheduled for a Radio Frequency (RF) treatment on my lumbar spine which won't happen until the beginning of April (darn).
I lost the battle with my insurance company for RF of my right sacroiliac(SI) joint so I am moving on to the next options.The doctor thinks the lumbar RF might also help with my SI pain so we are proceeding with that option next.
This is the doctor who also gives me Tramadol for breakthrough pain. And Butrans pain patches for continual pain relief. (I know this post will get hit by spammers between the title and mentioning those names.) So in addition to signing a release for the trigger point injections, I also had to sign a statement, and check numerous boxes showing that I agreed with each one, on how I agreed not to abuse pain medicine and that I wasn't doctor shopping, hiding, sharing, or stocking up on prescriptions, and several other topics. Apparently this is part of a new law focusing on reducing abuse of pain medicine.
Studies have shown that abuse of pain killers leads to heroin use - which is a much more serious problem. To put it in perspective:
"...accidental prescription drug overdose is now the leading cause of acute preventable death for Americans. Someone dies in this manner every 19 minutes. That is more deaths than from car accidents."
I had no idea this problem was so prevalent. We have a new governor who successfully ran on a stop pain killer abuse platform.
I am careful with my medications. I don't share them with anyone. I keep them all hidden away in a closet out of sight so that if anyone is in our home, they can't easily see them. I also prefer being on a pain patch than taking regular pain pills. It is a controlled dose that keeps my pain in control. But I also have pills for breakthrough pain - when I have a very bad day.
I do not want to unknowingly contribute to this problem. I have enough pain issues without being part of the problem. I want to focus on managing my pain.
I lost the battle with my insurance company for RF of my right sacroiliac(SI) joint so I am moving on to the next options.The doctor thinks the lumbar RF might also help with my SI pain so we are proceeding with that option next.
This is the doctor who also gives me Tramadol for breakthrough pain. And Butrans pain patches for continual pain relief. (I know this post will get hit by spammers between the title and mentioning those names.) So in addition to signing a release for the trigger point injections, I also had to sign a statement, and check numerous boxes showing that I agreed with each one, on how I agreed not to abuse pain medicine and that I wasn't doctor shopping, hiding, sharing, or stocking up on prescriptions, and several other topics. Apparently this is part of a new law focusing on reducing abuse of pain medicine.
Studies have shown that abuse of pain killers leads to heroin use - which is a much more serious problem. To put it in perspective:
"...accidental prescription drug overdose is now the leading cause of acute preventable death for Americans. Someone dies in this manner every 19 minutes. That is more deaths than from car accidents."
I had no idea this problem was so prevalent. We have a new governor who successfully ran on a stop pain killer abuse platform.
I am careful with my medications. I don't share them with anyone. I keep them all hidden away in a closet out of sight so that if anyone is in our home, they can't easily see them. I also prefer being on a pain patch than taking regular pain pills. It is a controlled dose that keeps my pain in control. But I also have pills for breakthrough pain - when I have a very bad day.
I do not want to unknowingly contribute to this problem. I have enough pain issues without being part of the problem. I want to focus on managing my pain.
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