Teresa Shaffer

The same thing is happening here in WV. The state took the CDC Opioid Guidelines meant strictly as guidelines for primary care providers and added to them. Since July of 2017 they have been in the process of trying to make everyone who has Medicaid or Medicare wean off of opioids and go below the recommendations of using at or below the equivalent…[Read more]

Hi Guit30,

I responded to your other message about this but I am also going to share what I wrote here in case you miss the other one. There are a lot of people having this issue.

The CDC came out with Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids due to the opioid of overdoses. Since then pharmacies have implemented new rules saying that they will not…[Read more]

Hi Guit30, it is nice to meet you. I understand a life of back pain, I have lived half of my life time with back pain (25 years). I have Degenerative joint disease, sciatica, neuropathy, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sjogren’s syndrome, spinal stenosis and more.

In 2016 the CDC came out with Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids due to the…[Read more]

Hi,

I had a rheumatologist once tell me about what she called the, “Mediterranean diet” because of my Rheumatoid Arthritis.
She said to eat foods like fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and use olive oil and that these foods help lower inflammation and can help us have less joint pain and morning stiffness. I have never strictly followed…[Read more]

Hi, pca3055,

I am sorry to hear that you are having these issues. I have never had a fusion however I wanted to reply to give you support.

May I ask when you had your fusion and have you spoken to the surgeon or your primary care about this pain.
It does kind of think you may have a nerve compressed. I wish you the best of luck.

Take care
Noki4

Hi, I am so sorry to hear the testing increased your pain levels. I do not have CRPS however I can share that testing for my different disease/conditions has in the past made my pain levels increase from a day or so to a week or more.
It is so hard when we need to have these tests done in order to form a treatment plan and the tests cause more…[Read more]

Hi Mdmc,

For me having an RA flair can last any where from a day of increased pain to a week or more of additional pain. It is hard never knowing how long a flair may last and how much will the day to day pain increase.

Take care
Noki4

Hi Saniya,

My youngest daughter started grinding her teeth as a teenager. It was loud enough that I could hear the grinding from my bedroom that was across the hall from her’s. I took her to see her dentist and he recommended a custom fit mouth guard. By custom fit I mean they took impressions of her mouth and then the mouth guard was made to fit…[Read more]

Hi Saniya,

My youngest daughter started grinding her teeth as a teenager. It was loud enough that I could the grinding from my bedroom that was across the hall from her’s. I took her to see her dentist and he recommended a custom fit mouth guard. By custom fit I mean they took impressions of her mouth and then the mouth guard was made to fit…[Read more]

Hi Willowwisp,

Welcome to family at TPC. I see that TPC YaYa has already told you about the great ways to get and give support using the chats and phone support group.
I have to share that the phone support group is like talking to old friends, it is so relaxed and I love how it is open discussion. We just get on there and share and support and…[Read more]

Hi Ruthie,

I don’t have the whole body itching from the patches but I do get the itching around the edges of the patches from time to time. One thing that has helped me for the itching around my patches is to clean the spot with an adhesive remover to make sure I get all the old adhesive off. Now with that being said you have to make sure you…[Read more]

DaleAdams,

I am so sorry to read that you have not been fully diagnosed yet. It can be so frustrating trying to deal with the unknown. What medications may or may not help, what therapies may or may not help. I do hope that your healthcare providers are helpful in getting the diagnoses so you can begin to work on a pain toolbox that will carry…[Read more]

Oh to be in the 70’s would be great. We keep flip flopping between temperatures and my chronic pain body does not like it.
It really would be better if it would just get cold here and stay cold. Of course I would prefer it get warm and stay warm but I live in the North so we have cold winters.

Quieter is good as long as you do not lose your good…[Read more]

Hello Fortunateone,

It appears you had a long year. I don’t know if it helps to hear but I have the diagnosis of chronic muscle strain/spasms in my chest, rib and shoulder areas. They tell me it stems from the degenerative joint disease that I have in my neck and back.

That is one of the long list of things that have gone wrong with my body. I…[Read more]

Hi Sarah4108,

Welcome to TPC. So sorry to hear of all the issues you are dealing with. I totally understand the degenerative disc issue. Mine started when I was 24 years old and I am now 52. It has been a long journey but I am still moving forward.
I feel staying positive or has positive as possible helps with the recovery and daily living with…[Read more]

Hi Ynevar,

I have Ankylosing spondylitis and it is sad that your insurance seems to disregard the facts that you do not have to be HLA-B27 positive to have AS. A majority of the people with this marker never contract ankylosing spondylitis.

I understand that our healthcare providers are busy and backlogged but that is no excuse to not fight our…[Read more]