I'm tired, a rant.

[sawinredneck]

Sorry, bad day, I'm just venting.
Broke my back about eight years ago, don't try ''tis at home! Degenerative disc at L-4/L-5 and a 20% compression fracture on the top of T-12. Just shattered bones and mush. I was told time and time again "it's all in your head!" But never got an explanation until I found a GREAT P/T Dr and she explained it, our brains reset the pain threshold much lower after a traumatic injury and we have to prove to our brain we aren't hurting things, just moving around. It's simple and complicated all at one, but why no one took the time in seven pluse years, I'll never get!
So my knees have been killing me, really bad at night as I have to sleep on my side. Today was the breaking point, my son had to be my crutch, my cane and just in case all day, God bless him for that!
My left knee is about twice it's normal size, my right 1 1/4 it's size.
Dr said he heard "grinding", oh yay! Off to x-ray, don't lay, roll around or be anywhere near a cold hard x-ray table when you're back is already unhappy!
So now that my back is pissed, we go back to the room where he drains the big knee, then injects it with cortisone right after, all while I'm fighting muscle spasms from the x-rays!
It's been 12hrs, I'd rather not say everything I've taken, but the jist is 50mg of Fentynal, Narcos and cyclobenzeprene. It still hurts, both, and I can still barely walk, one of the fears I see looming in on me.
Thanks for reading and letting me vent, I don't expect or want, sympathy, I just needed to vent and many of you can relate, pain wears on you, chronic pain grinds you to dust!

[44deerslayer]

Iv bin there sucks when everything hurts at once find some good gun porn and it won't hurt so bad

[sawinredneck]

There's a reason I'm on here so much.

[Lloyd Smale]

I feel for you. I also live with chronic pain. Makes me chuckle some times when other people (including my wife) complain about little aches and pains. They don't have a clue.

[sawinredneck]

So far today is better, knees let me sleep, we had pretty good storm last night and weather really messes with me! Nauseous from the stupid pills, but so far, it's a much better day than yesterday, I'll take it!

[Hickok]

I have the arthritis in both knees. Left knee has been drained twice. Got it from basketball injury in my "gladiator" days. Has the crunching and crackling sound. Now the right knee also has arthritis. Some days I walk or stagger like Frankenstein's monster.:lol: Had the x-rays.

I can feel your pain.

[GhostHawk]

My athritisis mostly hits my hips. 2 days sitting on a hot water bottle or hot pad will often knock it back down.

The other thing that helps is a couple of cups of raisin's covered with Gin and left to do its thing. After 2 weeks start having a teaspoon of the Raisin's and juice once or twice a day. If it is going to work for you, should see results within 2 or 3 days.

I do add a generous dollap of honey to mine, helps smooth some of the fire out.
It is not something you eat for pleasure, but it can make a big difference.

Best of luck to you, hang in there brother!

[sawinredneck]

I'm trying the apple cider vinegar shots for now, lots of people seem to swear by that as well.
I really wish I could get off the pain meds, I hate what they can turn me into, I can go full PMS on them, then feel like trash the next day! But every time I get off them my wife ends up dragging me into the ER in a couple of months. There's just no way to win.

[TexasGrunt]

I feel for ya. I broke my back at 18. Had surgery. I actually did really good for many years. Then about age 43 it all started to catch up with me. I was a City Letter Carrier at the time. Walking 10 miles, up and down 4000 steps a day. That job helped and hurt. It kept me moving but just piled on the damage in my back.

In June of 2012 I had a major flare up in my back. End of working. In January of 2013 I was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, age 52.

Now my right knee is failing.

So far this year, two procedures and two surgeries. After the first surgery I ended up with an infection. 5 days in the hospital on IV antibiotics, followed by the second surgery. Hospital beds ARE NOT made for people with chronic back problems.

Hang in there brother.

[TexasGrunt]

I'm trying the apple cider vinegar shots for now, lots of people seem to swear by that as well.
I really wish I could get off the pain meds, I hate what they can turn me into, I can go full PMS on them, then feel like trash the next day! But every time I get off them my wife ends up dragging me into the ER in a couple of months. There's just no way to win.

Just to be clear. The vinegar shots are oral right?

[Bulldogger]

I haven't tried it in years, but an herbal remedy for arthur-itis is to rub the affected area well with stinging nettles. They should just be coming up. It hurts for a couple days, but the sting chemical soaks into your joints and eases the swelling is the remedy part. Nettles have been used for centuries, but are out of favor these days.

Nettles can also be stewed, though they might lose some of their vigor. They are one of the first edible green things to pop up in spring, and used to be greeted with more appreciate than today. First greens after a long winter and if you had aches and pains from the shut in days of winter they ease those too. I can send you a recipe for nettle beer if you're interested. I have yet to try it myself, but intend to. I live in the nettle-free suburbs, and have a mental block against driving out of my way to get stung!

I have not had noticeable results with apple cider vinegar, but I like vinegar so I drink some just in case it helps over time. Do be sure to use an unpasteurized one, as it's the bacteria and stuff that is most of the curative. I use Bragg's, most stores carry it I think.

Bulldogger

[crowbuster]

Hey fellas, Wife got an infrared sauna years ago. Said how great it was. I was a non believer untill I tried it a few years ago, wow. melts pain away. If you get the chance try one !

[Lloyd Smale]

lots of old wore out guys here!

[sawinredneck]

Just to be clear. The vinegar shots are oral right?

Yes, just a shot glass each night. A buddy told me they now have pills that are easier to swallow, don't try to drink the shot all at once!

[sawinredneck]

I'm almost 49, not really that old.

[jcwit]

One thing I am lucky with, one of the chemo's they give me for the bone cancer also is used for arthrist, it hasworked wonders as fr as the pain I've had for years, it all went away.

Now just so it works for the cancer!!!!!!

I pray for the best and healing of your pain!

[sawinredneck]

Thank you all for the show of support, like I said, I just needed to vent! My wife, of 24yrs, has been nothing but wonderful, she could have easily kicked me to the curb and moved on. That says a lot about her!
I also know I have it easy compared to many here, I read a lot but don't always comment. But the strength many of you show is nothing short of amazing! Many of you are stronger than I can dream to be, you have my respect!

[MaryB]

I feel your pain daily. At 16 I was coming in from an outdoor classroom, went down the steps to the basement classrooms and was almost at the bottom when someone at the top slipped on ice and I woke up to 16 bodies piled on top of me. Back has been trashed since then I piled on 37 years of heavy lifting, had a lumbar decompression and a neck fusion in the last 8 years... torn ACL's in both knees, torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders(surgery twice on the right), carpal tunnel both wrists(surgery twice on the right)... just had a major weather change and I ache all over. Arthritis is settling into every damaged joint making things worse...

[woodbutcher]

:-( Yep.Been there.Done that.Started having arthurits show up at 16.Plus the beating and banging around over the years with the different jobs that I worked.Plus car wrecks.Weather changes Are easy to detect.If it was`nt for my meds I would stay in bed all day.
Whats that old DuPont slogan?Oh yeah"Better living through chemistry".Wishing all the best.God bless one and all.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[nekshot]

yup, I feel for you all!! My doctor said as soon as missouri legalizes marijuana she will try it with me. So for now to the chemical candy store we go and hate it and at the same time thankful for relief.

[xs11jack]

My knees are turning into train wreaks too. I go the VA and they pump the knees with a gel of some sort. I asked them about cortisone and they told me that cortisone will eventually eat the joint away. This gel will not. Ask your doc about it.
Ole Jack

[sawinredneck]

Will do, thanks for the info!

[MaryB]

Synvisc is what they call it, I get it in the right knee every couple years.


My knees are turning into train wreaks too. I go the VA and they pump the knees with a gel of some sort. I asked them about cortisone and they told me that cortisone will eventually eat the joint away. This gel will not. Ask your doc about it.
Ole Jack

[sawinredneck]

Yesterday was better, so far today the knee is really good, swelling is down, it's loosened up and doesn't hurt nearly as bad! I'm still using my cane as I don't yet trust it, but hopefully I can get the other one done next week and look into better long term options.
Thanks again all!

[Hickok]

I would like to have a couple of grease fitting tapped into my knees, and then I could pump some Mobil 1 Synthetic grease into them every morning!:redneck:

[sawinredneck]

Molly lube grease, the good high pressure stuff!

[oldblinddog]

Yes, just a shot glass each night. A buddy told me they now have pills that are easier to swallow, don't try to drink the shot all at once!

Put your vinegar (2 Tbs.) in a glass of apple juice. Makes it much easier going down and the apple juice is good for you too. I use Heinz apple cider vinegar. It doesn't matter what brand as long as it says "with the mother" on the label. It is, as Bulldogger said, the bacteria that is good for your gut.

[MaryB]

I use that apple cider vinegar on my salad almost every night. This time of year that salad is picked 5 minutes before I eat it!

Used the framing nailer to nail the ceiling joists in my utdoor kitchen/brew shed I am working on. Wow shoulders are NOT happy today! Forgot how heavy that cheap generic nailer is to work with above shoulder height.

[sawinredneck]

Sucks getting old with cheap tools!
Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[MaryB]

Older I get the better the tools I buy. But I rarely use the framing nailer now so I am not replacing it. 98% of the framing work on my old house is done, only things let are sister in new kitchen and bathroom floor joists to replace the dry rotted ones. Using treated lumber for that so they last. My "basement" is a dirt hole under the house with field stone foundation. I access it from outside via a hatch type door in the back add on entry.

[Land Owner]

I feel almost invigorated again after reading how badly you guys are hurting. No words to say that will ease your pains. Thinking good thoughts for you though just the same. Genuflecting to one knee to give thanks that I still can!

[Shingle]

Brother i have been on way more drugs than that and still hurt since 2008 due to a training accident. Im at a good point without too many drugs now. I discovered a drug called suboxone only thing is they make you jump through hoops to get it and doc charges 500$ a month,but now my guns point down range not at my mouth. Il keep you in my prayers dont loose hope.

[sawinredneck]

I got two weeks out of the shot, woke up early today with it screaming at me again. It didn't like the extremities of motion, fully bent or fully extended. I spent an hour in bed trying to stretch it out and finally getting it to pop and crack. It's losened up a little through the day, but I had things I had to get done, get my wife's glasses and contacts, take care of some of my sons needs while he was busy then mow and weed eat the yard. I'm sure tomorrow I'll pay for it.
I'll try to get back in to see the Dr, but I've got a hunch there isn't going to be much he can or will do for me from this point.

[sawinredneck]

Broke down and had the conversation with my wife, not something I'd ever, in my wildest dreams, be able to sit down and civilly discuss, much less have someone really grasp. I'm fighting, she knows and understands that. But she also gets the limitations of the flesh.
I promise, I'm fighting hard, but everyone has their limits.

[shoot-n-lead]

Prayer sent for you...hope you get some relief.

[claude]

sawinredneck

I was a logger, millwright and equipment operator in the woods, we get beat up something fierce, but youth overcomes. One day, youth has fled and the aches and pains start to manifest. Point being, at 50 I had a lot of joint pain, knees and shoulders mostly. I was introduced to Cherry extract, in tablet or capsule form depending upon the brand, and it worked for me. It is amazing, and while it has pain relieving properties it also helps regenerate healthy bearing tissue in the joints. If it's going to work for you you'll know by the end of the first bottle.

I suggest that you go to a health food store and buy a bottle and try it for a month. Mine are Source Natural Cherry Fruit Extract 500MG tablets 180 count and run about $30 a bottle. Not being a doctor standard disclaimer.......I would start out at 4 to 6 a day evenly spaced to maintain an even blood concentration and give them a months trial, you should be able to note a difference in pain levels within hours, and because it hurts less mobility increases as well. I don't know your financial status, and don't want to know, but suffice it to say $30 is not much in the face of constant pain.

I have been able to completely stop taking them and my joints seldom ever give me any trouble. This was after a six years of use, but towards the end of that period I was tapered off to one tablet a day and finally at 67 I don't need them except for an occasional flare up of gout.

If you do try it, and it works for you as it did for me, share the idea with somebody else, and give the hat tip to God.

claude

[marlin39a]

Try cannabis indica. It will relax you and relieve your pain.

[jonp]

Sorry, bad day, I'm just venting.
Broke my back about eight years ago, don't try ''tis at home! Degenerative disc at L-4/L-5 and a 20% compression fracture on the top of T-12. Just shattered bones and mush. I was told time and time again "it's all in your head!" But never got an explanation until I found a GREAT P/T Dr and she explained it, our brains reset the pain threshold much lower after a traumatic injury and we have to prove to our brain we aren't hurting things, just moving around. It's simple and complicated all at one, but why no one took the time in seven pluse years, I'll never get!
So my knees have been killing me, really bad at night as I have to sleep on my side. Today was the breaking point, my son had to be my crutch, my cane and just in case all day, God bless him for that!
My left knee is about twice it's normal size, my right 1 1/4 it's size.
Dr said he heard "grinding", oh yay! Off to x-ray, don't lay, roll around or be anywhere near a cold hard x-ray table when you're back is already unhappy!
So now that my back is pissed, we go back to the room where he drains the big knee, then injects it with cortisone right after, all while I'm fighting muscle spasms from the x-rays!
It's been 12hrs, I'd rather not say everything I've taken, but the jist is 50mg of Fentynal, Narcos and cyclobenzeprene. It still hurts, both, and I can still barely walk, one of the fears I see looming in on me.
Thanks for reading and letting me vent, I don't expect or want, sympathy, I just needed to vent and many of you can relate, pain wears on you, chronic pain grinds you to dust!

No fear, get a knee replacement. It's a pretty routine thing now. My FIL just got one at the VA and he is in his 70's. Said he wished he had done it years ago.

[lightman]

No fear, get a knee replacement. It's a pretty routine thing now. My FIL just got one at the VA and he is in his 70's. Said he wished he had done it years ago.

Thats what I was thinking. I know several people that have had this done. I'm sorry to hear about all of you guys having health problems. Having your mobility impaired is bad enough. Adding chronic pain to things is even worse.

[MaryB]

Torn ACL in both knees, doc said walk on it until you can't stand the pain...

[ARKLITE881South]

One thing some one should have mentioned, try sleeping with a pillow between your knees. I had a bad knee, had a partial replacement. That really took care of a lot of pain. Shoulders are i'm told by my friends, the worst surgery , followed by knee's, then hips. Before my surgery, i found i was forcing my knees against each other in my sleep. So, before and every since my surgery i sleep with a pillow between my knees. It helps a lot, give it a try. I wouldn't mess around, get checked out for knee surgery if that's what you need, get it done. Deal with the pain, and you'll really be glad you did in about 4-6 wks. After a year, or so, get the other done. Trust me, it'll help you AND your family. I had my left hip done last May, what a huge difference it made in me, both mentally, and physically, i feel like a new, and much happier person. I was about to go off the deep end with pain. Now, I don't jump on people, and family like i used to, I'm almost pain free, and I'm a whole lot happier too. The longer you wait, the worse it will get. Just my opinion.