[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by DAVES

The sad reality, we are not 20 anymore. Amusing? Ponce DeLeon discovered Florida in search of the fountain of youth. The Villages in here. With all the digging are they really building homes or searching for the fountain of youth. Imagine home values if they find it.

The best pain killers are opioids. Every drug has side effects. Opioids have as well as being habit forming, the effect diminishes and the does needs to be increased making addiction worse. Aside the same is true of Steroids.

I think it was George Burns who said if I knew I was gonna live this long I woulda taken better care of myself.

Where is that fountain of youth? I need it.

His better line was his response to the inquiry: "Mr. Burns, you drink 4 martinis and smoke 6 cigars each day, what does your doctor think about that?"

George: I don't know, he's dead

[Almanurse1]

Originally Posted by jdulej

I’ll second Catherine Sullivan

Third.

[Spalumbos62]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I sent a PM.

I have osteo and sure enough as soon as I get in bed the pain starts to crank up.
OTC I use Biofreeze, none greasy, comes in a roller form. My physical therapist suggested it. I roll some on my barking ankles and shortly in LA LA land. Best of luck.

[cbmerl]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Thank you all for the info and comments so far, a lot of this is what my wife has already tried or is currently doing, hoping for something she has not tried yet.

If you are looking for a great Rheumatologist, Dr. Catherine Sullivan (at Brownwood specialties) is amazing and wonderful. Phone number is 352-674-8700. Good luck.

[Haggar]

Originally Posted by Babubhat

Voltarin gives me temporary relief but is not a long term solution. Still waiting for my appointment with a specialist

My wife used Dololed. She got off of it to see if her Kidneys were being affected,
After review by primary doc that advised her dololed was safe she went back on it and got immediate relief. It's a marigold abstract.

Normally I think these are all a bunch of marketing crap but this really seems to work for her.

[lindaelane]

I think you have tried a lot and want something unusual but good.

I suggest items you can have shipped from Europe.

I recommend NutraLenk Gold from Iceland.

Do not be confused by products named NutriGold or NutraLenk Gold from Denmark, etc. Here is a website for NutraLenk Gold from Iceland:

NutriLenk Gold fyrir lidina 180 toflur | Lyfjaver

Google will translate this website.

They will ship here. It is about $50 for a two month supply, but the shipping charges will add quite a bit to this. Plus, the 2-3 weeks you should take 2 tablets 3 times a day, then you cut back to 2-3 tablets a day (so it costs a little more for the first 2-3 weeks.)

You must order two bottles and pay $25 shipping, so about $125 for a four month supply.

You won't feel a difference immediately, but within a month or two there is a great difference.

This worked wonders for me where nothing else did very much.

Additionally, as others have said, I strongly recommend Dr. Sullivan of the Villages Healthcare.

Finally, physical therapy implementing the right exercise program has the potential to make a huge difference. You do have to find a good physical therapist (I visited with one in Europe and so have no one to recommend here.)

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Maybelle

Not many good arthritis doctors around here. I definitely recommend going to Shands. A bit of a drive but worth it.

The irony of it, good doctors don’t want to practice in a market where most of the patients are on Medicare, which pays low reimbursement rates. Yet, most of the arthritis doctors patients are 65 plus and on Medicare. That’s probably why there is a nationwide shortage of good rheumatologists?

[Carla B]

I think different drugs either work for different people or harm them. My particular version of arthritis first started at age 34 when I was hospitalized with a rheumatic-like illness. In the following years it would come and go with acute episodes in the fingers but did not progress beyond the fingers. By acute, I mean red, swollen, and painful joints. In the 1990's, while taking prescribed Feldene, I suddenly contracted Ulcerative Colitis. With no family history of UC I think the use of Rx NSAIDs caused it, although the doctors more or less scoffed at the idea. However, the gastroenterologist at Baylor College of Medicine who treated me advised that I should never take OTC or prescribed NSAIDs again. Said to use Tylenol, and "just live" with the pain. I followed his advice. The acute episodes continued for the next seven or eight years, attacking one finger at a time, sometimes for as long as a year, then suddenly leaving when the damage to the joint was done.

After treatment for the initial episode of UC, I was among the lucky ones who have never had a flare-up of that disease. 25 years after the onset of UC, I cautiously tried Celebrex, which wasn't available during my active years of arthritis, and found out that it suppressed acute pain and swelling after a few days.

Just my story and no advice offered here. Just that there are many aspects related to arthritic diseases, how to diagnose and how to treat.

[Notsocrates]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Has anyone found a medican OTC or prescription that works for both of these? Wife is suffering. Also if you have a really good doctor for these conditions that would be appreciated if she decides to change doctors.
Thanks in advance, VT

OA and RA are two different inflammatory diseases. The former can be thought of as "wear and tear." The latter is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakes friend from foe. The first is treated, as you know with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. The second is treated with other classes of agents. Because different agents work differently on different persons, this is not the place for that discussion.

[richrjones]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Thank you all for the info and comments so far, a lot of this is what my wife has already tried or is currently doing, hoping for something she has not tried yet.

Gabapentin 800 mg 3 times a day helps me. Prescription needed.

[Marykess1802]

I’m doing well on Gabapentin supplemented with Tylenol x-strength. Tried lots of other OTC and Rx meds. Sombra OTC works great. Voltaren on rough days. Careful…Voltaren has ibuprofen.

[Burgy]

It has all been very good advice. For major flare or misery a burst and taper of prednisone may help.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Marykess1802

I’m doing well on Gabapentin supplemented with Tylenol x-strength. Tried lots of other OTC and Rx meds. Sombra OTC works great. Voltaren on rough days. Careful…Voltaren has ibuprofen.

Voltaren is diclofenac. It has nothing to do with ibuprofen (other than they both belong to the broad class of NSAIDs) and does not "contain" any either

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Burgy

It has all been very good advice. For major flare or misery a burst and taper of prednisone may help.

Actually, half has been lousy advice, 40% mediocre, 5% fairly good and 5% very good

[Inexes@aol.com]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Actually, half has been lousy advice, 40% mediocre, 5% fairly good and 5% very good

You tell 'em, Doc.......just think of all the time, effort and money, and (blood, sweat and tears), you could have saved when all you needed was a Google search button.......
LOL