OT: Hope is renewed!

This is really good news Sunny. I sure hope that the fine print is nothing all that serious.

Here's to waking up and looking forward to not being in such pain!

I've been watching the days and hoping for hope. So very, very happy for you Sunny. I am, I am. No happy dancing for you. It's been 106° today and we all are sunk down in the warm mud with just our noses showing. We'll happy dance for you at first rain. I am enchanted by the notion of a topical pain killer. Awesome. That's just so wonderful. And a doctor who can listen? HoooEeee. DH has one of those too. Isn't it a blessing? Polly

Sunny,

I'm so glad for your hope! And I hope that our hope materializes into significant pain reduction for you, despite the fine print.

I love your spirit!

Claudia

So happy for you for getting "this" doctor who knew how to help with your pain. The cream sounds wonderful to be able to put it right on the spots that hurt. Barbara in SC with 100 degree days

Briliant news! Long may the improvement last.

And a doctor that listens... Priceless!

Nel (GQ)

Sunny, So happy that you've found some relief. Hopefully, this new treatment will last and last for you. How you can remain so "sunny" and upbeat throughout all the issues you've had is absolutely amazing and inspiring for all of us. Kathy in MI

Wonderful news! We'll keep on with prayers that you continue to find relief. In the meantime, it's so great to know you're able to enjoy life again!

Another Kathy in MI -- where in MI are you?

Me, in southeast -- near the intersection of US23 and I-96.

Piggy-backing here as you original message failed to turn up!

I'm really glad you have had some relief! Here's hoping that this makes everything a lot easier for you.

For those who have asked via email, the cream is called Volteran Gel. It's a proprietary name for Diclofenac, which is a non-steroidal anti- inflammant -- like Tylenol or Ibuprofen. I took Diclofenac pills several years ago for a brief time and found them nearly useless. Then Vioxx had its problems and my dr. had me stop the Diclofenac because it's very similar to Vioxx and he was really nervous about me having problems with the drug and NOT dying. He already knew that if I survived that he was doomed because I could be a real handful when crossed. So that was the end of that. But this cream is sooooooo different. Anybody use those tubes of Asper-Cream? It works on the same logic, but has much menthol in it and it horrible (don't ask me how I know) if applied to the face. Owies. This cream smells faintly menthol-like, but has none of the sting that we all love from our ointment rubs. And, I can put the dabs directly on the trigger points. Yes I do know precisely where NOT to touch or let anyone else touch -- behind my left ear, in front of my left ear, a spot the size of a pin-head on my left jaw, over my right and left eyebrows ..... okay, the list goes on. And I can tell where the pain comes from. Right now my perception is that the pain is scrabbling for a new pathway. I know that sounds crazy, but t hat's what it feels like.

I'm happy. I'll fill you guys in on the diet I'm trying (DH too who hopes it may help his arthritic hip) for the next two to three weeks. It's a low-polyamine diet. Weird stuff. But the no-no foods are the very stuff that makes up the bulk of my diet: oranges, broccoli, cabbage, peas, spinach, peanuts and peanut butter, whole-grain bread .... like I said, it's weird. We shall see.

Hugs all around, Sunny

Good to hear you have finally got something effective for some of your pain. DS2 had diclofenac orally after his hip op. I remember having it in an unspeakable manner (think French!) when I miscarried. It was like magic pain relief for me. Over here it has very recenty become available from a pharmacy without prescription as Voltarol Cream.

Hope the diet helps too, it is always worth trying dietary control of issues in addition to medication.

Good luck & gentle hugs

Lizzy

So glad to hear that there are new options for you! Sending positive thoughts that they will work well and that at least some of your porblems will soon be history! You've been through soooo much! You've EARNED some calm in your life! ME-Judy

It *ISN'T*. No similarity at all.

Diclofenac gel has been used in the UK for a long time. Seems to be pretty safe. It's great that such a boring old-fashioned drug is working for you - for medications, old and boring is GOOD.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------- e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland mobile: 07800 739 557 Twitter: JackCampin

Jack (and others), I have been to the pharmacy and made an ugly discovery. Seems the gel costs 'hundreds and hundreds' of dollars and insurance doesn't cover it. But my pharmacist has offered to take plain, cheap diclofenac pills and moosh them up and make a compound 'like we did in the old days'. Sigh. Stupid patent struggles. Stupid court cases. Stupid obscene profits by drug makers and insurance companies.

Sunny

It's an over-the-counter preparation in the UK, as somebody else said. You should be able to buy it mail order from here (or maybe Canada, which might be cheaper and quicker). The pharmacy we use in the village is Lloyds - if you google "lloyds pharmacy diclofenac gel" you'll see their price for it.

Sheesh, gimme an address to send it to and I'll post you some. The stamps will probably cost more than the medicine.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------- e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland mobile: 07800 739 557 Twitter: JackCampin

We play that same STUPID game with the salicylic ( more or less sort of) something percent acid that DH puts on the pre-cancer spots that appear on his hands. The prescription brand name was $ 95 for a tube. Our precious pharmacist can churn up a batch for about $3. Yes indeed, Sunny. Grrrrr! Stupid, stupid. Polly