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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 6:53 am
Ginger, did you ever make it to the doc's? I am a fine one to talk, because I hate going, too. But at this point, your pains aren't going to go away without some help. Your knee sounds serious to me. If surgery is indicated, it could be something that can be handled arthroscopically--lessening your down-time. The herniated disk in your back? Well, I can only tell you I feel your pain, but that mine was truly helped by PT. I am sure that if that approach would help you, your doc will refer you to a good physical therapist--and I'm betting that the sessions will immediately bring relief! So grumble, but make an appointment and then go! Mak, I promised I'd come here and share about Naproxyn. Finally here to do that. I took Anaprox (which is the brand name version of Naproxyn) for years and years for the very bad pain I had associated with my periods. (Turns out I had undiagnosed endometriosis--confirmed on about year 15 of taking Anaprox (grrr) --after my doc discovered I had the kind of fibroids that required surgery.) I continued taking Anaprox (called it my miracle drug) because it continued to relieve muscle spasms and pain with periods)--and because it allowed me to be myself--the energizer bunny. I only took the drug when needed, mind you, but I did take it over quite a stretch of time--about 20 years! Now, I don't have periods anymore. But that's when my aches and pains started. I was aware that, with lowered estrogen levels, women start feeling aches and pains--and can experience bone loss. But because I have been one of those women who went against their doctors and refused any kind of HRT (because of a very strong family history of breast cancer--maternal grandmother, mother and sister) I opted to take my chances with aches and pains and ensure my bone health by taking calcium (doc prescribed it 3 X a day). I can understand fully why a woman would WANT to take estrogen, but not why she would ACTUALLY take it--too risky. My main health complaint is my herniated disk, which has nothing to do with estrogen levels. (Course my hubby's main complaint is my goofy internal thermostat . . . ) I'd like to hear what your doc says, Mak. And I will share what my new doc says (new female doc--and my first appt is a physical on the 5th).
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 7:15 am
Oops. And forgot to mention, Ginger, that you probably have tendonitis. Sounds exactly like my symptoms--and I have it in both elbows. Causes pain at the elbow and overall weakness in the whole arm. Cortisone shots really helped for a couple rounds. Rounds 3 and 4 did nada and I can't live like this. So getting (outpatient) surgery on my left elbow to begin. (Feb 8) It will take 6 weeks to recuperate (first 2 in a cast). Then we'll decide when to do the right arm.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 7:18 am
Herkle, as someone who was thrown into surgicial menopause, and tried recently to go without estrogen replacement, I will HAPPILY take my estrogen every day! Even with increased calcium, the joint pains were phenomenal, hot sweats, insomnia and brain fog were debilitating. It became a huge quality of life issue.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 7:28 am
Texannie, I understand, of course. Just suspect (hope I am wrong) that you have given a ticking time bomb permission to enter your body!! Maybe it's the low levels you take that allow your doc to prescribe it despite the latest (rather shocking) info about HRT meds and what they actually do and do not do. I had surgically-induced menopause, too. But, I guess I am used to my brain fog and insomnia! I still have very irritating hot flashes but no night sweats anymore. (I had a partial hysterectomy at age 49--doc left me with one declining ovary--no periods after about a month; I am now 57). My family members all hate my problem with any heat past 50 degrees!! And I hope to get that checked out in my physical. Hope to find something that will help me regain my temperature balance. Afraid my brain is too far gone!
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 7:48 am
You had a partial but still had a period for a month?? Normally, if they took your uterus even leaving the ovaries, you don't have periods. Also leaving the ovary (even one) allows your body to experience a more natural form of menopause. Are you aware that the HRT studies were done on women experiencing natural menopause not surgical and taking a combination of estrogen and progesterone (synthetic, Premarin to be exact). There have been no studies done on the risk of breast cancer to women taking unopposed estrogen with no uterus/ovaries. Also and interesting aside (to me), I suffered from fibrocystic breast disease for years. Since my hysterectomy, that as completely cleared. Yea!
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 7:52 am
I have an appointment Wednesday for my arm. It is getting increasingly worse. Hopefully a shot will fix it up. It is my right hand and unless it was falling off, I would not want surgery in my right hand. As far as my knee, I am so putting it off. I am going to make an appointment with my primary care doctor and see if he wants me to get an MRI first, or send me to an orthopedist first. The friggin herniated discs, I am just living with. and I have had to put off all the friggin doctors, cause I was home sick all damned New Years weekend with a bad cold. <taking a deep breath> Aren't you glad you asked me. LOL I would throw myself out of a window if I lived on a higher floor. I love ya Herck.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:01 am
Well, it probably wasn't a true period, but I had something!! (And who knows, brain fog could have erased the actual timeframes.) If I remember correctly, I started getting night sweats and hot flashes almost immediately, though. Well, since hormones are known to feed fibroids, that good info in that your estrogen evidently is not the factor there. Hmm. I have fibrocystic breasts, too. (But, gulp, I skipped my mammo last year . . . too busy with Ed.) Can't remember being told that had changed subsequent to the hysterectomy. I will find out this year, I guess. No, I didn't realize only women who had natural menopause were used in the study! Not exactly a ringing endorsement for those who were thrust into menopause 'un-naturally' because of that, though, do you think?
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:02 am
Ouch, Ginger, I ached for you just reading your post!!!
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:09 am
I am late for my mammo too..bad me! I am still supposed to have one annually. I think it's fascinating that they are basing a decision on HRT on such a small study of only one drug (and a synthetic one at that). Makes you wonder if mare urine could be the cause???
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:10 am
Keep walking past the windows, Ginger! Of course I am glad I asked! Yay on the first appt, Ginger! So you and I will be at the doc's the same day! Listen, I totally understand the one-step-at-a-time approach. Do you think you have carpal tunnel in your wrist, as well? (Symptoms: pins and needles type pain or numbness in your hand/fingers when you grasp anything?)
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:13 am
Just tagging on here...this is not meant as advice to not see your doctor by any means, but when I had to give up aleve and ibuprophen based meds because they caused swelling for me, I switched to Tylenol Arthritis. It has a time-release formula that works really well for me. I also take glucosamine/chondroitin for its known pain relieving and cartilage building properties. Don't know how I'd do without either one. Oh, my doc said that too many folks feel better and stop taking their meds...including the over-the-counter types...and that's what causes them extra grief. Also, one really should see a doctor if taking any med for over 10 days or two weeks because it indicates a definite problem. I have arthritis and so far the over-the-counter stuff is working for me.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:16 am
Yup, one annually for me, too, Texannie--due to the family history (and now, my age, I guess). I know you'll follow through with getting a script from your doc for the mammo and going, right!?!! I promise to, too! Hey GW, Bush Sr and Clinton just came on the news--GW is asking for all Americans to join them in a broad fundraising effort for the tsunami victims.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:22 am
Hmm, Vee, that might be helpful! I will try it and see if it makes any difference for my own pains. Running out--gotta walk my sweet but pestering Herc!
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:24 am
It's not my wrist Herck, - although I know that I have carpal tunnel - was diagnosed 3 years ago with that. It is my elbow. The bone by my elbow.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:27 am
I have my script!! Just been too lazy to make the appointment! 
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:27 am
Ginger, I understand. Well, I just wondering, cuz I have carpal tunnel, too---on top of the tendonitis. (About five years ago, I had surgery on my right wrist/hand but not my left--wasn't bothersome enough in the left). Just kinda wondering if the two conditions are linked.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:31 am
Ok, Texannie, now I know and I will dog you (in a bit, not now--I try not to crush people, honest)! But I will check back on you!!

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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:41 am
3 or 4 years ago I had surgery on my left wrist, carpal tunnel and also cartilage on the wrist. I am a righty, so I do not want surgery on my right hand. I am useless without it.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:46 am
Well, getting back to work after my carpal tunnel surgery was pretty quick. I was able to go back to a keyboard the Monday after surgery, (which was probably on a Thursday). I admit the personal hygiene aspect was much harder row to hoe! Ok, I really am scooting now to take Herc out! Poor doggie!
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:48 am
I really don't care about work. It is taking care of myself that I think about.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 11:55 am
Well, Ginger, sounds as if you've lined up your first step just fine. I do know the cortisone shots are a good place to start with both carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. (And cortisone shots are used for pain caused by herniated disks, too, but didn't help in my case. Ed's surgery interrupted my treatment; normally the doc would have tried two shots; but, because of the gap in treatment, we moved on to PT. That, as I said, did help me.)
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 12:20 pm
I had PT for my discs in my neck and it did absolutely nothing. I had accupuncture and this did help somewhat, and I will probably go back to that eventually. But I have other pains to attend to right now. My elbow thing could be tennis elbow (I don't play), is that the same as tendonitis? It hurts so much.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 12:31 pm
Yup. Same thing. I don't play tennis, either. The doc told me people who typically get it do at least one of the following routinely: (1) play tennis; (2) operate a pneumatic drill; (3) heave and lift lots of heavy items. He also said there was a link between the problem and menopause! I figured that had to the cause of my problem, cuz I really didn't ever do 1 or 2. Am guilty of 3 a bit, what with moving our things 3 times, but I don't think that is what caused this problem. Inexplicable other than the menopause link.
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Kstme
Member
08-14-2000
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 3:15 pm
Has anyone had joint replacement surgery? I have three fingers that 'stick' and hurt like heck when they 'pop' back into place. I've had two doctors NOT recommend the surgery! I sure hate the aches and pains that have come along as I've 'matured'...isn't that what happens to wine??
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, January 03, 2005 - 8:15 pm
Well, my hubby developed what is called 'trigger finger' (right after my 7-year-old son --now age 29, btw--got a play station and pac man game). You got it. Dad couldn't stop playing--using his pointer finger like a madman for hours trying to beat his previous score. (Oh, times were so much simpler back in those days, Kstme!) Anyway, the surgeon did a great job fixing the trigger finger, and my dh healed quickly. Not sure if that's what you have, though.
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