Universities, colleges, hospitals, some research places including pharmaceutical companies often run research into all sorts of things - it might be worth checking (emailing, visiting, local papers, college/university & hospital noticeboards & newspapers) to see if there's any research or need for guinea pigs for trainees going on near you.

Relaxation therapies (local library may have books/videos/tapes) on yoga, meditation, relaxation etc these could help - not the arthritis - but if you could relax the spasms might reduce - when my arthritis is hurting I tense & the pain gets worse if I can relax the pain eases.

First of all, you have my empathy. Pain is one of the worst villans out there, and it certainly does rob one of our life, and sometimes even our desire to do anything. I wonder with your pain in the back and neck, and your hx of arthritis...Have you ever been checked out for fibromyalgia?? There are numerous trigger points in the back and neck, and when I have a flare it can give me horrible spasms, and pain that is out of this world. The great news is that you don't have to see a rhuemotologist for this. Often times they (rheu) don't listen, and give out lectures that we don't need. Start by checking though with your local chapter of the arthritis foundation, and seeing if they have a support group in place for fibro. Then go, and see who the doctors are that they trust, and see one of them.
Your pain may be something totally different, but I do know that taking some action is empowering, and can relieve some of the stress, and make us feel better. Good luck!!

You are the third person today that mentioned fibro to me ( cause there was an article in the la times and evryone thought it sounded like me) . I posted the orginal post a while back it seems. ..But I read it and the issues are still the same. Pain. Vicodin does not even help.. Nothing seems to help. The pain moves aroound but is based in my back all the time. Everyone is baffled. I was tested for fibro a year and 1/2 ago but the rheumatologist didn't think so although I reacted to some trigger points. His diagnosis was negative. I have been sick for around or more than 2 years now.. One infection after another..And muscle pains and fatigue and I am so tired. I am sick of the no answers .. I am drained by the daily pain. I know peopel are thinking I am nutso or a hypochondriac. But I really am in pain whatever the case and it is seriously affecting my life. Thank you for your thoughts and your empathy. -alison

On an x-ray? I gad one of my neck.. Still to be officially readbut I had a dr look and he saw minor deterioration in a disk but said it is not that bad. That is all I ever here .. It is not that bad. Well it feels that bad.. Now they think the neck issue is actaully a hand issue as I do have carpel tunnel.I can feel the nerve pinching in my elbow but my hand is weak and painful actaully I have arthritic issues in my neck back and hips plus the carpel. I am onyl 35 so this seems odd to me. Headache is still there for 2 months ..Not convinced as to its cause..One is at base of skull which I think is anxiety.. The other is near my eye and temple. Now I have more caca going on like heartburn from my colon to my throat.

I have been on a list since may when I st posted to see a rheumatologist...Seems the clinic lost my place so here goes another 4/5 month wait .

I will check your web page

thanks so much.

Thank you ffor your reply...And wowee they just take out your gallbladder for nothing? See I am scardof caca liek that happening cause now they are attempting to treat symptoms without finding a cause. I mean really they are offering me up 2 surgeries for pain control..One for carpel ( I hear odds are not so great) and the other epiduarl shots and perhaps more in my back.. Ok great iof it helps.. Btu I think there is more to this picture. I always feel seek, I am fatrigues. I have pain everyday, I seem to have had laods of infections over the past 2 years 9 and I never used to get sick at all ever) . Now I have stomach probelms ( ok well I did 2 years ago also) constant headache... The fatigue is so bad sometimes I cannto even see straight.

Ialso do have a panic dissorder.. So things become confusing as many of my symptoms could be cuased by the disorder but I knwo I got ill and then began to get panic when no one could figure out the trouble. Course this makes it so drs do not listen to what I am saying with the same ear.. I have to tell them cause I am on meds and do nto want a bad reaction in the rx department

i really have zero income right now so I cannto try the pain relief thing at this time

In the normal healthcare system. I already feel that way.. Try this try that but no diagnosis. Some of the pills need pills so I can can handle side effects where does it ever end?

Relaxarion is a good idea cause I have prmanent muscle spasms.. And it turns into a viscious cycle. What else do you do when you have arthritis pain? Thoguh they say my arthritis is nto that bad.. It is that bad... I feel liek hell. Does it hurt you really bad or should I be looking for other causes ..Like what caused me arthritis now ?

Thanks for all the info wow! I sure appreciate it. I do have almost all the symptoms on your list of graves..Btu I also have panic which has many of the same symptoms

crusshing joints..Yep you have the knees with the stairs . I have my hips. Everytime I go ot for a walk just down the street caca is popping out of wack it is very wierd.

I have always been terribel about drinking water but in the last week I have been doign a gallon a day or so.. Much better than my usual none.

I cannto afford any dr rightnow..Natural or otherwise really. I am on disability .. Or was on temp and the checks stopped. I am on a 3 month or more wait for permanent to come through. In the meantiem I have nothign but food stamps.

I eat fairly healthy.. I am a vegetarian and only like fresh stuff for the most part. Meaning I do nto eat a bunch of processed junk.. Only very rarely.

I have tried digestive enzymes ..They do not seem to do the trick but perhaps it was the worng kind or something. I do eat lots of yogurt as well.


Healthcare here sucks I am in los angeles. I even have insurance I pay 300 dollars a month for and I will still go to the dr and get a bill for another 300 that the insurance did not cover... So with zero income I am pretty well stuck at this point. I am going to a clinic but care there is not so great .. Takes too long and they are limited in what they can provide. But perhaps in some way they will be better cause they aren't going to do unecessary things since they have no $ to gain from it. ..At least not from me.

I just cannto take this chronic pain from outta no place any longer. I am only 35 years old for crap sakes and I feel liek I am 95 .

You need to see a pain management doctor if you don't already have one.

See if your gp will give you a referrel.


Alan