January 20, 2009 - 12:24pm
I know most of us here are in chronic pain, and am hoping this may help someone.
Like many on here, I have multiple conditions and take multiple medications. Unlike many on here, I do not see a "pain mgmnt" doctor. I see a Rhuemetologist who is also trained in PM, he does not see PM only paitents, just those with rhuematic conditions (I'm not sure why I told you all that). Anyways, we all know that with multiple meds, comes multiple side affects and my MD tries to limit these. My daughter also sees him, she is only 14. We both suffer from severe muscle spasms as a result of one of our conditions. Bear with me, my hubby says I can only make a short story long, not the other way around. Soma is not approved in children and I was having trouble taking any muscle relaxant unless it was at bedtime due to side affects (falling asleep while driving) so he asked both of us to try something about six months ago. We agreed, and now that he has tried it on many patients, and uses it routinely, especially in children and the elderly, I thought I would share it cause it works pretty good. We do not get this from a compound pharmacy, we make it ourselves at home, per the orders on the script.
Soma Cream:
crush 1 350mg tablet to a fine powder with a morter pedistal (sp)
add powder to 1 ounce of body cream (not lotion and not ointment, cream only) 2 tablespoons = 1 ounce
mix well and apply to affected muscles with a massaging type pressure 3-4 times daily
You may make up to 8 ounces of cream ahead of time for use, use mixture within 1 week of mixing.
Now, obviously it doesn't work as well as taking soma orally, but it does work, and no side affects. Very similar to the anti inflamitory Voltaren that they made into a gel for topical use to avoid GI side affects. I hope I didn't break any rules about discussing alternative use of med. since this is perscribed by my MD. I'm just hoping that it could help someone. I know that my daughter was miserable being unable to take any muscle relaxants durring the day, and only having one (not so effective) option at night, and this has made her quality of life better. Sorry so long, feel free to delete if I broke the rules.
Speak to your MD about trying this if you are interested, I am not a MD, I am not qualified to say if this treatment would be right for anyone other than myself. There may be reasons not to use this such as certain skin conditions, so please do not try this without talking to your MD first.
January 20, 2009 - 7:03pm
#2
Thank You for the response, I
Thank You for the response, I just wanted to give an option for people who cannot or do not want to take muscle relaxants traditionally since it does work. I understand what you are going through, but it angers me and I recommend that you find a new rhuemmy. I have always been treated primarily by mine and in 10 yrs. of being sick, have only once had a problem with a rhuemmy not treating my pain properly. Of course, I had just moved and even with my records and all, he wasn't comfortable with the amount of pain meds I was taking at such a young age (31 at the time). So, I did my homework, and found a new MD. No offense to him, but I didn't need to add withdrawls to my list of ailments. I have psoriatic spondylorathropy, RA, OA, Narcolepsy, sjoren's syndrome, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, Fibromyalgia, High BP, Asthma, 3 compression fractures (thoracic spine), and of course, depression to name a few of my ailments. I have undergone 14 surgeries already, the latest being a three level cervical fusion about 18 months ago. I see my rhuemmy only, until I need another specialist (nuerosurgeon, cardiologist, etc). We both feel a little safer this way so we cut the risk of drug interactions as well as other MD's not being familiar with my conditions and what all goes along with them. I take methotrexate, remicade, sulfasalazine, soma, flexeril, luecovorin calcium, folic acid(those two help to lessen the side effects of the methotrexate), fosomax, albuterol, diovan, methylprednisolone, bupropion, provigil, nexium, dillaudid, 100mcg fentynal patches, and 800mcg actiq x*#&ers (the dillaudid isn't helping much anymore so I will be trying opana later this week to see if it will work better). I hope you can find a MD that will take care of you. A good rhuemmy knows that these autoimmune conditions can and do affect much more than just our joints and should treat their patients accordingly. When I have had to change MD's, I always find the better hospitals in the areas around me, then I talk to any nurses, and receptionists that I can and find out who they would go to if they were diagnosed. The only time I had a prob. was the time I didn't follow this protocol and looked for the closest rhuemmy to my house. I drive 80 miles one way right now, but he is worth it. One of the best MD's I've ever had! He is great with my daughter and is sympathetic with her trying to be a normal teenager with all this stuff going on with her. Good Luck, it requires hard work, but a good MD is worth it! Again, sorry so long and for spelling errors
I too suffer from R.A. along with Lupus, Sarcoidosis and extreme anxiety. I have been to over 4 different R.A. specialist and they will not prescribe anything for pain. I am on Methotrexate and Humira injections. Both of those injections cause severe side effects. I have also called all of the PM doctors in my area and they do not take cases such as mine. They have told me that they deal with back pain, neck pain, etc. and would not be able to help me. I live with chronic pain every single day of my life. I have been prescribed hydrocodone after a recent surgery and mentioned this to my R.A. doctor and she said she does not prescribe any type of pain medication so, I asked her about something for muscle spasms and she informed me that she did not prescribe for that either. Needless to say.....I am not going back to any of the R.A. specialist I have seen in the last year. I am going to ween myself off of the Methotrexate and Humira. I cannot handle the side effects and cannot find a doctor who will help with the side effects or the pain associated with all of my conditions. I am glad that you are getting the help that you need from your R.A. specialist and hope that all works out well for both you and your child. I just thought I would share my story. Best of luck to you both!!!!!!