are there any MD's on the forum

[robbt]

hi are there any Medical Doctors on the forum , I need some medical advise ,
can some please assist me , many thanks

[Rpg]

You might get better results if you at least outline your questions.

There are Dr.’s on the forum.

[robbt]

hi guys , . well local clinic I went to is closed down, I live in a high virus area in NY so hospital is out, could use some advise from a MD , on a over the counter pain killer for a bad back to hold me over.
many thanks, rj

[Beemerguy53]

Originally Posted by robbt

hi guys , . well local clinic I went to is closed down, I live in a high virus area in NY so hospital is out, could use some advise from a MD , on a over the counter pain killer for a bad back to hold me over.
many thanks, rj

I'm not a doctor, and I don't play one on television, but Aleve works for me...

Aleve(R) Products for All Day Pain Relief | Aleve(R)

Good luck to you...I hope you feel better.

[ContinentalOp]

Originally Posted by robbt

hi guys , . well local clinic I went to is closed down, I live in a high virus area in NY so hospital is out, could use some advise from a MD , on a over the counter pain killer for a bad back to hold me over.
many thanks, rj

Do you have insurance? Some insurance providers have a number you can call to talk to a doctor or nurse practictioner for questions like that. If you have a mic and webcam you may be able to get a telehealth appointment with a doctor.

[JH1951]

Many, many practitioners are doing tele-visits. I have done some with my docs over the phone with good results. You may be well off trying to arrange something like that.

[Gamecock]

When I have problems like you describe, I take therapeutic doses of Aleve. Two Aleve, twice a day. Usually cured within a week or two.

But I can't recommend it to you. And why you need a doctor. And why a doctor on the internet shouldn't give you advice.

Doctors know interactions and confounding factors. For example, do you have blood pressure problems? Two Aleve twice a day could be dangerous for you. There is no way to determine your risk factors from an internet forum post.

[Sistema1927]

I wouldn't even recommend taking an over the counter med, like Aleve, without additional information. Wife CANNOT take some OTC's without serious complications.

Does your health plan have a "dial a nurse" or tele-health option? Use it and talk to someone who has your entire history.

[riverrat38]

Web sites like WebMD have good information on medical problems, and will advise when you need to see a Doctor.

Best,
Rick

[Ziggy2525]

Originally Posted by robbt

hi are there any Medical Doctors on the forum , I need some medical advise ,
can some please assist me , many thanks

No sarcasm intended and not trying to bust your bubble, but I really doubt you’re going to find a licensed MD on a shooting internet forum that would be willing diagnose you and prescribe a treatment for you based on exchanging a couple forum PM’s.

[DWalt]

While a pharmacist can't diagnose you, he can suggest non-prescription pain relieving medicines. You might even try hempseed (CBD) oil, works great for my wife's arthritis, she has been using it for years. It's sold almost everywhere these days, but is far less expensive on eBay.

[Telecaster]

I’ve used the Teledoc service, and it wasn’t very helpful. Surely there are clinics of some kind you can visit.

[pawngal]

My doctor said Aleve for back pain. Just my 2 cents.

[ralph7]

As far as OTC stuff goes, Aleve (Naproxyn Sodium) works the best for my back pains as well.
Doans was a waste of money.

[Kinman]

I've got a bad back (crushed L1 vertebrae) resulting from a fall around twenty years ago. About once or twice a year it will go out, probably from a pinched nerve...it flares up and is very painful for a week to ten days. In the past it has put me down on the ground a couple of times, as I have aged it is something we all get used to...pain. I've tried chiropractic care, message therapy and while they are both beneficial the best thing I have ever tried that works for me is acupuncture. I gave it a try, willing to try anything outside surgery. We have two local Chinese guys that are both highly recommended, I see the older of the two that has been in business for forty years in the same place. After the second visit, I began to notice that the pain in my back was less sharp and acute. I went through the first set of treatments once a week, applied for another set of twelve and started seeing him every other week, I have excellent results. My back went out around a month ago, it wasn't nearly as severe or acute in pain, I waited around three days to get a scheduled treatment, he tried something a little different, relieved the pain and I recovered within two weeks, pain free. My back will get sore and warn me to take it easy, but since I started his treatments it rarely HURTS, just sort of a naggin backache, not real pain that disables me. I can still get things done, even go shooting as long as its a .22 or a revolver/pistol. No heavy rifles or heavy recoil. I even get the V.A. to cover it, although it can be irritating dealing with Tri-Care and right now we are applying for extended care which requires a hearing.
It doesn't work for everybody, I know this but it does work for me and others and I highly recommend it at least to give it a try. As far as I'm concerned, anything physically therapeutic is better than the A.M.A. anytime, any day.

[schutz5]

Get yourself a TENS device on flea bay or other.
Inexpensive and works!
Butterfly electrode for back might be appropriate.

[wood714]

Try Kratom, it's legal and works. You have to get the real stuff thou, the kind they sell in smoke shops is trash.

Friend of mine has a bad back, and ended up getting hooked on pain pills. She heard about Kratom, and hasn't been in pain or taken a pain pill since.

Kratom: Myths, Effects, Risks, and How to Get Help

[Onomea]

Re Kinman’s post on acupuncture, I had some sort of spasm, constriction, charley horse of the upper back, cramp (that’s the word!), about twenty years ago, and, after a long period of discomfort, decided to try acupuncture. A friend recommended the guy.

It worked. Stuck me full of needles but, here is the thing: It is not painful, at all. Odd, right? But true.

Basically, my approach to solving problems like this to keep on looking, with an open mind, until you find what works for you. Everybody, every body, is different, so, of course, the solutions are, too.

[REM 3200]

I'm not a Dr., but I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night.

[Kinman]

Originally Posted by Onomea

Re Kinman’s post on acupuncture, I had some sort of spasm, constriction, charley horse of the upper back, cramp (that’s the word!), about twenty years ago, and, after a long period of discomfort, decided to try acupuncture. A friend recommended the guy.

It worked. Stuck me full of needles but, here is the thing: It is not painful, at all. Odd, right? But true.

Basically, my approach to solving problems like this to keep on looking, with an open mind, until you find what works for you. Everybody, every body, is different, so, of course, the solutions are, too.

We share a similar approach to health, I will pursue every positive natural angle I can before working with modern medical science. Of course surgery and repair of broken bones requires a good mechanic. The needles used in acupuncture are so thin that they basically push the nerves out of the way while being inserted rather than damage them or cause a short circuit in the electrical system. He sends them all the way to my spine and every now and then he will hit the target he is going for and it will send a response all the way down my leg, more of a tingle than anything else. He can tell by my response that he hit it and he'll chuckle and say "I got that one...". My take on acupuncture is that for pain relief the specialist targets the nerves that cause your pain and basically overstimulates them in a positive way with the needle, promoting your natural bodily release of serotonin to that area, in a nutshell. To over simplify the explanation, if I took a muscle relaxer or pain killer it would mask the inflammation and I would be without pain caused by the inflamed or slipped/pinched nerve. One of the problems with the use of painkillers is that because you can feel no pain you can go ahead and do further damage. It would mask the pain receptors into thinking there was no inflammation or pinch of the nerve. People that use pain killers can then go about their business in a medicated state. What acupuncture does naturally by releasing a bodies pain relievers is instead of masking the pain, the pain is still there but reduced by as much as 50%. Where I would be curled up in a ball on the floor before when my back went out (worse case scenario) I now am fully aware that my back is out but am able to go about my business in a reduced way, it still hurts but is manageable. The acupuncturist can do some different techniques involving heat to give you immediate relief for your back when it first goes out and gives you the most pain, most of us with chronic pain issues have learned to deal with it in our own way. Why I continue to use acupuncture has to do with it on a therapeutic scale, I feel the treatment every other week works in a therapeutic way. Now I can feel my back getting tired as a sort of warning to back off and take it easy, before the warning would be sharp and acute in sensation...now it is more of a tired feeling, more subtle, which warns me and if I'm smart and listen, back off and put some heat on the area...all is well and I'm back to normal the next day. I am hoping the V.A. will approve his treatment for extended care, I am awaiting a clinical review by my provider's chief of staff. Otherwise I will be out of pocket for the cost of treatment every other week. I find it interesting that the medical profession will cover treatments involving the pharmaceutical medication but balk at anything homeopathic or otherwise. They have approved of chiropractic which has worked for me in the past.

[Maddog 521]

Just a thought---
Some people [like me] can't take Aleve because of what it does to my stomach and also how it reacts with other medications I'm taking. A doctor might be a good idea with your problem.

[BearBio]

I do not like to take Oxycontin or Hydrocontin. My orthopedist recommended high dose acetaminophen (Tylenol) for broken bones because Advil can interfere with bones healing. Tylenol is better for fever reduction but Advil is better for relaxing muscles.

I have broken both ankles, one upper arm (in 3 places), a finger, and a my left kneecap (twice) since 2000. Still have about 50 oxy in bottles around here. I have osteopenia ("brittle bones") as I age.

Note: I am a big guy so I can handle a large dose.

[Zarr]

Here is a thought, have you thought about Chiropractic? Very effective, safe and you can often get in to see a Doctor of Chiropractic a lot easier/sooner than most MDs.

Expect a PM.

[Zarr]

Tried to send you a private message, but your box is full. Once you clear it out, you will receive my message. In the meantime, please stay away from heat, use ice/cold packs. Think of it this way: If you were walking in the woods and sprained your ankle, you'd look for a nice cold stream to soak your foot, your first thought would not be "better heat up some water".

[TX-Dennis]

I have been blessed with a bad back since childhood. I've taken more than my share of hydrocodone and muscle relaxers over the years. I'm in pain every day, but some are worse than others. Most days I get by with a high dosage of ibuprofen. The hydrocodone gets saved for the worst days when ibuprofen alone won't allow me to function.

My orthopedist told me never to use heat on the back - only ice. He said heat will make the tissues swell and cause more pain rather than less. He also told me I am not a candidate for surgery due to the nature of my problem (a deformed vertebra that irritates the muscle tissue causing muscle spasms.)

A few times I've had to take time off from work and lie flat for a couple of days while taking hydro and a muscle relaxer. Once when there was a task that I felt only I could complete I went to work high on hydrocodone and muscle relaxers. I got the job done, but my colleagues asked why I was loudly singing Christmas carols in May.

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Oxy's have always been a go to.....Most of the "pharmacutical reps" I represent have a supply of various strengths and are available 24/7