Advice on doctors and alternative pain killers, please.........

[Raineyrocks]

A couple of years ago we were in a car accident and my right arm was hurt pretty badly.  The doctors in Maryland prescribed pain killers and now I'm almost out of them.  So my questions are these:

1.  Does anyone know if there are effective non narcotic pain killers that really work on severe pain?  I've tried homeopathic stuff, aspirin, ibuprophen (sp?), naprosyn, carprsyn (sp?) cream, ect. and they don't even take the edge off the pain.  I'm not in pain everyday, just after using my right hand alot, (like when I was shoveling the driveway the other day), and damp days so I don't need pills everyday.

2.  I've read alot about people becoming addicted to narcotic pain killers but for me so far so good on taking them only when I really need to.  Are doctors up here afraid to prescribe narcotic pain pills because of the addiction factor?

The reason I'm asking this is because I have a doctors appointment this week but would like to go in with some good information; like an effective non narcotic pain pill suggestion plus I can't afford, (no health insurance), to go to a doctor that will just give me motrin and ignore my input.

3.  Any good doctor suggestions for Plymouth?  A doctor that is smart and will listen to his/her patients instead of writing a script and saying see ya.

[cathleeninnh]

You might try acupuncture.

Cathleen

[Raineyrocks]

You might try acupuncture.

Cathleen

That's not a bad idea, I just wonder how much it would cost, I'll google it, thanks!

[Kat Kanning]

My dad's been living in terrible pain for years.  He started taking coconut oil and has been able to get off of most of his pain killers.

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

I LOVE Barbara Hatch at Mid-State Health in Plymouth.  She's a nurse practitioner.

[Raineyrocks]

I LOVE Barbara Hatch at Mid-State Health in Plymouth.  She's a nurse practitioner.

Hi Malevil!

I called there last week and had a tentative  appointment with her, the problem with her is they said it could cost anywhere between $75-$200 for an office visit. So I went ahead and set up another  appt. with a nurse practioneer in Alan Rosen's office on Highland St, they were less expensive, I just hope she's good.  I don't want to be treated like I'm an addict when I bring up the whole pain pill thing, if they can find a good non narcotic one that's great but if not I really need a bottle laying around for my "bad hand" days.

[Raineyrocks]

My dad's been living in terrible pain for years.  He started taking coconut oil and has been able to get off of most of his pain killers.

I've been reading alot about coconut oil lately.  I was taking 2 tablespoons in the morning, it's been great for my skin too!  Did your dad take a specific amount?  I got really sick in my stomach the second day of taking it so for right now I've stopped taking the 2 tablespoons and have just been cooking with it.

[Kat Kanning]

A tablespoon 3X/day.  I love the stuff.  I hear it can cause of die-off of candida that might make you feel kinda sick.

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

Rainey:  I'm confused...Barbara Hatch works in the same office as Alan Rosen...unless he's left Mid-State Health.  It's located on Highland Street in Plymouth - above Citizens Bank, right?

[Raineyrocks]

Rainey:  I'm confused...Barbara Hatch works in the same office as Alan Rosen...unless he's left Mid-State Health.  It's located on Highland Street in Plymouth - above Citizens Bank, right?

Oh really, I didn't know that.  It's at 20 Highland St., is that the same place?  I wonder why my 2 appointments didn't cross in the computer and the receptionist didn't say anything.  I was going to cancel with Barbara Hatch because of the other the appt. I set up but I didn't catch the addresses being the same.  That's strange because when I asked about the price with Rosen's office they gave me a different answer that's why I went ahead and set up an appt.  Do you think I should keep my appt. on Tues instead of waiting for Barbara Hatch?

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

It is the same location.  I'd call back and ask about the costs.  I don't know who you're seeing, but I think Barbara is wonderful. 

[Raineyrocks]

It is the same location.  I'd call back and ask about the costs.  I don't know who you're seeing, but I think Barbara is wonderful. 

Dummy me!  I was just calling over the period of a couple days that's why I didn't recognize they're one in the same (that's the ticket), no seriously that is why, thanks for letting me know!   It will be futile to call back about the prices because the first call they gave me the ranges, the second time (when I thought it was a different place), they said it all depends on what the doctor puts down but offered the fee to be paid over time.
I'm seeing a nurse practioneer named Sonia (last name?), do you know of anyone named Sonia there? 
Don't know what I'd do without you Malevil, thanks!

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

I don't know Sonia, but have a friend who goes to her (her teens do, too) and she likes her a lot. 

Good luck, Rainey!

Oh yeah, how was the vacation with SIL?  I missed your smiling face and humor at the last PLN meeting.

[Recumbent ReCycler]

What kind of pain is it?  Is it muscular cramps, arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, nerve damage, etc.?  For my arthritis I supplement my NSAID with Glucosamine & Condroitin.  I also take flax, borage, and fish oils.  The Glucosamine & Condroitin seem to work pretty well for arthritis, when combined with a NSAID.  On my bad days, I sometimes take Vicodin, but at fairly low doses (no warm and fuzzy feeling).  Unfortunately I haven't found any legal homeopathic pain killers that work well for my other pains.  I've heard that there are some herbal remedies that work pretty good, but are illegal in the US.

[Raineyrocks]

Oh yeah, how was the vacation with SIL?  I missed your smiling face and humor at the last PLN meeting.

How was the last visit anyway?  It sounded pretty good I wish I could've made it.  Funny about missing my sense of humor, today I was just thinking about the bear story you told me last time and laughing.  I told somebody (can't remember who) about the raccoon and neighbor story too, you are hilarious!
The visit was nice up until I asked for advice and got 30 hours worth of it.  Then I've had to deal with several issues with 18 year old Jonny.  I've been holding firm without even raising my voice, I'm definetely not tolerating his crap, those are stories I'd rather tell you when I see you again.
Rick and I were just talking about inviting you and your husband over to play cards or whatever last night so if that sounds good just pick a weekend and let me know.
Did you go to the Liberty thing the other week?  I wish Rick and I could've made it.  I am going to the town meeting this week and I was on the radio Feb. 22nd about moving to New Hampshire as a freestater.  I'm certainly stepping out of my comfort zone but that's what I need to do.  
Anyways I will just keep the appt. with Sonia I guess and cancel with Barbara while I'm there, thanks for the info!