[jean17]

I have spinal osteo-arthritis and it affects me every day. It hurts to drive, to sit at my piano, to house clean, to garden. I cannot tolerate any of the NSAIDs. My Nurse Practitioner will only suggest using Tylenol* saying that she couldn't give me anything because of the drugs I'm on. So I'm taking 9-12 Tylenol Number 1's a day. Does she think that because I have a mental illness I can't be trusted with anything stronger? I don't know what to say to her. I'm thinking I'll ask my psychiatrist about it. He, too, seems very reluctant to give me anything.

I also have nausea about 4 days a week so I'm also taking 100 mg of Gravol two or three times a day and not eating. I don't know what to do about this.

I'm on Effexor, Mirtazepine, Quitiapine, Clonazepam, Pregabalin, Losec and Zopiclone.

No, I don't think it's that your nurse-practitioner feels at all that she can't trust you. I
think it's an awareness of interaction between one medication and the possibility of
adverse reactions among them.

Yes, in my view, it's a good idea to talk to your psychiatrist about this. I would also
consider consulting a pain specialist to discuss the use of tylenol at the dosage you
are taking and see if he/she can recommend something less harmful to your kidneys
and in a smaller dosage that would be an extended-type release of pain medication.

I am sorry you're having to live with this. I hope the doctors will be able to look at
your list of medications and make some changes that will improve both your sensitivity
to pain and your ability to feel comfortable without having to take so many medications

Take care.

On your own, I think you might consider adding at least 1,000 mg of Omega
3 fatty acids to your diet each day. They have such a powerful positive
effect on reducing pain if they are taken consistently and at least twice
each day.

Please ask your doctor before adding the essential fatty acids to your
diet, but I think you will get a positive response from him/her. If you
do get the nod, purchase a high quality one (usually, you pay for
the quality you get in the omega 3 fatty acids); I like Nordic products,
frankly, but there are many other quality ones on the market.