long time needed update

Okay, so I've heard from a few of you and its time for another update.
Its as if I'm a new person.

First, Rheuma Arth, I believe its Celebrex that has changed me the most. My desire to be more active consumes my every day. I'm challenged, for the most part, to restrain myself and not over do it. I've pushed myself back towards a normal life, life without RA (again, for the most part.) As I get toward excess, my body begins to rebel a biot and I am tuned to listen to my bod and then begin curtailing activities. I am though up to about 400% more activities than I was prior to Celebrex, prior to my perceived PN issues.

Second, The combination of Lyrica, Nortryptilene and now Methocarbamol has me feeling no pain whatsoever. Maybe I'll occassionally feel some achyness, but only after some long term physical activity or prolonged sitting (>6hrs.)

The pain management dr, Dr Jain, os by far the doctor with the greatest impact in my life. His mannerisms, ability to listen through the fog of everyday description, the ability to care for his patients and be actually concerned, is by far the best qualities I've seen in ANY Dr. (That should say something since I've been to over 12 since July, personally, and then in my life have seen and spoken with thousands professionally.) I see the doctor monthly and we sit and speak at length, go through examinations and then discuss diagnostic approaches for over an hour each time. How many doctors out there spend an hour or more a month with their patients? I recommend him to me Justice friends, family around the country and anyone else who will listen. He's also good friends with the people over at CBS TV and 60 Minutes (if that makes any difference, which it shouldn't.)

Now, next steps. Obviously I can't be on these meds for the rest of my life. Well, I guess I could, but not advisable.) If we get to a point where the discomfort is gone and I begin withdrawing from meds and the pain reoccurs, then we have chosen to go with a tungsten seed implantation. The seed is benign in and of itself. I'd then go for sonogram treatments where the typical exam itself would heat up the seed which is implanted next to the nerve. The seed heats up and gently, covertly diminishes the irritant pain signals. This procedure will be undertaken after great diagnostic testing to isolate the specific nerve in question (illiogunial, genitofemoral or PN) since they're mostly contained within the same nerve channel.

So, that's my story through now. Don't know if I'm a fan of the methocarbamol (its compressed tablet form breaks up in the mouth very easily leaving a very bad taste for quite some time. I also can't quantify if its actually doing anything for me. But that will be left for time to tell.

I can though recommend Pain Management as a primary choice for anyone experiencing PN or any other type of aberrant pain. The knowledge in GOOD pain mgmt doctirs far outweighs most other specialties. It also helps to make decisions of urgent need or critical need and impact out from underneath the pall of constant invasive pain. Get on top of the pain first, before making critical decisions which can affect you for the rest of your life. Its makes sense.