Am I the only cheap man???

[NetoAnAstro]

Is it harder to make a bottle of Lyrica than a bottle of whiskey? Last I heard a bottle of whiskey is so expensive because it takes so many years to age and get the taste just right. Beer on the other hand, can be made as fast as you get the materials to make it together. Beer and cigarets are expensive because of the tax imposed by our lawmakers, I think. I'm new here and was looking for something to take the burning, stinging, aching, and a few more unexplainable pains and sensations from both my arms. I saw Lyrica as one of the new ones out there and hurried to check prices only to put my head down. I have no insurance or any medical help from anyone and can bearly aford Tradol(tramadol) for some of my personal help. That's when I started thinking if it's harder to make a bottle of 60 75mg than a six pack of beer? Am I wrong when I say that medication is taking advantage that there is insurance or Medicaid to pay for most medications? I mean, how much harder is it to make a bottle of Tylenol to that of Lyrica? :thinking: :confused: :mad:

[LaMemChose]

If you need meds and don't have health insurance, check out the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Paperwork and time are involved, but you may get your meds through PPA. For more info, call 1-888-4PPA-NOW.

I have known of people without insurance who were able to get their meds through PPA.

Lyrica is expensive. My prescription runs better than $300/month.

I wish you the best.

[Broknwing]

Whereas I see your point about the price of prescription drugs...I do want to clarify something about making beer.....certain beers/types of beers take much longer to make than to gather the ingredients. A lot of craft beers and fruit flavored beers take months to make and get right.

[NetoAnAstro]

If you need meds and don't have health insurance, check out the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Paperwork and time are involved, but you may get your meds through PPA. For more info, call 1-888-4PPA-NOW.

I have known of people without insurance who were able to get their meds through PPA.

Lyrica is expensive. My prescription runs better than $300/month.

I wish you the best.

Thanks for the info. I'm gonna try the phone # tomorrow, whish me luck. I don't want to feel these feelings anymore.:nono:

[2jazzyjeff]

yeah, you may qualify for what Mem suggested.. :) i'm baffled that after nearly 4 1/2 yrs., you don't know your injury level.. :thinking: might need that info. when trying to qualify...

[NetoAnAstro]

yeah, you may qualify for what Mem suggested.. :) i'm baffled that after nearly 4 1/2 yrs., you don't know your injury level.. :thinking: might need that info. when trying to qualify...

I'm still in denial that i'm gonna walk soon. I'm also positive that I can walk in water but haven't gone to a swimming pool to try it. If I try to move my legs I can make a movement. But I have to wait 5 to 10 minutes to do it again. When this had just happened, I couldn't move my torso forth, back or sideways, now I can about 60%. At first I couldn't lift more than 1lb and i'm up to 25lbs with either arm. I hope my legs are weak and can make it happen with less gravity. But the main reason is that I haven't seen a doctor almost 3 years and my questions at the time were "what's new and what else can you give me for pain?" and I don't remember anything other than terrible constant pain.:confused:

[dejerine]

Neto, you are not a cheap man. A lot of people try to impress girls with their Porche 911, Maui beachfront condos, etc, but these are peanuts compared to pharmaceuticals. I just turn around at the drug store and say out loud what I have just purchased at the counter and the girls go wild because they KNOW that no one but a really rich guy could possibly afford such luxuries. There is this blonde I know and I may have to go the ziconotide/pump route to get her. Should be no problem for a rich person like me.

[firesmurf]

hi neto,sorry you are in this much pain with no relief,that just sucks.i hope that phone number works out for you.

I am wondering just how much PT you have had in the past as it appears from what you have stated that since you are having good movements that with a good therepist,you coould still make some pretty good progress with the methods.just a thought.

also,just what happened to cause your actual injuries?what was actually injured?hopefully you can find something that will help and also be affordable.If you want to try one of the cheapest but yet very good at helping to relieve neuropathic type pain,methadone is always a great option,at least to give it a trial run and see what happens.
I know of several people who did not have insurance and really not alot of income who were suffering with neuro related type pain who tried the methadone just because of the type of pain and the financial situation who found some really good relief.some did and some didn't.its really hard to say just what is actually going to work on this type of nasty pain from one person to another.but it IS a good option and probably one of the cheapest pain meds for our type of pain.just a suggestion.if you are having to pay for your own meds out of pocket,the price really really comes into play,as you know real well.it is really unfortunate that money has to determine just how much pain we are forced to live in.Hope you can get some good relif soon.good luck,Marcia

[darkeyed_daisy]

I'm still in denial that i'm gonna walk soon. I'm also positive that I can walk in water but haven't gone to a swimming pool to try it. If I try to move my legs I can make a movement. But I have to wait 5 to 10 minutes to do it again. When this had just happened, I couldn't move my torso forth, back or sideways, now I can about 60%. At first I couldn't lift more than 1lb and i'm up to 25lbs with either arm. I hope my legs are weak and can make it happen with less gravity. But the main reason is that I haven't seen a doctor almost 3 years and my questions at the time were "what's new and what else can you give me for pain?" and I don't remember anything other than terrible constant pain.:confused:

You should really see a doctor more often. There are lots of problems/complications you could have and not even know it if you have an SCI no matter what level. Tramadol is a very cheap pain drug but is usually used for bone pain. It doesnt do anything for neurpathic pain which sounds like what you are describing. It is also prescribed instead of narcotics for those who go to the ER with drug seeking behavior as it produces no high and will help with pain if the person seeking truly is in pain. Medicaid is another option to help pay for your drugs but it is based on income. Im not sure how great your income is from selling used car parts but you would probably qualify. It would also get you some pool therapy which sounds like you could use.

I hope you find a way to get the meds you need. Good luck.

[betheny]

Do your fingers work perfect? Can you feel your whole arms and fingers perfect? Let's try and figure out what level of injury you are, you need to know that.

You still live in Houston? I broke my neck 6 months before you, in Houston, but I don't live there anymore.

Do you have medicare for insurance?

[Wise Young]

Is it harder to make a bottle of Lyrica than a bottle of whiskey? Last I heard a bottle of whiskey is so expensive because it takes so many years to age and get the taste just right. Beer on the other hand, can be made as fast as you get the materials to make it together. Beer and cigarets are expensive because of the tax imposed by our lawmakers, I think. I'm new here and was looking for something to take the burning, stinging, aching, and a few more unexplainable pains and sensations from both my arms. I saw Lyrica as one of the new ones out there and hurried to check prices only to put my head down. I have no insurance or any medical help from anyone and can bearly aford Tradol(tramadol) for some of my personal help. That's when I started thinking if it's harder to make a bottle of 60 75mg than a six pack of beer? Am I wrong when I say that medication is taking advantage that there is insurance or Medicaid to pay for most medications? I mean, how much harder is it to make a bottle of Tylenol to that of Lyrica? :thinking: :confused: :mad:


Amitriptyline (Elavil) is cheap. 20 mg per day. Wise.

[NetoAnAstro]

hi neto,sorry you are in this much pain with no relief,that just sucks.i hope that phone number works out for you.

I am wondering just how much PT you have had in the past as it appears from what you have stated that since you are having good movements that with a good therepist,you coould still make some pretty good progress with the methods.just a thought.

I haven't had much physical therapy in the past. I used to have a lady go exercise my legs and shock stimulate them the firs 6 months of the SCI but it all stoped at 6 months.

also,just what happened to cause your actual injuries?what was actually injured?hopefully you can find something that will help and also be affordable,Marcia

I was shot twice. The 1st bullet went next to my right eye and came out my right ear next to the little hole we use forr hearing. Lost eye sight from right eye and minor damage to the right muscle used to close our mouth. The 2nd bullet went in my upper left shoulder and came out next to my right nipple. I remeber falling down and not been able to move my legs. I was shot inside of the prison of Nuevo Laredo where the same corruption took place yesterday. I believe 11 prisoners escaped while 4 prisoners and a female visitor were killed in the shoot out with police. This year alone has had 13 murders and last year they had a few shootings and a few killings inside the prison. Nuevo Laredo is the border city with Laredo, Texas. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I was found innocent after4 years 3 months in there fighting my case. I was supposly shot for being a mexican that refused to speak fluent spanish. Well, I only went to elementry, middle school, high school, and college in Houston with only a hand full of spanish speaking persons. Spanish was used at my home 10% of the time. But, I now talk real good spanish. I think it was more of my american behavior that irritated them. :confused:

[NetoAnAstro]

You should really see a doctor more often. There are lots of problems/complications you could have and not even know it if you have an SCI no matter what level. Tramadol is a very cheap pain drug but is usually used for bone pain. It doesnt do anything for neurpathic pain which sounds like what you are describing. It is also prescribed instead of narcotics for those who go to the ER with drug seeking behavior as it produces no high and will help with pain if the person seeking truly is in pain. Medicaid is another option to help pay for your drugs but it is based on income. Im not sure how great your income is from selling used car parts but you would probably qualify. It would also get you some pool therapy which sounds like you could use.

I hope you find a way to get the meds you need. Good luck.

My income is not too good. I'm on eBay all day trying to buy used cars that sell way below blue book value. I just started 3 months ago so my income is still very low. I haven't been to a doctor for a lack of insurance. I'm 80% done with a bed ulcer and then hoprfully my used car business is better so I can go seek some therapy. I needed a site like this for years now. Yesterday was my first day here after reading an article from Chaz Southard who mentions this site. I joined around 3PM and couldn't close the computer until 4 in the morning. You guys answered all the questions I used to ask my walls. Thanks LOL soooooooooooooooooooo much:applaud:

[NetoAnAstro]

Do your fingers work perfect? Can you feel your whole arms and fingers perfect? Let's try and figure out what level of injury you are, you need to know that.

You still live in Houston? I broke my neck 6 months before you, in Houston, but I don't live there anymore.

Do you have medicare for insurance?

Betheny, my fingers move perfectly. Well, both of my thumbs, index fingers, and middle fingers. My right hand is not as bad as my left hand. My little finger, from my left hand is almost use less as is the second finger. My right little finger is 90% ok and the second finger is almost the same. But since I never really use those four fingers, I feel my fingers work perfect. For the first month, I couldn't move my left index finger but it came back. I can feel most of my arms, hands, and fingers perfect. Its the back of my arms around the tricepts that feel somewhat numb. They say we have two major nerves that control our arms and the ones that control from the middle finger to the little finger is the nerve that is weak on both hands. I still don't know my level of injury. I couldn't communicate good with my doctors because this happend at a border city in Mexico and my spanish wasn't too good. They must have explained it to my familly but I don't know what level I am. I can feel everything from my chest up. From my chest down the feeling just diminishes were I can't feel my nipples. :thinking:

[NetoAnAstro]

Amitriptyline (Elavil) is cheap. 20 mg per day. Wise.

Mr. Young, i'm gonna look into Elavil until I can afford Lyrica. Thanks god for this wonderfull website, I feel like I finally came home. :) :applaud:

[betheny]

Dr. Betheny says you function at c8/t1 level. Just kidding, I'm no doctor, but the link below says that is what your impaired little finger means (I have that too.)

Check the link, see what level you think you are!


http://www.sci-info-pages.com/levels.html

Next you need to make a guess on your ASIA level (this measures severity-completeness-of your injury). Info on that at bottom of the page linked above. I won't try to make a guess on that because the criteria is kind of personal. It has a lot to do with anal sphincters LOL...someday you'll get used to talking about it. Even with women.

These levels don't mean much in the real world. They mean a lot to doctors, and to other people w/ SCI.

[dan_nc]

depending on where the bullet entered, brachial plexus might be affected, too. met this guy with t-6 injury from gsw, but also had finger impairment on one side from injury to the nerve.

[firesmurf]

my c 8 nerve was severely damaged when they removed the cavernoma from the inside of my cord.the cav was actually located directly at the c 8 nerve level and caused alot of hand finger damage and problems,mostly with the ring and pinkie on my L hand.i also lost 8 intrinsic muscles in the L hand/fingers /wrist area.(this is all just a very very small part of the actual extent of the damage and secondary SCI crap i have now)

my NS had told me even before that surgery that because of the fact that the nerves to my legs and the nerves to the fine motor in my hands ran right between the cav and the cord wall,I would have definite damage to my legs and the fine motor functions in my hands,he just couldn't tell me for sure just how bad that damage would be.

I am thinking from what you have described it really does appear that you have some definite damage at the c 8 nerve level.you really DO need to find out just what the exact level of damage is that you are dealing with and a very detailed neuro eval of all of your neurofunctions.this would also include whats called an EMG nerve conduction study.this would determine what nerves are actually damaged/affected and the muscles that have been affected due to the loss of innervation.this was how my physiatrist was able to find the extent of my intrinsic muscle loss.as you can probabl tell by my typing some times,that left hand really took a huge hit.

Have you checked into possibly getting some sort of governmant aid/possibly SSI or disability/ how long have you been living in the US and have you ever worked here in the US?at the very least here,i would start contacting some of the socal service types of programs to see what you may actually qualify for.you can also obtain some sort of an advocate who can be there to help guide you thru all of the ongoing crap that you are going to have to deal with.

If you look hard enough at some of the programs that are availiable to you,you will eventually come across something or someone who can actually get you what you need.although,this like everything else may just take a little time.but definitely worth looking into.

i do wish you luck and am sooo sorry about how you ended up this way and all that you had to endure while in that prison,wow.you should write a flippin book.really.i do hope things will start going your way now and the help you need will be availiable in some way shape or form.Hang in there Neto,Marcia

[alan]

Amitriptyline (Elavil) is cheap. 20 mg per day. Wise.

If other tricyclics haven't helped, I'd guess elavil also wouldn't? And doesn't it have more side effects than other tricyclics?

[alan]

Also, if elavil (or any tricyclic) is going to help, how long before pain relief is noticed?

[Hellonwheels]

Is it harder to make a bottle of Lyrica than a bottle of whiskey? Last I heard a bottle of whiskey is so expensive because it takes so many years to age and get the taste just right. Beer on the other hand, can be made as fast as you get the materials to make it together. Beer and cigarets are expensive because of the tax imposed by our lawmakers, I think. I'm new here and was looking for something to take the burning, stinging, aching, and a few more unexplainable pains and sensations from both my arms. I saw Lyrica as one of the new ones out there and hurried to check prices only to put my head down. I have no insurance or any medical help from anyone and can bearly aford Tradol(tramadol) for some of my personal help. That's when I started thinking if it's harder to make a bottle of 60 75mg than a six pack of beer? Am I wrong when I say that medication is taking advantage that there is insurance or Medicaid to pay for most medications? I mean, how much harder is it to make a bottle of Tylenol to that of Lyrica? :thinking: :confused: :mad:

It's all about competition. Drugs are patented, beer & whiskey aren't. You can buy any brand you want, from expensive imports to Blue Ribbon, and it will all pretty much do the same thing. The drug companies would give their collective left testicles to do away with generics altogether.

[alan]

20 mg. of elavil is doing nothing for me (except possibly aggravating things.) Been about two weeks.

[David Berg]

Sorry to hear that Alan, but even with your track record with most meds, if you really want to rule it out you should give it at least a couple more weeks. From little I remember about anti-depressants, at least when used to treat depression, it can take a month or month and a half to have a noticeable effect.

Hang in there, I'm still betting that eventually something will at least tame things down for you.

[mike]

I think the price of Lyrica is ridiculously high. It is hard to understand this when you consider how much of the research for new drugs comes from NIH funding and the drug companies just cash in on this. There is no question that it takes millions of dollars to develop and test new drugs, but it should not cost this much.

Some of the reasons for the high cost is the enormous punitive awards given by juries for unforseen reactions. There really needs to be some reforms made in our judicial system to limit these awards.

Another reason for the high cost is that many of these drugs are exported to countries that have price controls set up. The drug companies then establish U.S. prices at a high level to enable them to subsidize their foreign sales. The patent laws in the U.S. also allow for a longer period of protection then in Canada for example. I believe the Canadian law allows for only four years for generics to come on the market.

[WonderDerek]

I find that my pain medicine along with some beer takes ALOT of my pain away. Don't have nerve pain at all and my back pain is no where near as severe.

[alan]

Tricyclic antidepressants taken for neuropathic pain are supposed to be effective fairly quickly, if they're going to be, but I've got nothing to lose by taking the elavil a while longer.

I feel like I'm getting more paralyzed as the upper back pain keeps intensifying, as it gets more and more difficult to use my arms.

[darkeyed_daisy]

Cymbalta which is a tricylic Antidepressant helped my pain in my feet....but others say it hasnt done anything for them.

[mike]

What kind of pain did you have in you feet? I have burning and soreness in both ankles and would love to find something that would work with that. My doctor recommended Cymbalta, but I have been afraid to try based on reports of side affects I have seen on this site.

[darkeyed_daisy]

What kind of pain did you have in you feet? I have burning and soreness in both ankles and would love to find something that would work with that. My doctor recommended Cymbalta, but I have been afraid to try based on reports of side affects I have seen on this site.

I have burning/coldness alternating in my feet. I was hesitant too because I had asked questions on this site. I havent really had any side effects. I could feel my stomach was a little queasy the first couple of days but after that I have been fine. My feet still tingle a little but they feel more normal to me pressure wise. I started out with 30 m the first week and 60m daily since then. I also take an Ultram ER (its a new extened release Ultram) and that combined with the Cymbalta has really helped my pain. I was probably always about a 5 on any day. Now I don't even notice......even when I walk (with braces and a cane) long distances. Before I would have a lot of soreness the next day.....I have been able to double/triple my distance without the stiff soreness the next day. That is just me though......Good luck with finding the right combination.

[mike]

I started taking Cymbalta a few days ago. I am only on 30mg for the first 7 days. I have noticed significant dryness in my mouth in the morning and dehydration as well. Is this something you have noticed as well?