I’m trying to see if a very carefully chosen diet plus half doses of this medication will work. I’ve read a lot about it and this is one of those medications that has a list of urgent warning that’s pages longer than information about what the drug can do for you. Anyway, I know what it can do. I can feel it.

I do not hurt. That’s no small thing.

Paula Light asked if they can give it as an injection and the answer turns out to be “no.” There is just one NSAID that is injectable. It is intended for athletes as a replacement for narcotics or cortisoids. Except studies show it’s too dangerous to give to anyone playing a contact sport, so no one is using it.

The thing is, NSAIDs work very well at making pain go away. They are not addictive unless you consider pain relief to be addictive. But (and it’s a big but) they are plenty dangerous in their own way.

Sulindac (you can look it up) has almost miraculously relieved almost all the pain from spinal arthritis and bursitis. It’s a bonafide miracle. If I still had a functional stomach and no history of ulcers so serious that only removing my stomach would save my life, I’d be thrilled.

Reality has long, sharp teeth. No matter how well this works, it it worth it? Maybe I’m overrating the danger? I feel a little better today. I took half doses of the medication three times today. I have to keep eating.

How ironic that I finally managed to drop 22 pounds over the past couple of years and now, I have to keep eating because if I stop, I get sick. But — I’m giving it my best shot. One more day of taking the medication in half doses. That’s 3/4 of the amount I was original supposed to take. As far as I can tell, it’s still working, so it must be an effective dose.

Is this medication going to disappear as did both Vioxx and Celebrex? They worked too and when I couldn’t take them anymore, both having been deemed too dangerous, I missed them. Nothing else has worked until this medication.

This has got to be the most Hobsonian decision in my life to date. The definition, in case you were wondering (I was wondering, so I looked it up) is that Hobson’s choice is typically not a legitimate choice. It’s sort of: “your money or your life.” That’s a classic Hobsonian choice. It can also indicate a choice where both options are bad, even if they aren’t the same. I’m not sure which version of Hobson’s choice this is, but I’m leaning toward the latter.

Garry asked me how long I’m going to keep trying and I said “one more day.” I might make it two days because compared to last night, I feel almost human this evening. If I actually feel better in the morning and believe I’ve found a balance I can live with … AND no one suddenly discovers the drug is killing people (like Vioxx and Celebrex), then maybe it’ll be okay. This drug isn’t brand new. Presumably it’s gone through a lot of serious testing and the results are legitimate?

For obvious reasons — because this is the least pain I’ve been in for years — I’m reluctant to give up on it. For equally obvious reasons — fear of sudden death — I’m afraid to keep taking it.

Good old Hobson. He had a lot of horses, but no matter how many he had, he would only give you the one he chose for you.

Categories: #Health, Anecdote, Arthritis, Medical humor, medication

Tags: #Health, Arthritis, choices, Marilyn Armstrong, medication, NSAIDs