and if you were,did abx help rid you of the pain? did it at least help you cope with the pain?

..gary

Listening to the radio the other day on the way to work, they had a doctor on (I should say a duck really), talking about all the meds for arthritis, etc., eg vioxx, celebrex. Regardless of the fact that co2 inhibitors have been recalled, she still felt that they were all safe and that the pharmacy companies are the only reliable safe people to get our abx from. HA!

Well this man called to say he had heard on an earlier show the previous week with an experienced herbalist about an enzyme that has been used in Europe extensively for years. This man has tried everything and there isn't much that worked safely without all the bad side effects.

He went out and bought it and tried it. He did his own research and thought it was well worth trying it. He said it worked great and he was going to continue using it. It is called sarapabais, the spelling is probably wrong, it's an enxyme from the gut of the silk worm. You can buy it at the health store. I have a very bad cold, so am not thinking clearly, "health store" doesn't look like it is the right word for me, but I am sure you all know what I am talking about.

This doctor just had a right hissy fit right there on the show, I can tell you this is one doctor I would never go to see. It made me even more determined to try it and a whole lot of other stuff. I also use tumeric (1/2 tsp morning and night) and that has helped somewhat.

I don't know if it is goes by a different name, but am sure health store would be able to try. I am getting some today, so will let you know how it works.

Bromelain is also supposed to be good, but didn't work for me.

Corinne, is that like lumbrokinese or nattokinese, I wonder?

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oops!
Lymetutu

I will try some of the suggeestions here. The walproxen (over the counter) does help. Doesn't make it completely better but does give relief.

I have to take medicine to help me get to sleep. To sleep on my sides I have to put a pillow between my legs because the pressure of the knees agianst each other is unberable.

I might try the Elavil , sounds possible, and that first stuff IF we figure out exactly what it was.

One crazy note is "ALL" my arthritis is osteo arthritis and non inflamatory type stuff, no redness or swelling ever, 'atypical'??????? Lead me down right path, please???

Oh almost forgot, never was dx as lyme arthritis , just assumed it was. What else could cause so much bone spurs and cysts where the cartilage is 'supposed' to be???

I have no idea, just know that it comes the guts of the silk worm.

now i have that in the postop report.other doctor's ,say it isn't.i believe the guy who cut me open.he scraped off as much as he could.

another question is,if most of my synovial lining has been removed and no longer function's,how would these medication's work?

from what i understand,the synovial lining produce's lubracation for the knee.you follow me? now wouldn't i have to have a synovial lining to help make the medication work?

i am hopeing someone can help answer that.i am in a moment of clarity,which is rare.

thankyou all of you for your replie's....gary

p.s. the gut's of a silk worm? what about the worm in a the bottom of a bottle of teqjila? will that work?

I was given the option to have the synovectomy but one of the ortho's said, treat the cause not the symptom.

also would you mind sharing your experience with me? i cannot find anyone else who has had the same procedure as me.(open synovectomy) dxed lyme arthritis and extensive synovitis...

thank's,my address is on here.....gary

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my synovial lining was in piece's, i don't understand why your orthopedist let you go without surgery.it's dangerous.

seem's if you had piece's of your synovial lining i n your knee,just here and there.that would cause an awlful amount of pain.

Serrapeptase: Silkworm Enzyme http://smart-nutrition.net/serrapeptase-research.htm

Clinical studies show that serrapeptase induces fibrinolytic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edemic (prevents swelling and fluid retention) activity in a number of tissues, and that its anti-inflammatory effects are superior to other proteolytic enzymes.

Besides reducing inflammation, one of serrapeptase's most profound benefits is reduction of pain, due to its ability to block the release of pain-inducing amines from inflamed tissues.

Physicians throughout Europe and Asia have recognized the anti-inflammatory and pain-blocking benefits of this naturally occurring substance and are using it in treatment as an alternative to salicylates, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs.

A powerful agent by itself, serrapeptase teamed with antibiotics delivers increased concentrations of the antimicrobial agent to the site of the infection.

Bacteria often endure a process called biofilm formation, which results in resistance to antimicrobial agents.

In an attempt to prevent this bacterial immunity, researchers have experimented with various means of inhibiting biofilm-embedded bacteria. Their search may have ended with serrapeptase.

One study conducted by Italian researchers suggests that proteolytic enzymes could significantly enhance the activities of antibiotics against biofilms.

Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that serratiopeptidase greatly enhances the activity of the antibiotic, ofloxacin, and that it can inhibit biofilm formation.

Regardless of whether serrapeptase is used for inflammatory diseases or to prevent plaque build up on the arteries, it is well-tolerated.

Due to its lack of side effects and anti-inflammatory capabilities, serrapeptase is a logical choice to replace harmful NSAIDs.

Thanks to the tiny larvae of the silk moth, researchers have taken a large step toward finding relief for inflammatory disease sufferers.

------------

This looks similar in action to the Wobenzyme that Gigi was posting about.
Do a search on Serrapeptase and antibiotics; this is amazing.

I'll do a separate post on this topic also.
Carol

Carol, I couldn't get the second link to work.

i had lyme 15 yrs before dx-then 5 yrs treatment-got rid of fatigue and got cognitive and neuro under control-but i am now dx with level 3 osteo arth in my knees and thumbs. i also have a lot of damage in a lot of my discs.

i have on and off pain in most other joints but all other xrays have bee neg so far(not all have been xrayed) any way...i have not gotten a staight answer from an llmd of the difference between osteo arthritis and lyme arthritis.

does anyone really know the definition of lyme arthritis? is it a special kind(like osteo, or rheumatoid-)or is it one of those broght on by lyme?

3 of my 4 kids and a daughter in law and grand son have all had varying ammts of ttreatment for lyme.

my mom has had dementia for 6 years (it did not come on like alzeimers-and i believe it is lyme)-she has been in a nursing home for 5 years and recently her bones have been breaking...just from rolling over in bed. the ball and socket joints are so deteriorated the "ball" can't stay in the "socket". she is now bed ridden and can't even be turned to prevent bedsores for fear more bones will break. she will probably die the next time she gets pneumonia -which she gets pretty regularly-because the treatment is to sit her up and they won't be able to.

ANYWAY...the reason i am bringing all this sad stuff up is...even tho i am dx and have had treatment, and she never was dx and never had treatment(there are reasons-another story) i feel like her reality is my future because as i get up in age i realize i'm having many of the symptoms she had before she went down hill so fast.

i've heard awful stories of people dying of lyme with siezures...but i have never heard of this senario-has anyone else?

what do you think? and what do you think is the best way to prevent it from happening to us?

i've dealt with this disease enough to believe we can treat and probably keep it at bay with lifestyle changes...but i really doubt if we can actually get cured ...

ps-ibuprofen is the only thing that helps my pain-i've tried all the other anti-inflams-but none worked. i've been on ibu for over 20 yrs-starting with 3200mg a day then 2400 and now 1200-800 usually. none of the other supps or meds i've heard of have worked either. i've had to be very careful of my stomach-sometimes using carafete to coat it..always with food(adds to my obesity i think)and now i need prevacid...can't seem to get off it. but i've been able to work and raise my kids for 20 yrs...just recently have had to stop work because of an accident-trauma.

[This message has been edited by lpkayak (edited 06 March 2005).]

gees-my brain...and glucosamine ds too. can't go w/o it. would be in wheel chair. can't lower dose from 3 a day either. can't use any other brand than the purple and white thay did the test on. my doc has not believed i am walking for the past 4-5 yrs. he says there's no cartilage left...but i can sometimes walk 40 min for ex - always have to take my cane in case

i wish i could help you with some answer's.

i am in the process of reading the info that dc sent. it is on here.it is interesting.

maybe some of it can help you.i don't know.i wish you well,and hope the best for you.this whole lyme situation stink's.....

,,,,gary