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The Vioxx Factor
North Miami Beach, FL May 1, 2002
A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome.
THE VIOXX FACTOR
My degenerative arthritis and aged knees can't compare to my back.
I hurt in my hips when I walk but the cause is stenosis in my vertebrae. My
hands and legs are cramping badly at night and my shins cause me a great
deal of discomfort. All of this was managed nicely by doses of viox, the
anti-inflammatory I have been taking for years now. This seemed to do the
job where other drugs had no effect. So, why is it now that my doctor told
me to stop administering this wonderful friend? It is because it may
interfere with my kidney function. More tests are to come.
Thank goodness for my mental health that the aches and pains have
not reached my fingers as I type my observations on the issues and ideas of
the times. I cannot think of the problems I address because I worry that I
will have to curtail my bike riding and daily outings because the pain is
just too much.
Now, I must share with you my concern that "arthritis strength
Tylenol" will not cut it. I cannot take aspirin because of a minor
operation I will have on the 17th. I will even have to stop taking the baby
aspirin ten days before the event. I don't think that Tylenol has much
effect. The pill is much larger than the ordinary dose but I think it is
made larger by fillers that make the pill into a placebo. If it works I
will be grateful.
Just a short while ago I gave no thought to slowing down. I
accepted the fact that when I walk a short distance my "hips" seize up and I
have to stop. I have begun walking like a drunken sailor because of the way
those hips hurt - the focus is really my back, I know.
The doctor I saw yesterday scheduled me for an MRI because the X-
rays do not show the soft tissue. He pointed out the arthritic "spurs" at
the edges of my knee joints and suggested that these were what were giving
me most grief. Now that I am up and about I think I will take two Tylenols.
Carol's Evaluation: 9.5 out of 10.
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