Thanks for the suggestions Donna and Darlena. :)

Last Fall I could barely move from pain that moved from my knees into my ankles,
hips, and shoulders. My PT who specializes in chronic pain really helped me a
lot. One of his specialties is fibromyalgia. What he says makes a lot of
sense. I have provided some links for what it is worth;

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2004/09/22/health/export173924.txt

http://fibromyalgia-video.com/

Unfortunately, he has not been able to help my knee pain as much as the other
referred pain (my definition).

A lot of us have had a lot of aggravation in the work place, and especially from
doctors we see. I don't know what the solution is, but I have received most of
my moral support from groups like these, and in helping others with the same
condition. I have a neighbor down the street I grew up with who has
chondromalacia and we also give one another a lot of support. I feel sorry for
her because she doesn't use the internet much, and is also having a lot of
trouble at work now.

Mike
MT
----- Original Message -----
From: Darlena Schmidt
To: chondromalaciacommunity@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 5:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Chondromalacia Community] ointment?


Mike,

Try Biofreeze. It comes in a tube and is like a gel. I have to get it by
prescription where I live (FL). My massage therapist used it on me after a
massage and ice. It lasts for hours, doesn't have that real menthony smell and
works fantastic. It really helped my Fibromyalgia and knee.

I have only posted once or twice, but want to share my recent experience. I
had surgery on my left knee on 4/5. I tripped on a box at work 2 days after
Christmas. MRI showed a meniscus tear and NO chondramalcia. Previoius exrays
showed I had chondramalcia.in both knees. Surgeion did a lateral release and
found a partial tear of my ACL. Menescus was fully intact. Just goes to show you
how unreliable those tests are. Doing so,so. Going to PT 3 times a week. Go back
to surgeon this morning for re-eval. Hope he doesn't try to send me back to
work. My job is very physical and there is no way I could do it. I also have
Fibromyalgia, CFS and RLS. I have been having terrible back pains, I think I
twisted it when I tripped. Nothing I take gives me any relief.They don't want to
give me stronger meds as I have been taking Hydrocodone for years. Doctors just
don't get it what it's like to live in chronic pain.

By the way, has anyone been on workers comp and suddendly treated terribly
incompetent at work, maybe due to restrictions? How did you handle it. I am
going through a terrible time. My immediate supervisor told me our main manager
wanted to fire me. She has found a way to make it look like I can't do my job
and is unrelated to getting hurt there. I have been written up and given a final
warning right before I went out for the surgery. She has made up so called
conversations and verbal warnings she supposedly gave me. I have been to
employee relations twice and it only made it worse. Any suggestions? I work for
a healthcare system in a primary care office with 10 doctors. You'd think they'd
be more understanding. Instead I get it thrown in my face that I can't carry my
workload and don't have my priorities straight. I am posting to transfer to
other positions at other facilities, but no luck yet. I dread going back. The
stress is causing a Fibro flare up.

I lost my mother 3/4 very suddenly. She suddenly got sick, couldn't breath.
The next day we found out she had cancer in her entire body and was gone in
exactly two weeks. My brother went into a tirad at me right after she died, in
her room. I had to call the police to leave. He blocked my car in with his
truck. They all live in Atlanta and I live in Jacksonville, FL. I had taken a
two week leave of absence to be with her till the end.

Ok, enough rambling. Thaks for listening. Darlena

----- Original Message ----
From: Mike Bernhardt <mlbernhardt@...>
To: chondromalaciacommunity@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 7:58:06 AM
Subject: [Chondromalacia Community] ointment?

Is there an ointment that cuts the pain if rubbed on the knee? I have stinging
pain around my kneecaps and have a hard time going to sleep many nights. I have
little success with NSAIDS anymore, and looking for something to try short of an
injection.

Mike
MT

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