Melva - ROFL - how long would you suggest in the PC? ccaggiano - sometimes muscle pain can be delayed. I tend to get muscle pain about 2-3 days after shoveling, raking or heavy lifting. It's most likely because the doc knew you weren't making up a complaint just to get drugs and it would save time in case one didn't work and then you wouldn't have to come back just for a different script. That being said, if you ever have a concern, you should contact the ER dept head or the hospital adminstrator and talk to them. The only Class II drug there is the oxycontin, which is oxycodone hcl. Vicodin is Hydrocodone Bitartrate & Acetaminophen. Percocet is Oxycodone and Acetaminophen. Vicodin would be the mildest, then Percocet (depending on the dosage) and then the oxycontin. Dafy - Planning on helping a neighbor with Peach Jam for Cold Mornings sometime soon.

mariposatraicionera, so sorry to hear about the tragic case of your relative. I can tell you from personal experience that finding responsive and expert medical assistance is not always easy even in the DC metro area. I am fortunate that since my wife is a physician who works at a major teaching hospital, she is able to utilize the resources of that center for consultations and/or treatment when it comes to family members. It was, in part, the insistence of physicians in the cardiology department at her medical center that provided the impetus to have a cardiac catherization done. One other piece of information that may be of value to forum participants: for anyone who is ever faced with a situation requiring cardiac catherization - the two imperatives when it comes to such a procedure is that it is done by a cardiologist who does at least 75 of these procedures annually and it is done at a facility that has a by-pass program as well. The latter is important because there is an inherent risk that during angioplasty and stent placement, damage can be caused to an artery which would necessitate immediate by-pass surgery. If this should occur, time is of the essence and being at a facility that can perform by-pass surgery is a god-send. Mine was done at a facility that does an average of 70 cardiac catherizations a day!! The interventional cardiologist who did mine does 6-8 daily! I now have to go to my regular cardiologist for follow-up visits since the interventional cardiologist does not do any "regular" cardiac care. It is amazing how specialized everything has become. talley_sue_nyc, your comment that "many people just live w/ a dull ache in their arm, and end up dying of a heart attack" is probably true. In my case, the moment I told my wife about the ache she immediately scheduled an appointment with my internist for the very next day. I went and cancelled it telling her that she was over-reacting! So I know exactly what you mean.

Thank you for all the advice. My hand is better this a.m. for not being used all night. Still not good, but headed in the right direction. So I'm trying not to use it as much as possible today and hope improvement continues. I do have epsom salts. Almost threw out the container the other day. See? This is why I hate to throw out things. :-) Rhizo, the reaction you describe sounds like the tachycardia I get from naproxyn (Aleve). I won't go near it. The last time I took ibuprofen I had a scary pain that shot from the left side of my neck down to the center of my chest. Just one pain, but it made an impression on me! When I'd taken it before I noticed some twinges in my chest, but nothing like that.

Thanks to all of you. I have an doctor appointment this afternoon. I kinda don't take things very seriously and maybe this isn't either.