Jazz T-Bone: The homepage for Joe Jackson

Intro II

January - June 2007

Beginning Winter 2007, through the Spring and into the Summer, the periods of time I was having attacks were growing in length and frequency, and the periods of time I was in remission were shrinking.

During this time I began seeing a different acupuncturist who began treating me. One of the things the new acupuncturist felt was that stress was a key part of the way my disease was triggered, and that regardless of my ability to handle stress, reducing it would be key to getting better. So I began really trying to live easier and ease up on the way I "attacked" new projects. By this time my condition was accelerating so fast I'm sure it looked from the outside like this was having no effect, however overall I think this change benefited me.

May and June marked the first time arthritis attacks in my shoulders were affecting my trombone playing. We were booked to go to Easton, Maryland to do clinics and play a performance in mid-May. Tim, Doug, Steve and I did the clinic portion at the local high school in the morning, however I suffered a really big flare-up in my left shoulder later that day and I could not lift my left arm. That night was the first time I had to miss a job because of shoulder pain.

July - October 2007

My remission time between attacks had grown shorter and more infrequent during the first six months of '07, and beginning in mid-July 2007 there were no more pain-free days. During this period some days my shoulders would be better or worse, but never pain-free. There were a couple of summer jobs during this time where I got through the gigs on sheer will power and OTC meds. Playing lead, I could pretty much cut the parts without going past fourth position which helped. But there was lots of pain and it was sometimes hard getting up the will to play aggressively. But I did my best and passed most of my solos.

In July I got another referral to the Air Force rheumatologist, this time at Bethesda. Bethesda Rheumy did my bloods, noted the same elevated Rheumatoid Factor, noted that I was in substantial pain in my shoulders and arms. And they concluded that something was wrong with me but they were not sure what. However this visit was different; I felt like they truly believed that I was having a real problem, and that alone meant a lot to me.

They put me on Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate) which had been shown to be effective in patients who were exhibiting Rheumatoidal or pre-Rheumatoidal symptoms. I tried this medication for the following six weeks without any beneficial result. They also gave me Tylenol 3 to augment my Motrin/Tylenol regimen which had become a daily thing at that point. I used the T3 to get on stage and get through gigs and I would also take one in the middle of the night if an attack was preventing me from sleeping.

We had several tours in the fall, in August and in October as well as the Jazz Heritage Series and many other high-profile performances. I know the use of narcotic pain killers is much-maligned in our world today - and for good reason, the abuse of prescription painkillers is truly widespread. However backlash in our government, society and medical community to this problem sometimes result in patients being denied these medications, and therefore an unnecessary source of suffering to patients.

I consider myself lucky - Tylenol 3 is a relatively mild painkiller classified as a schedule III controlled drug under U.S. Federal Controlled Substances Law. Many chronic pain sufferers respond to Tylenol 3 little, if at all, and must take stronger Schedule II painkillers such as Vicodin (Hydrocodone) or Oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin). These drugs are much more habit-forming and therefore represent more of a danger in terms of addiction to chronic, long-term sufferers. For me, a single Tylenol 3 in combination with Motrin knocks off 3 levels (on the 1-10 pain scale) and does not seem to make me sleepy or otherwise impair me. Other patients with intractable pain are not as fortunate and have to deal with a heightened danger of addiction as well as the stigma of using stronger meds.

In late October I began seeing an Air Force chiropractor - yes, I said Air Force! The chiro was very interested in my neck, and he was also interested in investigating other possible causes of the systemic inflammation that was causing the pain including possible allergies, food and otherwise.

Early November 2007

In mid-November 2007 my health began to decline rapidly, with constant stabbing pain in my shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, knees, ankles and feet manifesting at all times. At this point I was taking my 800mg Motrin/1,000mg Tylenol cocktail every 6-8 hours, around the clock, every day. If my OTC meds wore off the pain was simply overwhelming.

I really remember trying to stay upbeat and positive during this period, however I am told that I was not altogether successful. I feel that the psychology of constant, utter pain is really complex. It's kind of like what I hear about torture - you can prepare yourself mentally for it, steel yourself against it, meditate and let it wash over you. But eventually you are going to falter and when you do, the pain is there. It never quits.

In early November my arms had learned a new trick: I found increasingly that I could neither entirely straighten nor bend my elbows. They would just stop, as if there was a steel cable on the outside of my arm stopping it.

Now here was something that took square aim at my trombone career. One would think that the lack of extension would be the problem. Nuh-uh. One can do a lot (especially a lead trombonist in a big band) without ever venturing past fourth or fifth position. No, the problem is that if you cannot bend your left elbow, you simply cannot put the horn on your face. Big problem!!

So that's the intro, from this point forward I'll try to make an entry at least once a week. Typing has become a slow process with lots of breaks, and I probably have less time than I used to since on top of my other work I have this new part-time job of going to doctors and hospitals every day... :)

NEXT: Late November - December 2007

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