What do you take for arthritis? Does it help?

jnl
jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
in Breast Cancer #1

I had a bone scan awhile back and it showed a little arthritis.  I've been taking tylenol for it, and it works ok, but, I wondered what the rest of you might be taking and how it works for you.  I just hate to take it everyday.  I know it can't be good for my stomach. 

 

Thanks, Leeza

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Comments

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #2
    Voltaren Gel

    I use Voltaren Gel, it works wonders.  It is a prescription and not an over the counter drug.   

     

     

    Doris

  • desertgirl947
    desertgirl947 Member Posts: 653 Member
    #3
    I just do Ibuprofen 800s as

    I just do Ibuprofen 800s as needed. I have to be feeling more stiff and sore than usual to get myself to take the Ibuprofen.  (Mine is by prescription, which saves me $$ with what I have with my insurance.  Also, it is better to take the 800s 2-3 times in a day than the ones that are only good for 4-6 hours.  The 800s dissolve more slowly.)

  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #4
    SIROD said:

    Voltaren Gel

    I use Voltaren Gel, it works wonders.  It is a prescription and not an over the counter drug.   

     

     

    Doris

    Thank you Doris!  I hate to

    Thank you Doris!  I hate to sound dumb, but, how do you use it?  Since it is a gel, I assume you just rub it in where it hurts?  How often do you have to use it?  Do you put it on once a day or several times a day?  Just at night?  Does it make the pain go away completely?

    Thanks again!

    Leeza

  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #5
    desertgirl947 said:

    I just do Ibuprofen 800s as

    I just do Ibuprofen 800s as needed. I have to be feeling more stiff and sore than usual to get myself to take the Ibuprofen.  (Mine is by prescription, which saves me $$ with what I have with my insurance.  Also, it is better to take the 800s 2-3 times in a day than the ones that are only good for 4-6 hours.  The 800s dissolve more slowly.)

    Thanks desertgilr947!  My PCP

    Thanks desertgilr947!  My PCP did give me a prescription for Ibuprofen, but, I only took it a few times as it upset my stomach.  Ofcourse, I forgot to take it with food or milk, so, that was going to happen for sure.  She cautioned me that the Ibuprofen was hard on my stomach and to not take it every day, so, that is why I just started taking the tylenol.

    Appreciate your post! 

    Leeza

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #6
    Etodolac

    I take Etodolac daily.  I've had arthritis in my upper back for years and have a script for Etodolac twice a day.  Most of the time it keeps it under control with one a day but sometimes I need the second one to keep it undercontrol.  There are sometimes that I still need Tylenol or occasionally Vicodin depending on what I do or the weather. Actually I recently started taking ibuprophen as after surgery on wrist for broken bones I found out that I have a lot of arthritis in my wrist/hand (pre breaks but never knew it - didn't know about arthritis in back either as no pain u ntil I had a chest X-ray that showed it and it was several yrs before it bothered me) that ibuprophen works better on the pain from it.

    Winyan- The Power Within

    Susan

  • kmenurse
    kmenurse Member Posts: 217
    #7
    Rague said:

    Etodolac

    I take Etodolac daily.  I've had arthritis in my upper back for years and have a script for Etodolac twice a day.  Most of the time it keeps it under control with one a day but sometimes I need the second one to keep it undercontrol.  There are sometimes that I still need Tylenol or occasionally Vicodin depending on what I do or the weather. Actually I recently started taking ibuprophen as after surgery on wrist for broken bones I found out that I have a lot of arthritis in my wrist/hand (pre breaks but never knew it - didn't know about arthritis in back either as no pain u ntil I had a chest X-ray that showed it and it was several yrs before it bothered me) that ibuprophen works better on the pain from it.

    Winyan- The Power Within

    Susan

    Arthiritis

    I take Ibuprofen, it is an antiflammitory and will help with the inflammation at the joints.  If the pain is real bad ask you dr. for a Rx for it.  If taking for a long period of time Tylenol is hard on the liver, it is metabolized through the liver. if you take Ibuprofin it is metabolized through the kidneys taken regulary it can cause ulcers in the stomach so be sure to eat something with it. God Bless!  Kathy

     

  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #8
    jnl said:

    Thanks desertgilr947!  My PCP

    Thanks desertgilr947!  My PCP did give me a prescription for Ibuprofen, but, I only took it a few times as it upset my stomach.  Ofcourse, I forgot to take it with food or milk, so, that was going to happen for sure.  She cautioned me that the Ibuprofen was hard on my stomach and to not take it every day, so, that is why I just started taking the tylenol.

    Appreciate your post! 

    Leeza

    Leeza, have you seen a spine

    Leeza, have you seen a spine and pain management doctor?  I bet they could help you with the pain and I would think would be more update on anything new for arthritis.

    Lex

  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #9
    Alexis F said:

    Leeza, have you seen a spine

    Leeza, have you seen a spine and pain management doctor?  I bet they could help you with the pain and I would think would be more update on anything new for arthritis.

    Lex

    No, I haven't yet Lex, but, I

    No, I haven't yet Lex, but, I think that will be my next step.  Do you have arthritis and have you seen a pain management doctor?

    Leeza

  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #10
    Rague said:

    Etodolac

    I take Etodolac daily.  I've had arthritis in my upper back for years and have a script for Etodolac twice a day.  Most of the time it keeps it under control with one a day but sometimes I need the second one to keep it undercontrol.  There are sometimes that I still need Tylenol or occasionally Vicodin depending on what I do or the weather. Actually I recently started taking ibuprophen as after surgery on wrist for broken bones I found out that I have a lot of arthritis in my wrist/hand (pre breaks but never knew it - didn't know about arthritis in back either as no pain u ntil I had a chest X-ray that showed it and it was several yrs before it bothered me) that ibuprophen works better on the pain from it.

    Winyan- The Power Within

    Susan

    Thanks Susan.  I will check

    Thanks Susan.  I will check into the Etodolac too.  I do have the 800mg prescription Ibuprofen, but like I wrote, I took it without food a few times and it really upset my stomach, so, I stopped. 

    Leeza

  • Pink Rose
    Pink Rose Member Posts: 493
    #11
    kmenurse said:

    Arthiritis

    I take Ibuprofen, it is an antiflammitory and will help with the inflammation at the joints.  If the pain is real bad ask you dr. for a Rx for it.  If taking for a long period of time Tylenol is hard on the liver, it is metabolized through the liver. if you take Ibuprofin it is metabolized through the kidneys taken regulary it can cause ulcers in the stomach so be sure to eat something with it. God Bless!  Kathy

     

    You ought to try the

    You ought to try the Ibuprofen again maybe Leeza, but, just be sure and eat something before you take it.  Is your pain really bad?  Perhaps you need something stronger like a pain pill?

    Hope you feel better,

    Rose

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #12
    jnl said:

    Thank you Doris!  I hate to

    Thank you Doris!  I hate to sound dumb, but, how do you use it?  Since it is a gel, I assume you just rub it in where it hurts?  How often do you have to use it?  Do you put it on once a day or several times a day?  Just at night?  Does it make the pain go away completely?

    Thanks again!

    Leeza

    Pain

    I can use it up to 4 x a day.  I rub it in my shoulder thought arthritis is only 1 of many problems there.  The orthopedic oncologist thought it would help.  I rub it on my knees which are full of osteoarthritis and my ankle.  The other one has a tendon problem and I wear a patch of lidocaine.  If I'm in bed and pain just won't stop, I will apply the gel which is just like cream on it.  The pain doesn't go away immediately but in a reasonable amount of time it does vanish.  It is a wonderful product, couldn't live without it.

    I like it better than pills and so does my liver.

    Best wishes,

    Doris

  • Pink Rose
    Pink Rose Member Posts: 493
    #13
    jnl said:

    Thanks Susan.  I will check

    Thanks Susan.  I will check into the Etodolac too.  I do have the 800mg prescription Ibuprofen, but like I wrote, I took it without food a few times and it really upset my stomach, so, I stopped. 

    Leeza

    I didn't know if a muscle

    I didn't know if a muscle relaxer might help too, but, it might not be for arthritis.  Ask your doctor Leeza.

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #14
    TENS Unit

    Have you tried a TENS Unit?  For some they work great.

    They work by using electric impulses to interupt the pain impulses the nerves are passing to the brain.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #15
    My hands are very bad..I had

    My hands are very bad..I had surgery on two fingers (one each hand) not much help. I just went back after years and I was going to start taking Celebrix but read side effects (I have ulcertive colitis) and not good with bleeding issues with in testines. I got some suppliment-not sure of the name but I must make an appt with a specialist-for arthris.

     

    I hope you get helpful info here

     

    Denise

  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #16
    Rague said:

    TENS Unit

    Have you tried a TENS Unit?  For some they work great.

    They work by using electric impulses to interupt the pain impulses the nerves are passing to the brain.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

    I will certainly write down

    I will certainly write down everything on here as I go for a bone scan Friday to see what my pain is in my back.  Praying it is arthritis. 

  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #17
    SIROD said:

    Pain

    I can use it up to 4 x a day.  I rub it in my shoulder thought arthritis is only 1 of many problems there.  The orthopedic oncologist thought it would help.  I rub it on my knees which are full of osteoarthritis and my ankle.  The other one has a tendon problem and I wear a patch of lidocaine.  If I'm in bed and pain just won't stop, I will apply the gel which is just like cream on it.  The pain doesn't go away immediately but in a reasonable amount of time it does vanish.  It is a wonderful product, couldn't live without it.

    I like it better than pills and so does my liver.

    Best wishes,

    Doris

    Thanks Doris!  The voltaren

    Thanks Doris!  The voltaren gel sounds like it is something that I want to discuss with my doctor.  I've never heard of it. 

    That's why this board and you pink sisters are all super amazing!

    Leeza

  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #18
    Rague said:

    TENS Unit

    Have you tried a TENS Unit?  For some they work great.

    They work by using electric impulses to interupt the pain impulses the nerves are passing to the brain.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

    Susan, I just saw your reply

    Susan, I just saw your reply to Leeza.  Is the TENS unit something you wear?

     

  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #19
    Kylez said:

    I will certainly write down

    I will certainly write down everything on here as I go for a bone scan Friday to see what my pain is in my back.  Praying it is arthritis. 

    Aleve works well.  Have you

    Aleve works well.  Have you ever tried that?  Hoping you find something to help with the pain.

    Jan

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #20
    DianeBC said:

    Susan, I just saw your reply

    Susan, I just saw your reply to Leeza.  Is the TENS unit something you wear?

     

    Yes

    It is a little box smaller than a pack of cigarettes that clips to your belt (or whereever you want to).  There are 4 electrodes (sort of like the ones used for EKGs.  They are placed on the skin iin a pattern so that  the electric impusles travel in  an X with the center of the X over the area the nerve goes into the spinal cord and it disrups the the nerve sending it's electrical impulse to tell the brain to feel pain.  (I'm sure someone can give you a more complete answer but very basically thats it.)   It is adjusted for you and you can adjust it somewhat as you need to.   When I used mine, everytime I wuld start it I'd get a VERY slight little tingle for about 5 minutes then wouldn't feel it any more unless I increased it.  I am VERY sensitive to electric shocks but it was not bad at all.  I haven't used it in quite a while so think I'll dig it out and try it again.  

    It is a real medical device, not some gimmick being hawked on late night 'info-mercials'.  Tallk to your Dr about one - might help.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

    You can google TENS Unit and find a fair bit of info and the units.

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #21
    Rague said:

    Yes

    It is a little box smaller than a pack of cigarettes that clips to your belt (or whereever you want to).  There are 4 electrodes (sort of like the ones used for EKGs.  They are placed on the skin iin a pattern so that  the electric impusles travel in  an X with the center of the X over the area the nerve goes into the spinal cord and it disrups the the nerve sending it's electrical impulse to tell the brain to feel pain.  (I'm sure someone can give you a more complete answer but very basically thats it.)   It is adjusted for you and you can adjust it somewhat as you need to.   When I used mine, everytime I wuld start it I'd get a VERY slight little tingle for about 5 minutes then wouldn't feel it any more unless I increased it.  I am VERY sensitive to electric shocks but it was not bad at all.  I haven't used it in quite a while so think I'll dig it out and try it again.  

    It is a real medical device, not some gimmick being hawked on late night 'info-mercials'.  Tallk to your Dr about one - might help.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

    You can google TENS Unit and find a fair bit of info and the units.

    Leeza, I had medial nerve

    Leeza, I had medial nerve blocks which stopped the pain I was having from arthritis.  It isn't permanent, but, it is still working for me.  You might check into that too.

    Sue :)

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