General Chat

Arthritis? I can't take Ibruprofen and paracetamol or co-codamol are not strong enough at times.

I have it in my hips, spine (both diagnosed for definite this week) and fingers. I am not looking forward to the possibilities of the condition as I have seen several family members with it.

Any tips about control would be welcome.

I have an MRI scan soon to see the extent of spinal involvement and a long course (possibly months apparently) of hydrotherapy.

Oh the joys of hereditory diseases and age!

Jacky

you need a tens machine... i wouldn't be without mine, and if your hospital has a hydrotherapy pool ask if you can have some sessions in there.

I had thought about a tens machine and was going to ask the physio about getting one. The hydrotherapy sessions will be at the hospital.

the physio lent me a tens machine from the hospital to try it was good so i bought one. i had acupuncture in my hands to start with and then injections, they are very good but you can only have them for so long, hand surgery is amazing these days, i have an electron implant in my thumb and am having a small plate put in another joint in a few weeks, also glucosamine high strength is good for arthritic joints.. hope all this is helpful ..

Jacki,

does the ibruprofen give you really bad stomarch pain
from the asprain they contain? if so your Dr can give you medication for that so they don't give you the cramps my Dr does for me.

nannie

Thanks for your replies.

Nannie - I can't take Ibruprofen as I am asthmatic at this time of year.

Stella - I am hoping that surgery can be put off for some time yet.

Glucosamine. I stopped with ibruprofen and pain killers after two weeks of taking the glucosamine. I have 1 x 1000mg tablets; breakfast, lunch, tea and supper. Try it.
Brian(i)

Hi Jacky, I too cannot take Ibuprofen because of asthma and co-codamol make me so sick, I have osteo arthritis and fibromyalgia, I use a tens machine and I take tramadol daily, between 400 and 600 mg depending on how bad I feel and top them up with paracetamol.

Gillie XX

Although I do not suffer with Arthritis, but other pains, would someone please so kind as to tell me what a tens machine is. I am particularly interested because on Saturday next, I have an appointment at a Pain Management Clinic in Derby Hospital, and would like to be fully conversant with this, as I have never heard of this. Please,please, save me from my ignorance.
Julia in Derbyshire

I have R/A in most parts of my body and my experience is that no pain killers really work! Trust me, I have tried them all - am now on morphine sulphate tables but they dont take the pain away but at least send me to sleep. lol

One of the main problems I found over the years was finding the right drugs for me and at the moment I am on Celebrex and Leflumomide and they both suit me very well as my overall, general pain has been reduced considerably. But I tried a lot of other drugs before I eventually go something that works.

However, when it comes to load bearing joints like ankles, knees and hips - the more I use them, the more pain I get and I have found the best medication to be doing as little as possible!

One thing I learnt is that if a doctor or "specialist" prescribed me drugs that had no effect within 3 months, I would demand a change and try something else.

Steriod injections are like a miracle - completely pain free for about 6 weeks or more, if you are lucky. But I found my body got used to them and after the 3 one they stopped working. And is being pain free a good thing? I worried about what damage I could be doing to my joints if I didnt have the pain to stop or slow me down.

Hi Julia,
A Tens machine sends electrical pulses through 4 pads, which you attach to the appropiate places on your body. The one I tried had 7 ( Ithink) different pulse frequency patterns & you choose the current level that you're comfortable with. The idea of the electrical pulses is to stimulate the brain to produce endorphines - the bodies natural painkiller.
Unfortunately it didn't work for me.

Regards,
Steve

Awe thanks for the explanation. I would be terrorably (sp) embaressed going into the clinic appointment asking for something I did not know anything about.
Many,many thanks
Julia in Derbyshire

I use (tart) cherry juice for arthritic pain - really helps reduce the inflammation. It's full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidant properties. Already have a replacement joint at the base of a big toe, don't want too many injections as, in time, they can do huge damage to the joint.
If you Google 'tart cherry juice', you can research it's uses. I mix mine with water and drink over an hour or so daily. Really has cut down on the number of 'pain pills' I'd been consuming.
Hope this helps a bit,
Mary

Hello Jackie ------ so sorry you are suffering with the arthritus. l don't have any suggestions other than all that has been said, BUT l wanted to say Hi:o)) How is your daughter??

jude :o) xx

I am surprised that nobody has backed me up Glucosamine, I daughter also uses it.
Brian(i)

i have brian..i suggested its use 3 posts above yours, rhuematoid consultant told me to take 1500mg daily ...

Stella. Sorry, I didn't 'see' the end of your thread :-(
Brian(i)

well we've advertised it now brian(i)... lol

i can't take anti-nflammatories of any kind, that is why i like my tens machine

I have had arthritis in my spine for about 25 years. I got a book written by a doctor who had worked on arthritis for 40 years in the US. He said what causes the pain is inflamation,one of the worst things to cause inflamation is butter and the best thing to reduse inflamation is olive oil. I use it instead of butter on my bread etc. I am still fairly active and only take a pain killer on a bad day as they don't agree with my stomach.