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Osteoarthritis

Posted , 8 users are following.

lyn65518
lyn65518

I am having such severe pain in my fingers wrist shoulder and arms at the moment. My blood pressure raises when I get these severe flare ups, I am taking naproxen just twice a day and only one at a time, also take some tramadol for night. I do drink lots of water in the day, to keep hydrated I just wish there was some medication that would take away some of the pain.

1 like, 18 replies

18 Replies

  • ArshiQ
    ArshiQ lyn65518

    Posted

    Have you met a "Pain Specialist"? During the last 24 years, I have had frozen shoulder twice and similarly a frozen knee once. I know that these are effects of osteoarthritis, but the Pain Specialist gave me total relief through one injection ! 
  • ArshiQ
    ArshiQ lyn65518

    Posted

    Have you met a "Pain Specialist"? During the last 24 years, I have had frozen shoulder twice and similarly a frozen knee once. I know that these are effects of osteoarthritis, but the Pain Specialist gave me total relief through one injection ! 
    • lyn65518
      lyn65518 ArshiQ

      Posted

      I have had osteoarthritis for 20 years, It started in lower back first, now that I can cope with, went to a pain specialist 6 years ago but was told to take dicofenic but I stopped them, and my doctor does not want me taking them,  so I am on naproxen, I am 63 now 
    • loxie
      loxie lyn65518

      Posted

      I too have OA, in one ankle (due to a major injury), also in both thumb joints and apparently from a recent MRI scan I also have it starting in my neck/shoulders.  For the last couple of years I've been in serious pain, mostly my arms but also top of my legs/thighs and lower back.  The pain is totally different from the OA pain in my ankle in that its in the muscles rather than the joints and now it's so bad I cant lift anything with my right arm and even sometimes have trouble lifting the arm itself.  My doctor now thinks I may have fibromyalgia, possibly linked to the accident and/or the OA.  To be honest, I haven't found a pain med that I can take that works.  I too take naproxen, which is very effective for the OA flare ups but doesn't seem to work at all on the muscle pains.  I cant take any opiates or tramadol, they make me sick unfortunately.  I can take paracetamol in low doses but it really doesn't even take the edge off.  One of the doctors at my group practice prescribed a reducing dose of steroids (prednisolone) over a set period, which did help with the pain but the side effects were so awful I dont want to take them again.  Then another one gave me a low dose prescription for amitryptaline to take late at night.  That also helped a bit, especially with helping me to get through the night without being woken in pain.  They did have some adverse side effects but nowhere near as bad as the steroids, I guess because it was such a low dose.  I'm totally at a loss now on how to get this pain under control.  I've even stopped noticing the OA pain at all as the fibro pain just overwhelms my thoughts.  I find myself just wanting to go to bed and sleep just to get some respite.  Chronic pain just takes over everything in one's life - I cant do a single thing without hurting, I cant think clearly, I forget things, even words in the middle of a sentence and I'm so exhausted all the time I just start to cry.  If anyone ever finds a painkiller for this terrible condition, I'll nominate them for a sainthood.
  • Jan999
    Jan999 lyn65518

    Posted

    My GP prescribed me Acupan to take alongside my other medication. It's not an opiate or anti inflammatory and is safe to take with other pain meds. It is given to patients post op and to women in labour so it must be effective. I only take it occasionally when the pain is quite bad but it does help.
  • Pops-girl
    Pops-girl lyn65518

    Posted

    Careful not to use to much Naproxen...Hard on the stomach..

    I have it in my hips, knees ,ankles and lower back..

    I have been trying to research natural remedies as well..

    And the one that's the hardest is exercise. .move it or lose it..but the pain later hurts also..but I continue to do it..Have had arthritis since I was about 37 and almost 50..seems like every half year a new spot decides to hurt.. Epsom salt baths seem to help in the morning and evenings..

    I take tram adolfo also..it was actually prescribed for my back muscles but When I can't sleep I usually take one.. sad

    Diet affect your arthritis also...not always easy but try to eliminate foods that cause inflammation. ..

    Good Luck.... I feel your Pain sad

    Epsom Salt

    • lyn65518
      lyn65518 Pops-girl

      Posted

      I am taking just half dose of naproxen if I don't take it I have really bad swelling in my finger joints. If I don't get enough sleep I feel dreadful. Since last August my osteoarthritis has spread a lot, but you have to keep going.....
  • elizabeth20203
    elizabeth20203 lyn65518

    Posted

    I have had arthritis since aged 11 and through out the years have tried everthing going. I am currently taking Naproxen, Gaberpentin and Amitriptyline at night which helps with sleep. I also take co codamol when i need to. I was on Acupan but found it to be no help. I have had steriod injections also no help. In my opinion joint replacements have the best relief. I have had my left knee replaced twice. My right knee is causing severe pain. I have arthritis i my lower back as well. It's such a crippling disease and debilitating. Arthritis as no cure, we have to find ways to cope. It's good to know that we can come here for support and to know that we are not alone. 
    • lyn65518
      lyn65518 elizabeth20203

      Posted

      Do you take naproxen morning and evening? And if so how many and how long have you been on naproxen? It is good to know that there is support..
    • elizabeth20203
      elizabeth20203 lyn65518

      Posted

      Hello Lyn,

      I take 500mg one in the morning and one at night. I have been taking them currently for about two months. I was on them last year as well. My Doctor took me off them because of long term use which can cause stomach problems. Then another put me back on them because of the severe pain i have. I have to take Omprazole prescribed because of this. I have no side effects. smile

      Elizabeth.

       

    • lyn65518
      lyn65518 elizabeth20203

      Posted

      Thank you for replying to me, my doctor wants me to try and stay off of them, easier said than done, if I take naproxen it does help with the swelling and pain in my fingers and wrists but my shoulder and arms hurt constantly. Some people have been taking them for years without any stomach issues...
  • wknight
    wknight lyn65518

    Posted

    Have you been to see a specialist? I have OA in my fingers and am now pain free, but I have had two finger joint replacements. Its not for everyone, but I too found nothing that helped much apart from the voltarol gel 
    • lyn65518
      lyn65518 wknight

      Posted

      My doctor has not suggested a specialist, I don't know what they could do 

      I have so much pain in left shoulder hands writs and my arms ache constantly, and the bones going down from my neck. I took a trip to see my sister went on the train, I felt really ill while away I know now I caught a virus, it's the first one for about 5 years and I ached from head to toe, it seem to make my osteoarthritis so much worse, I can't use any of the jells they bring me out in a rash, but I will try the creams next time I am at the doctors.

    • lyn65518
      lyn65518 ArshiQ

      Posted

      Oh no he is just a ordinary GP, you have to be referred to a pain specialist 

      I was referred about 6 years ago but he put me on diclofenic which I had to stop taking, they are not good for you on long term use. I went to pain specialist then because I have osteoarthritis in lower back as well. But over time it has spread to most parts of my body. 

    • wknight
      wknight lyn65518

      Posted

      The specialist has a lot of options 

       - joint replacement surgery

       - fusing joints

       - injection in joints

       - latest treatment options 

      they are the experts dealing with this every day, your GP isn't. You may be surprised what they might be able to do for you.  Joint replacement surgery is wonderful, but there is a window when they can do it. If the one is too badly eroded it's not an option, so don't delay and go see the expert 

       

    • elizabeth20203
      elizabeth20203 wknight

      Posted

      Just read your reply to Lyn and i agree with what you say, so Lyn get a referal to the pain specialist. 
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