Pain Relief

What do you folks recommend for simple osteo-arthritis pain relief? I have been increasing my cardio levels, started ballroom dancing (which is tough on the feet in heels) and I'm having some arthritis pain.

I find that naproxen sodium (Advil, Aleve) helps me. Any other suggestions?

What do you folks recommend for simple osteo-arthritis pain relief? I have been increasing my cardio levels, started ballroom dancing (which is tough on the feet in heels) and I'm having some arthritis pain.

I find that naproxen sodium (Advil, Aleve) helps me. Any other suggestions?

Those give me terrible stomach upset, and dont help me, tho my knee osteo-arthritis is severe.

No, i cant get any pain relief, unfortunatley. Someone gave me some Ultram, but i cant take them if i have to leave the house. They make me a little drugged up and loopy, but i feel no pain.

I hate my arthritis :(

Hope you find something.

Hey bubs, a lot of people seem to get relief from taking glucosamine. I was on it for a long time in the past, but it seemed to drive up my triglycerides. Now, my mom has never had that problem with it. Have you tried that?

Please see your doctor. Only they know your full medical history and are likely to give you an accurate recommendation for what will work best for you.

Good luck!

Zolie, they say it's fine I take Aleve, lol. Spoken like a doctor, too, I may add, but thanks.

I think they want me to keep exercising (i'm diabetic). That is what they want most I think. But I was just wondering what others use for managing day to day arthritic pain.

WR, I don't take glucosamine. But if it raises tryglicerides, I won't. Mine aren't high, but that's very important for diabetics to have low ones as you know.

Tee hee... I know, but you can see why I mean it... Had I not known your history of Diabetes I might have endorsed something that could have made you sick. Why don't you ask your doctor about glucosamine? Instead of leaving it as an open question, bring a list of medications you are curious about so they can address each one. They will be quick to recognize that it is difficult to exercise when you are in pain!

I should have added that if you are diabetic, you should probably avoid the glucosamine, because I believe it also raises glucose levels.

For my day to day arthritic pain, I rely only on the prescription NSAID my rheumatologist has me on. It's meclomen. It works well for me. He also has me on plaquenil as a remission drug, but interestingly, since I started taking it in February, my arthritis has seemed to worsen, which is I'm sure NOT the norm.

I agree with zolie -- you probably should talk to your physician about it. You might need a prescription.

I tried Glucosamine chondroitin for a month, and it didnt work so my doc said to stop.

I do take a "shot" of 100% pure Mangosteen juice each day, and i do think it's helped just a little. It tastes crappy, but isnt bad for you in any way. It reduces inflammation. I like natural things when i can find them.

(let me add that this is not Xango, the juice that only contains like 15% mangosteen)

The trainer at my gym told me that I should go easy with the cardio and to always do some easy to moderate weight lifting. If I am in a period that is more painful I just take it slowly.

For the meds I used to take Celebrex daily but since my health is much better I rarely use it. Now I take mostly Advil and if I'm having alot of pain I take just one dose of 222 with codeine and it's magic and I only take one or two doses a week because I know this stuff is addictive and it's not good if you have slow bowel movement.

I was forgetting to say that I have acupuncture treatments. I LOVE IT. I have been doing it for the past 5 years. I go twice every 2 months. I'm very lucky cause I have a very good acupuncturist and no it does not hurt.

Aside from NSAIDs, I use several supplements that seem to work for me: MSM/glucosamine, Sam-e, and fish oil capsules. Also make sure to stay hydrated, as dehydration also causes pain. Light aerobics, walking, swimming can also help daily. (I do the heavy stuff though for weight control!) I don't smoke, use alcohol rarely, rarely eat red meat, etc. A good website, which I think has been mentioned before here, is arthritis.org for tips on arthritis.

Thanks, i forgot about the Sam-e, i had wanted to try it.

Yes, I would say that one helps definitely for me. Is expensive though. Have you tried fish oil?

No, i havent.