I've yet to be diagnosed but my symptoms are beginning to look like RA or some kind of arthritis. Anyway, Im waiting to see a rheumy, but in the meantime, my PCP doesn't want me taking any more NSAIDS for various other health reasons. Besides I heard they make the arthritis worse in the long run. So what else helps?
Q: What can you take when you cant take NSAIDS?
Answers (8)
6/ 3/09 10:47am
Good question! I just stopped taking Celebrex voluntarily, after several years, because I'm tired of stomach pain and worrying about ulcers. I have not had ulcers, but I have reflux, and a lot of other digestive issues common to RA. One of my sisters (who has polymyalgia rheumatica, not RA) ended up throwing up blood - she was taking both prednisone and Aleve - where was her doctor's brain ??? Aleve is the worst for stomach bleeding because it's a COX-1 inhibitor rather than COX-2 which is less risky.
When you say, "any more NSAIDS", does that mean you are taking some and feel you need more? Or you are not taking anything at all?
I do take some Tylenol, and on occasion have also taken Percocet (Tylenol with codeine) if things are out of control. I can't take too much of anything however, or I regret the side effects.
My main med for RA is Enbrel, and I've taken that for 4+ years. I have gotten somewhat back into meditation and also started Tai Chi. That may not help you enough by itself.
After a couple of years of this, I am becoming resigned to the fact, that I can accommodate some pain, but after a certain point, risk is necessary. That point can vary, depending on exactly what is happening, and how many demands are placed on my body (by me or other circumstances - there are choices we do make, some help, some hurt!)
Keep in touch, and let us know what's happening. Are you waiting for some test results? What exactly are your symptoms?
and by the way - WELCOME!
Ellen
6/ 4/09 9:45am
Wow, that's quite a line up. Usually one can't get Celebrex (Cox-2 inhibitor) unless you have a problem with the ones that are both Cox1 and Cox2 (aspirin, ibuprofen). Naprosyn (same as Aleve) is supposed to be the hardest on the stomach. But I guess you were rotating, as you say. Did you try and taper off? I find the 4th day after going off Celebrex is kind of a hump. Your body has to get rid of the residual NSAIDS in your body before it will start producing its own brand of - not sure if it's endorphins or steroids - and the transition is hard. This time, I got to the 10th day, and was feeling worse and worse. Finally last night I gave in. It helped after a couple of hours, but the stomach pain did come back with it. So I've just made an appt with my doctor - maybe I will try diclofenac, or something else. I know I need both some antiinflammatory and some straight painkiller (anti-inflam does NOT help my wrist much, but the rest of my body needs it a LOT!)
I agree with you about narcotics, that's for the unbearable stuff, and by the way, I get nauseous if I take even a small dose if I don't REALLY need it! Automatic safety feature, I guess. (I also get a major hot flash when it's wearing off, even if i've just taken it once. Good to know...)
6/ 4/09 11:35am
Well I am not sure about the pain meds, If can you take herbels, there are plenty out there that can ease the symptoms. Have you ever been tested for Celiacs disease? It is a glueten intolorance, digestive tract disease. It's syptoms mimic RA and the disease itself can cause RA. It also causes vit D defiecentcy. I tested negative for the disease , but decided to go wheat free anyway, and my stomach problems have all but gone and my vit d level is returning. Try a muscle relaxer like flexeril also, that might help.
6/ 6/09 8:11pm
I drink pineapple juice it works well. Also i used ginger i eat it raw. I also eat a ginger candy you will find this at Trader Joes. I do execrise three to four times a week also.
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10/ 9/09 8:40pm
Yes, I find that a can of pinapple chunks at least every other day eases my inflammation/pain also. I've found relief in tumeric too but I can't always think of foods to use this seasoning on/with that tastes 'right'. Usually not so bad with whole grain rice dishes.
A spoonful is how of the question ..yukkO. 
*gonna try your ginger...
6/ 3/09 11:43am
Take herbs. Tumeric, boswella, tart cherry tablets. Your local health food store has a whole cache of naturals that can help.
6/ 3/09 8:26pm
I've heard through the grapevine that zyflamend really works for inflammation. Its all herbal. Bought a bottle today.
6/ 4/09 9:39am
I've never heard of that one....
There was also a recent post about something with 3 initials, like DNP or DLP, that is used for something else (like alcohol withdrawal or something) that is being researched for pain or fibro or something, and it's working really well. If someone remembers, let me know...
Ellen
6/ 3/09 11:44am
Take herbs. Tumeric, boswella, tart cherry tablets. Your local health food store has a whole cache of naturals that can help.
6/ 4/09 9:52am
Unfortantly the only other pain meds for RA aside from OTC are all by prescription as they have narcotics in them so its not something you can go into a store and buy. I would talk to your PCP about getting a pain med and ask about tylenol as its not an NSAID so you may be able to take that or something that has tylenol in it like Narco, Tramdol or Lortab.
7/31/09 2:01pm
Ibuprofen (can be OTC or prescription strength NSAID)
Celebrex (non-OTC, Cox-2 inhibitor, NSAID)
Lodine /Etodolac
Ketoprofen
Meloxicam / Mobic
Meclofenamate /
Naprosyn/Aleve/Naproxen
Diclofenac / Arthrotec
and a whole bunch of similar ones that are NSAIDS are NOT narcotic.
But they can and do present risks to the stomach and sometimes heart or liver.
You can google to get a list of NSAIDS - here's one.
Whereas Percocet is a combo of acetaminophen (i.e., tylenol) and codeine (that's the narcotic part). By Rx only, of course.
6/ 4/09 11:59am
Hang in there - I'm in the same boat, with unspecified inflammatory arthritis - not exactly RA, kind of like RA sometimes, might someday grow up and be RA . . . But, there are other things that help with inflamation, and there's something called a 'Pain Inflammation Cycle" - pain causes inflammation causes pain . . . They don't really understand it but it exists. But bottom line is you have to stop one or the other to interrupt the cycle. Natural stuff for inflammation - cherry extract capsules, 4 - 8 a day, spread out (maybe breakfast, lunch, dinner time frame.) Vitamin C, acts like a natural prednisone - up to 10,000 mg a day (spread out). Start with 3-4 thousand mg, and work up to where you have a little 'intestinal distress' and back off by 1 thousand. A really good joint compound - check with your health food/supplement folks, but it needs to have the standard MSM, etc. PLUS mineral and herbal stuff. I take one called Joint Health - 5 capsules a day. (This particular one has vitamin A in it, and too much A can make your hair fall out, so I had to back off from 6 to 5.) I also use a topical pain thing that has glucosomine, msm in it, called TheraPain Plus. It works quickly, not greasy and the smell goes away. It delivers stuff directly to the joint(s) that hurt. I order it online at Reliefmart.com. Google Palindromic Rheumatism and see if your symptoms match - it's not widely recognized at this point, but very specific symptoms that many rheumatologist want to lump in with RA. Remember too that hurting serves no purpose, so do all that you can and when all else fails add a painkiller, and sometimes a muscle relaxer does help. I think we all have muscle tension from the stress of the other, and that in turn agrivates the arthritis. Good luck!!!
7/31/09 2:05pm
I've heard that Vitamin C may not be good for RA because it revs up the immune system - and we already have too much of that. I haven't taken it for years because of the acidity (I tried sodium ascorbate but it was too darn salty).
I don't know if fish oil and/or omega 3's have been mentioned. I can't stand taking fish oil but I take a combination of omega 3-6-9 oil capsules (just one although they recommend 3) and i find it helps. I also take one of the joint health supplements and it REALLY does help. On the other hand, I only got relief from Therapain for a very short time, and no real relief now.
Well, what helps one may not help someone else but it is great to be able to share info and get some new ideas to try!
6/ 4/09 1:34pm
First off, wait for your diagnosis.
DEMARDS are an alternative which your rheumatologist will introduce if they are indicated . NSAIDS can be taken with meds that minimize stomach problems. But don't be taken in by pseudo cures.
6/ 5/09 12:17am
Thanks all for your suggestions. As far as the NSAIDS, its not my stomach; that is made of iron. It affects the blood pressure, kidneys and heart and Im a diabetic so my risk is higher of damage from them. I am looking into the herbals. I do use glucosamine with MSM. Tylenol does absolutely nothing. I have some ultram, but I only use it when I am in severe pain, and it doesn't really help very much, anyway. I'm afraid to abuse anything because I'm afraid it won't work for me when I really need it.
I think Im going to invest in a shower massage to loosen up the stiff joints in the morning and wait for a diagnosis. It really gets tough at work, though. Im on my feet ten hours and moving at a good clip the whole time. By the end of the day, my knees are practically locked up. I thought movement was good for arthritis. After a couple days off work, I start to feel a bit better. Then I go to work and feel like crap again.
I guess not having a diagnosis is making things more confusing at the moment. I think once you know exactly what you're up against, you can have a plan.
6/ 7/09 7:16pm
As your doctor if you can try Limbrel. I can't take NSAIDS either and Limbrel has been a lifesaver for me. It's a natural product by prescription only that doesn't have the side effects and problems of NSAIDS. It's made such a huge difference with my RA, OA and even with the fibro that I have and it's safe.
6/ 7/09 9:19pm
I never heard of Limbrel. I googled it and it looks very interesting. I will ask about it. Thanks.
6/ 9/09 11:27pm
You're welcome. It's really changed my life and the company is really wonderful too. They arranged to drop off free samples to my doctor for me to try when I ask and provided lower cost options for me when my insurance wouldn't cover it. I highly recommend getting in touch with someone via their website to get some info / samples, etc. I have Primary Biliary Cirrhosis in addition to RA and it's the only safe anti-inflammatory I can take. Good luck!
7/31/09 1:53pm
Zyflamend was mentioned by someone and I looked it up and found this : Info on Zyflamend - being clinically tested for both antiinflammatory and anti-cancer potential. Interesting!
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69429.cfm#ClinicalSummary
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She (my pcp) doesn't want me taking nsaids at all. Im diabetic and she's worried they'll ruin my kidneys and raise my blood pressure. I didn't realize how much they were helping me until i stopped them. I was taking celebrex, naprosyn and ibuprophen, kind of alternating, to not get too much of one, but she wants me off all of them. Tylenol does absolutely nothing. Ultram takes it down to about half. Lately, I've been feeling it in my hands, feet, back, knees, back of my knees and back of my thighs. I don't know what's wrong with me yet. My RF came back negative today. I've got a feeling something is still brewing but hasn't gotten bad enough to diagnose. All I know is Im in lots of pain and I don't want to get on the narcotics train because that one is too hard to get off. I guess I just have to bite the bullet as long as the pain is bearable. But it does drain me something awful.