Osteoarthritis

sandy148, Bless you. I can't take NSAIDS either and I use Tylenol and Voltaren Gel (over the counter) for arthritis. I soak in Epsom salt and then us the Voltaren Gel and a heat pack in the most painful spots. A hot shower helps as well.

Ask your doctor about this before you try it. Even though Voltaren Gel is an NSAID, you do not absorb much of it and I have never had a problem with it.

Praying for you. New Year's Blessings to you.....

I have osteoarthritis with bone-on-bone knees. I will ultimately need knee replacements in both knees. For the pain, I have been taking Pennsaid (2% as opposed to 1% for Voltaren) as well as Tylenol and have just found
out they can cause serious damage to your liver if used often over a long period of time. Just a word of caution.

I have recently been given a prescription for gabapentin so I could sleep at night. Previously the pain would wake me up when I moved after being in one spot for a long time. I am thinking on trying it for the daytime since it really works at night. I have read the warnings about dizziness. Have not experienced any side effects so far.

Sandy, I too cannot take NSAIDS d/t allergy. However I learned that one might be able to take Celebrex even tho it’s an NSAID. Apparently it’s a different type. I can take it intermittently. As well I’m on Cymbalta (Duloxetine) for help with pain caused by Fibromyalgia and two car accidents. I hope you find some relief. Pain sucks

My dr suggested a low dose of an antidepressant medication for chronic arthritis pain. It started helping me almost immediately.
This one is citalopram but there are a number of others.
I also take Tylenol and use Voltaren gel, and do exercises.

I have Celebrex but it does make my asthma worse so I can't use it daily. I will check out Cymbalta.

This condition can be incredibly difficult to deal with. My Rheumatologist prescribed Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) that I am having fantastic results with. I’ve had a cervical fusion replacing 3 vertebrae and a total hip replacement.

Since menopause I have been taking 750 mg calcium citrate per day (my ophthalmologist thinks it’s a good dosage though my PCP back then advised to 1,200 mg); but you also get calcium from food like spinach, & taking over dosage of supplements may not good for your body. To handle pain, I use Voltaren (which helps area like joint pain close to your skin (per package instructions). I also try to use my other hand to handle stuff like opening cans of food. I also go to the gym at least 4 times per week doing yoga or classes for senior (Silversneakers, etc.); on go on treadmills or bike, whatever makes me feel good, and not hurting. I used to walk 2-3 times per week outside with friends too (take fresh air & get vitamin D on sunny days) with sunscreen particularly on my face protected by cream with SPF30 or above.

I also do the gym thing twice a week, walk, etc. but none of helps with the OA. Have not used Voltaren however.

I cannot use NSAID's either, so have to rely on other strategies.
I have learned to differentiate OA joint pain from other pain, and treat it separately.
First, movement - sitting stiffens everything. Even at the keyboard today I am wriggling, stretching, jumping up and down every few minutes to do a small task.
Second - stretching - before I get out of bed, I do 5-10 minutes of gentle stretches - knees to chest, neck rotations, spine stretches by moving knees from one side of body to the other, hand and finger stretches.
Third - topical ointments - I find none of the work all the time, so I have an arsenal. Voltaren Gel, Arnica Gel (Bruise Relief), Bio-Freeze, and an anti-inflammatory essential oil roll-on.
Fourth heat & compression - On bad days, I wear compression gloves on my hands. I have a variety of microwaveable flax seed warmers. I usually fall asleep with one behind my neck or spine, which hurt by bedtime.
Finally exercise - whether in the form of yoga, walking, vigorous housework, or aerobic exercise in a pool - I try to do at least 5 times a week. And right now I do 30 minutes of PT every day for a repaired shoulder. Doesn't leave a lot of time to sit still.

None of these is fun when I hurt, like today when it is chilly, gray and damp. But if I skip a few days, I feel even worse. A new-to-me doc just told me I have been living with this for 41 years now - I just know it feels like forever. Every year, it hits a new body part or two.