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Are you certain that a combination of acetaminophen 500 mg and ibuprofen 200 mg, taken as needed, and OF COURSE not to exceed the maximum listed daily dosage would allow you to get by with that back pain OK?
If you can get Tramadol 25 mg or 50 mg prescribed, it has a lesser if not zero constipation effect, but still is an opioid. Does not have a mood elevation side effect for most people. Other NSAIDs that are helpful with back pain are: meloxicam 15 mg daily (I take it), or diclofenac 50 mg according to dosage recommendations, usually twice a day.
I'm surprised with my bad back (fractured my pelvis in 2023 in 3 places) including 4 bulging discs, one fractured vertebra, two set of vertebrae bone-on-bone), how effective the acetaminophen and ibuprofen are when taken together. The ibuprofen enhances the effectiveness of the acetaminophen.
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@laughlin1947 et al
I have Degenerative Disc Disease the full length of my spine and Osteoarthritis in my hip, ankle, and fingers on my dominant hand. I take Tramadol 100mg, 3X day, plus one regular dose Acetaminophen with my morning dose of Tramadol. I take Tizanidine, a muscle relaxant at night, which helps me sleep. Prior to taking Tramadol I took Ibuprofen, and was inching close to 2,200 Mg/day. Taking that dosage of Ibuprofen gave me more pain relief than Tramadol does. However, as a result of long-term use of all that Ibuprofen, I have to be monitored by a Nephrologist to avoid adding chronic kidney disease to my medical record.
I’m aware that Tramadol is a scheduled drug, but taking it as directed isn’t causing me to be addicted to an opioid. It gives me moderate relief so I can function somewhat normally. I’m 78 years old. If I wasn’t taking it, I wouldn’t be able to stand up straight. My primary physician made me sign a pain contract, which I absolutely resented since I was religiously following dosage instructions. I don’t experience any effects with Tramadol that I’d expect if I was taking Hydrocodone or another strong opioid or narcotic. I would take Ibuprofen instead, but I want to preserve my kidneys.
I feel badly for anyone experiencing chronic pain with minimal relief. It’s a lousy way to live. But taking large doses of NSAIDs long term is not good for kidney function, and has to take place under a physician’s supervision. Large doses of acetaminophen can also be hard on one’s liver.