1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Questions about Eliquis and Meds for Pain Relief

Posted by cece55 @cece55, Mar 2, 2019

I have a question for the group. I was diagnosed with AFib three months ago and after my first event I was put on a low dose aspirin along with my metoporal that I had been taking for a year. The dosage for the metoporal was 12.5 MG three times a day. After my second event of AFib six weeks ago, my electrophysiologist put me on Eliquis. The dosage is 5 MG twice a day. I felt fine for 4 weeks and then two weeks ago I started to have aching and stiffness in my lower back and hips. I might also add that I have very tight hips and lower back for years before this and have seen a physical therapist and added yoga and advil to my regimen. That seemed to give me a tolerance level over the years and I have been able to live with it.

Now...no advil allowed and I just saw a physical therapist again today who I will start working with next week. How do I know if I am having a reaction to the Eliquis or I am in a flare with my already tight hips and back? Is there a blood test to request? Possibly checking my liver and kidney function? The physical therapist also said I have osteo arthritis which could be contributing to this.

I am frustrated because I don't know how you tell the difference between a side effect and an existing condition that has worsened. I really don't want to chance going off the blood thinner....but what other way is there to tell?

Has anyone experienced this aching and does it finally go away if it is the Eliquis? I am not having any other problems with this drug except that there is not an over the counter medication for pain that you can take with it except Tylenol which has no effect on me.

Thank you for your input.
CeCe55

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yorlik | @yorlik | Dec 19, 2020
In reply to @yorlik "I hope it helps you too! Yes, instant pain gone - it aligns the SI joint..." + (show)
@yorlik

I hope it helps you too! Yes, instant pain gone - it aligns the SI joint - at least it did for me - so the syatic (sp?) nerve stops getting pinched.

I googled "SI pain reliever motion"

And got: https://www.verywellhealth.com/sacroiliac-joint-pain-moves-296392

The very first pix is the leg position that worked instantly for me (chyro Dr said it would and he was right), but do it STANDING UP. So you just tand there, then lift a leg as shown - no need for hands holding it there, just lift it then let it drop again. I found I had to do both legs and 2-3 times each. did not seem to matter if alternate or not. After that 30 seconds the 8 out of 10 awful pain would be gone - until next time I sat in car or chair or something that caused it to go out of position again. For me, it took a couple weeks of doing this and my SI joint decided I won, they lost, and stopped hurting me.

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Keep in mind this unkinks the SI joint - that is not the same as hip pain. SI joint pain is in the middle of your lower back, hip pain is in groin or outside of thigh. If your pain is hip pain, then SI joint back pain relief won't help.

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1 reply
mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Dec 19, 2020
In reply to @yorlik "I hope it helps you too! Yes, instant pain gone - it aligns the SI joint..." + (show)
@yorlik

I hope it helps you too! Yes, instant pain gone - it aligns the SI joint - at least it did for me - so the syatic (sp?) nerve stops getting pinched.

I googled "SI pain reliever motion"

And got: https://www.verywellhealth.com/sacroiliac-joint-pain-moves-296392

The very first pix is the leg position that worked instantly for me (chyro Dr said it would and he was right), but do it STANDING UP. So you just tand there, then lift a leg as shown - no need for hands holding it there, just lift it then let it drop again. I found I had to do both legs and 2-3 times each. did not seem to matter if alternate or not. After that 30 seconds the 8 out of 10 awful pain would be gone - until next time I sat in car or chair or something that caused it to go out of position again. For me, it took a couple weeks of doing this and my SI joint decided I won, they lost, and stopped hurting me.

Jump to this post

@yorlik. Thank you soooo much. I will definitely try this. At this point, I'll stand on my head if my S I joint doesn't hurt. Wait, I can't stand on my head but will try your method!

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1 reply
phillipdobrien | @phillipdobrien | Dec 19, 2020
In reply to @mayofeb2020 "@phillipdobrien. I have been on Xeralto since January and I started having hip problem but bc..." + (show)
@mayofeb2020

@phillipdobrien. I have been on Xeralto since January and I started having hip problem but bc of the pandamic, I didn't see an orthopedic doctor until August (?) and I was diagnosed with hip bursitis and was given a shot of something . In October, I took an Xray, same diagnosis plus S I joint disfunction. I was given a cortisone shot. Had PT until now, worked for a while, now back to square one. Tylenol just doesn't do it for me. I'd never have thought there's a connection between hip issue and blood thinner!!! Anyone out there has the same problem?

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Thanks for the reply; this is so interesting & I had pretty much the same treatment. I forgot to mention a cortisone shot also & it helped for a bout 10-14 days but hen back to square one as you said. I am getting a new Medicare supplement since Humana doesn't cover my 2020 carrier after 12-31-20. I will try for the cardiologist that did my ablation for A-Flutter (before A-Fib) & see if he will do the 64 node EP treatment I mentioned in an earlier post. I will post something when I know. I am not a fan of Tylenol either but after weeks it does appear to help if I stay on the regiment. (2 every 6 hours).Good Luck & Happy Holidays !

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phillipdobrien | @phillipdobrien | Dec 19, 2020
In reply to @yorlik "hmmm... interesting question... Hip pain from burs and arthritus for years; pain only 2-3 out of..." + (show)
@yorlik

hmmm... interesting question... Hip pain from burs and arthritus for years; pain only 2-3 out of 10 so lived with it. Then Atrial valve replacement, on Eliquis due to Afib after surgery. Switch to xarelto in a few months when Eliquis price went thru the roof. When xarelto price hike skyrocketed in its few months, Dr. agreed to let me off thinners as I had not had afib for some months & my lifestyle (got a baseball size lump on shin from small piece of wood bumped me while chainsawing firewood). By this time (about 1 year) my hip pain had grown to 9 out of 10 pain, couldn't walk further than about 100' at a time. PT said they could fix it: NOT. Found Dr. who showed me the X-rays: no padding left between the bones in the socket; he called it a flat tire and only fix was a replacement hip. Got it and THAT pain went away. NOW you guys are bringing up blood thinners and hip erosion... hmmm... sounds like I could be your poster boy!

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Thanks for the heads up !

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phillipdobrien | @phillipdobrien | Dec 20, 2020
In reply to @cece55 "Thank you for responding to me Colleen. I told the cardiologist when I saw him a..." + (show)
@cece55

Thank you for responding to me Colleen. I told the cardiologist when I saw him a couple of weeks ago that my right hip was bothering me but that it was a pre-existing condition. I asked for Advil and he said only twice a week (one dose)...if I really needed it. At that point it was just the same areas that I have already had problems with. Probably, to the cardiologist, it didn't sound like anything to worry about. I was just asking for permission for Advil. 🙂 Since then I have had referred pain in other areas per my physical therapist plus occasional muscle aches.

I realize that I cannot come off of a blood thinner because of stroke and wonder if the other new blood thinners will do the same thing or if that is not the problem at all. I don't want to play with the drugs and coming off one and going on another...that can create problems of their own.

I would like to know if these aches and pains are causing serious problems or I just have to learn to live with it. I ordered a large cold pad per my therapist, am taking physical therapy and massage. I still exercise the best that I can with the pain and continue to live life normally but it is not the same quality of life. My joints are not red or swollen.

I would feel so much better if someone can respond to me and relate their Eliquis experience and if they have something similar.

Thank You,
CeCe55

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This may be old news but I have had a similar experience but wasn't allowed Advil because of the Eliquis (both thinners). I suggest Tylenol (2 every 6 hours) steadily for a couple of weeks if your cardiologist OKs it. I was not a fan of Tylenol but after a few weeks of a steady regiment, my hip pain (arthritis, bursitis & tendonitis) seems noticeably better. Good Luck & Merry Christmas !

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heding | @heding | Dec 20, 2020
In reply to @mayofeb2020 "@heding. I live in S. California too. I Iive in Irvine and Hoag, my closest hospital..." + (show)
@mayofeb2020

@heding. I live in S. California too. I Iive in Irvine and Hoag, my closest hospital is not at capacity but we still have to be careful. What hospital will you be going for surgery?

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Riverside - I live in Eastvale

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yorlik | @yorlik | Jan 7, 2021
In reply to @mayofeb2020 "@yorlik. Thank you soooo much. I will definitely try this. At this point, I'll stand on..." + (show)
@mayofeb2020

@yorlik. Thank you soooo much. I will definitely try this. At this point, I'll stand on my head if my S I joint doesn't hurt. Wait, I can't stand on my head but will try your method!

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mayofeb2020, did you try this leg raises movement? Did it help your pain?

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dinkydoo | @dinkydoo | Jan 18, 2021
In reply to @catmom777 "So, I just got back from the hospital. I went to the ER again at 4:30..." + (show)
@catmom777

So, I just got back from the hospital. I went to the ER again at 4:30 am yesterday. Different hospital this time. I told them this is the 4th time I've been to the ER in two weeks so they admitted me. I was not having an afib episode but my dizziness, confusion, feeling rotten was so bad I literally thought I was going to die. After being hospitalized overnight I finally got my answer. My sodium level at admission was 127 and my brain was swelling. I had increased my water intake and reduced my sodium in my diet to avoid triggering an afid episode and made myself sick. After giving me a saline IV all night and half of today and monitoring my heart rate, they got my sodium level up to 132, didn't see any afib incidents, and sent me home. I will follow up with my GP this Wednesday and get a referral to a cardiologist at this same hospital so they can see my records easily, and go from there. I do want to get off Eliquis but know I can't just stop. It wasn't Eliquis that was the source of my dizziness and confusion though after all.
But, thanks for the input. I will keep trying to figure out a way to avoid afid episodes and maybe if I don't have any for a LONG time the docs will help me get off it.

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My sodium level is always low. 133 - 136 . I had a very bad episode also with it falling to 126. I don't eat a lot of salt, but I never have.
I took salt pills to get it back to 133. My Doctor put me on a no free water regimen. It keeps it is stable but still low. I drink very little plain water. If I start feeling bad I take a salt pill or two and it seems to work. I got extremely mental when it gets too low. My body just doesn't process salt well.

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dinkydoo | @dinkydoo | Jan 18, 2021

I take Warfarin/Coumadin with no problems. I gave my INR checked regularly. We change the dosage if needed. I do gave to watch what I eat for the Vitamin K, but that's OK with me. Not inconvenient for me. I pay nothing with Insurance and it has worked quite well for 14 years. I also take Metropolol. I had an ablation for my A -Fib that has worked so far. I have had 3 minor strokes but am A - OK. No lasting side effects.

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1 reply
yorlik | @yorlik | Jan 18, 2021
In reply to @dinkydoo "I take Warfarin/Coumadin with no problems. I gave my INR checked regularly. We change the dosage..." + (show)
@dinkydoo

I take Warfarin/Coumadin with no problems. I gave my INR checked regularly. We change the dosage if needed. I do gave to watch what I eat for the Vitamin K, but that's OK with me. Not inconvenient for me. I pay nothing with Insurance and it has worked quite well for 14 years. I also take Metropolol. I had an ablation for my A -Fib that has worked so far. I have had 3 minor strokes but am A - OK. No lasting side effects.

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to understand, you say you had a ablation that worked so far: then why are you still taking blood thinner? I understand that warafin is less expensive than the othr two big namepbrand ones, but my dr put me on both at different times: they cost in excess of $ 2,000.00 per year! Not an easy choice!

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