Living with arthritis: How do you stay active?

I have osteoarthritis and I found something that really works that enables me to have a full night's sleep without the pain that I've had for 3 years. Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel 1% as pain has reduced 50%.

I also use this for nighttime pain in a knee replacement, as I am not able to take Ibuprofen like meds. It is quite effective. Some insurance company's have to have extra justification for it from your doctor, which if they would put the reason that you can’t use ibuprofen, would avoid delays. Does anyone else with a knee replacement have no pain during the day, but bad pain at night when trying to move that leg. Seems odd to me.

I don't think many people are using it for their spine and I have found it works fabulously.

@donfeld We use a similar topical NSAID called piroxicam - widely available without a script in some countries. It really helps, and I find the effect is enhanced if I use it regularly, at least twice a day. My arthritic back, my knee (not yet mechanically enhanced) and my (bionic) hips, which now have bursitis, thank me.
Sue

I just walked 3/4 of a mile without a limp and I just started taking this 2 days ago. Unbelievable!

I have no formal diagnosis of arthritis, but suffer from a lot of joint pain, hips, back, hands, wrists and feet. I am determined that the more active I can stay and force myself to be, the better it is for me. I am able to do short interval runs, and walks and I like biking, hiking and kayaking.

@donfeld

I use Diclofenac ( Voltaren) for my arthritis in my hands. I haven't tried it on my feet for burning neuropathy pain. Maybe I'll give it a try this evening. The doctor said it wouldn't work for nerve pain, but I'll try the Voltaren.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Jim

@houp528123 I agree that staying active is the best thing for your health and well being, but...If you suffer from pain, it is the body's way of saying something is amiss.
I jogged, ran and jumped through pain for over 20 years, and needed both hips replaced and a knee reconstructed by age 55. Both orthos told me in no uncertain terms that the additional stress on the joints hastened the need for surgery. So did my mother, but of course as a young invincible adult, I didn't listen to her.
So my advice to you is to is to find joint-sparing exercises to enjoy, like the walking, biking and kayaking, and leave the running to others.
Sue

@sueinmn You have gone through a lot of surgery. Glad to see you haven't let it get you down for the count. I know a lady here who comes to karaoke and dances to music for her entertainment . She use to be a gogo dancer . After 35 yrs in nursing I think my right hip is saying to me it maybe coming ,not now but soon the arthritis is really getting bad . If I only knew what I do now I wouldn't have punished my body as much. Life and learn

So many people do terrible things to their bodies. One Vietnam vet, a friend, was disabled by the many back injuries he suffered, and his pain meds made his back hurt less, so he would go out and ride horses, cut down trees for firewood and many other such things, then had to go to bed because of the pain. I tried to talk with him about it, but he'd just keep doing the same thing. There's a reason that our bodies are designed to experience pain. It isn't smart to ignore the signals. But then, I suspect that he and I aren't the only guilty ones.

Just sayin'

Jim