NSAIDA/Arthritis medications
I am over 12 months out of a TKR. I still get extremely stiff and sore and have issues exercising. Depending on how much I do I am really sore in the evening. I have to be careful with Nsaids but have found I can take the occasional Aleve. I am wanting. to ask my Dr,. Monday if I can take 500mg naproxen daily to help with being able to exercise and stretch more. PT has dismissed me again and my surgeon is basically done with me and I have no clue where to turn to find out why I'm still so sore. Of course everything looks good and my ROM is 117-121. I can do everything but am so tired of feeling so sore and hurting in the late day early evening. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated before I see my regular Dr. on Monday
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@cindymattern I'm sure you are aware that Naproxen is also an NSAID. Do you have a medical issue that requires you to limit NSAID use?
Does Tylenol help you at all with the soreness?
I can tell you that over 30 years of daily NSAID use has done a number on my body, and I can now only tolerate a very limited amount before I have gastro symptoms. But I do okay with topical voltaren/diclofenac gel rubbed on the sore spots. None of it passes through the gut, and very little makes it into the blood to affect the liver.
You may also be dealing with a chronic pain issue now - where your body expects to hurt at certain times or from certain activities, and thus it does. This is REAL pain - it just requires a different approach to managing it. This can often be helped with heat, ice, massage or acupuncture plus some mindfulness training. May I suggest you try to borrow a book called "The Way Out" by Alan Gordon from your local library and read the first few chapters?
Sue
I took Celebrex for over 10 years daily and I stopped as it started giving me mild chest pain. Everything checked out and once I stopped it the issues resolved. I tried a Celebrex again just for the heck of it and it did give me mild chest pain but I can take occasional Aleve and I don't experience those issues. Topical Voltaren doesn't really help much. Ben Gay makes it feel good but that is also temporary and I use it at bedtime. I also take 600mg Gabapentin at bedtime. I'll check that book out. I know the PT said I am basically going to have to learn to manage things now and pace myself and learn what triggers the pain and soreness but it is always there somewhat no matter what I am doing. I really think it's all muscular or scar tissue and I am stretching. I would love a CT or something to determine if those are the issues which I may ask about. I can't help but wonder either if the surgeon did such good job and tightened things up so much that they will never go back to normal. So many questions...
Not sure if this will help you but I am 2 years post TKR. When I completed therapy my therapist gave me an exercise regimen to continue and so far it’s been good. Leg stretches, ball squeezes, one and 2 pound ankle weights for specific leg lifts one sitting one lying down and 3 times a wee stationery bike for 30 minutes.
You regular doctor can order more pt if u need. I was fortunate to have a PT, DPT with many other credentials and always had the same therapist every visit which in my experience with PT makes a difference