Blood Thinners (Just kidding BobD) - Anticoagulants and Pain Management

[Jafib]

I am wondering what those living on anticoagulants do to manage pain. It seems most OTC pain medicines are contraindicated when on anticoagulants. I have been pestering my doctor to take me off Eliquis so I can take Ibuprofen again (dealing with sever lower back pain at the moment) but BobD, CD and some others on here have shared some great info that has me considering staying on Eliquis indefinitely. So, other than ice, stretching and the chiropractor what do you do to manage pain while on anticoagulants? I am literally excited to hear your remedies!!

[CDreamer]

Depends upon the pain, I am assuming you are talking odd aches and pains from exercise above, but other than paracetamol for a very severe headache nothing other than the above + Pilates + Fascia Release. ‘They’ do say cold compress for acute immediate injury to prevent inflammation but for chronic, ongoing muscle, fascia pain, muscle spasms warm pads are more helpful and certainly at night I use an old fashioned hot water bottle which seems to soften the tissues.

I get a lot of muscle spasms so when severe ie last night I also use Magnesium Oil.

You cannot buy anti inflammatory drugs in Spain - you need a prescription - with good reason.

Best wishes CD

[Finvola]

I take Apixaban and manage my back pain and other problems with the remedies you list plus paracetamol and co-codamol if required. My GP said it was OK to use Ibuprofen gel occasionally and sparingly for localised muscle pain.

Incidentally, the best remedy of all time for my back pain was a chiropractor.

[dmac4646 in reply to Finvola]

interesting Ibuprofen gel brings on afib with me.- the tablets do not.

[Finvola in reply to dmac4646]

Goodness, that’s strange - perhaps something else the gel has which the tablets don’t.

[Patricia1]

I take Warfarin and have the same problem. I have severe arthritis throughout my body and the only thing that helps is a hot water bottle and sometimes magnesium oil

[Hidden]

Lol 😂 at your post title 👍👍

[Jafib in reply to Hidden]

😁

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

Me too 😂😂😂😂

[Jafib in reply to jeanjeannie50]

😆

[Jalia]

The major problem with Ibuprofen is that it can promote arrhythmia ,whether or not you are taking Eliquis, so this is why it is not advised.

I find dihydrocodeine, taken as necessary, the best for the pain of arthritis plus of course a hot water bottle as mentioned by CD

[Hidden]

My heart doc doesnt want me taking any non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs not so much because of anticoagulant as much as they cause heart issues. Pre a fib, naproxen was my fav for arthritis. Now all I can take is tylenol which isnt much help. A heating pad is ok on bad days.

[sleeksheep]

I have mentioned this before but it has to be run by your Dr. as others have different responses to electrical impulses .

I use a Tens machine ( @+6 ) as my only pain relief.

I can walk around with it on as the machine will fit in my pocket.

I was given Codeine for the pain and it did nothing , I seem to be resistant to that form of pain killer - never has worked for me.

[Barb1]

Only prescribed CoCodamol which can bung you up, so to speak, so then need Laxido. I am speaking from experience with 2 hip replacements, sepsis, spine operations and Osteoarthritis. In hospital they tried Tramadol but that made me sick and also morphine which was better.

[icklebud99]

I have Afib, osteoarthritis in my spine and have had 2 hip replacements. I take Riveroxiban for anticoagulant so cannot take ibuprofen (which has a proven link to Afib). I'm prescribed Tramadol slow release tablets and normal Tramadol with paracetamol. These allow me to get about, as without them I cannot stand straight and struggle to walk, however, the major side effects are I sleep too much and have major memory problems. I have been referred for an injection into my spine for pain relief but have put this off due to fear of it aggravating my AF (as I have been free of AF for 1 year after ablation) so am stuck at the moment as far as pain relief is concerned. I want off the Tramadol, any others in this situation that can offer advice would be greatly received.

[cali111 in reply to icklebud99]

Like others here I take anticoagulant and was told a injection In the spine was a no,no because it risks bleeding in the spinal canal

[sleeksheep in reply to cali111]

I have had a few injections in L5/S1 with no problem but the treatment now requires an MRI with a dye injection to validate the area of discomfort. Its a catch 22 - if your that sore to have the MRI you first have to have a CAT scan then hope your pressure points dont get better before the MRI as the dye only accumulates in hot spots.

Because its a half life radioactive dye they use its not something that should be undertaken unless your confident your in a bad condition.

My Dr. recommended that I dont do the MRI because of this reason , but I would not hesitate to have a spinal injection if offered and I thought I required it.

I had my first in 1991 which more or less lasted till 2013 its been really good untill three weeks ago but has settled down with heat and Ten's applications.

I have had AFIB since 2009 with no mention of bleeding risk , their more worried that it may need further injections and your limited to three a year so it has to be done once / done right.

[cali111 in reply to sleeksheep]

Thanks for that information. They did tell me that they are restricted to 3 a year. My surgery is on a economy drive and do not give you all options.

[jedimasterlincoln]

I have been on semi regular NSAIDS since a cricket injury nearly 20 years ago and early onset osteorthritis as a result. I've been carrying around a meniscal tear for a few years so I've always struggled with knee pain.

When on anticoagulants I've been on Codiene, which is not the right painkiller for the nature of the injury/pain but gives me enough masking of it to be able to function. Obviously that comes with issues such as dependence and constipation so I try not to take maximum allowed doses.

I have been on ibuprofen and naproxen, and still have a supply of both for when I'm off anticoagulants.

However, despite studies suggesting Naproxen is the "safest" of the three measured (ibuprofen, dicofenac and naproxen) in terms of causing episodes of AF in the patients studied, I again tend to avoid this where possible.

The odd dose here and there (usually pop a couple at work or after if my knee is swollen) has done enough without needing to be on it all the time.

A steroid injection hasn't really helped, but the surface of the knee, whilst bad, is not quite bad enough for an Osteotomy or knee replacement and my age (36) is against me on both counts.

Of course, losing this weight I've gathered since January will help, and that's going in the right direction with regular school runs and 12 hour days at work. If they stopped making salted caramel ice cream I'd be even better

[barbly1]

I have had occipital neuropathy from a neck injury which has given me a 24/7 headache for the last 15 years. I used to take an Aleve 12 hour tablet twice a day pre-afib so I could think clearly, but post-ablation and now on Eliquis, I take an extended release 8 hour Tylenol 2 or three times a day. My doctor claims it won't cause a bleed and is safe to take at this dose over the long haul. I have tried the botox pain blocks in my neck with mixed results, so for now, this beats the invasive neck nerve ablation that they also offer. I want to deal with only one thing at a time! That Tylenol seems to be strong enough that it takes the edge off the pain, though doesn't completely get rid of it at all times.

[Happywalker]

I am experiencing very painful sciatica at the moment which is stopping me from walking, line dancing and gardening all of which I love. I am on warfarin so can't take an anti-inflammatory. How I wish I could! I take paracetamol as codein makes me feel sick. I am reading with interest the other replies in order to get some tips. I have even been researching anti-inflammatory diet in desperation.

[Bagrat in reply to Happywalker]

Have you been advised NOT to take paracetamol or doesn't it suit you? I would lean towards a chiropractor and acupressure

[Happywalker in reply to Bagrat]

I can take paracetamol and do take it to take the edge off the pain. Thanks for your suggestions. Definitely something to consider.

[mavisrich]

I have just been put on Gabapentin for my lower back pain. I was on amytriptiline but not good for af so dr changed to gabapentin. Not sure if it will work or not and a bit worried about side effects like water retention and weight gain. otherwise it is only paracetamol because cocodamol do not suit me.

[Bagrat in reply to mavisrich]

Gabapentin works well for nerve pain.

[goldey]

I have no cartilage in my knees, and my knees and legs hurt like crazy when I try to walk or stand. I used to take a lot of aspirin, which really helped a LOT, and enabled me to get around pretty well. Once I had my heart problems last summer and was put on Xeralto, I was told no more aspirin. They gave me Acetaminophen and Acetaminophen with codeine, but it just doesn't help me even half as much as the plain aspirin did. So now I can still hobble around my apartment okay, but need a wheelchair if I have to leave my apartment. Fortunately most of the pain goes away when I sit, but sitting all the time isn't good either, but I have to do it. I can't walk or stand for more than a couple minutes. My doctor also gave me some cream with ketamine in it to use for serious acute knee and leg pain, which I sometimes have at night. It works great, kills all pain, but only for about an hour. But it helps me get back to sleep when the pain wakes me up. It is expensive, $170 CDN a tube, but worth it.

[fibber-me in reply to goldey]

I have the same problem. I use crutches when I have to walk outside. To walk my dogs I use a motorized chair and they hop on and off. I don’t take pain meds. I just avoid putting too much weight on my knee. The bone on bone pain can be debilitating so I don’t trigger it by walking on it without my crutch. So sorry for you as I know this pain.

[S11m]

The standard treatment for inflammation and pain (for those of us who cannot take anti-inflammatories) is Not Eating All Day or (Intermittent) Fasting see:

healthunlocked.com/fasting-...

[Brizzy5000]

I take codeine and paracetamol for my arthritis and back pain, it's not great but it does ease the pain more often than not.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

When I had a fracture in my lower back that left me with some nerve pain acupuncture and physical therapy worked to help me to be pain free again.

[Mari4325]

Acupuncture does wonderful things for both arthritis and (sciatica which a friend has) I have arthritis and am looking for injections of some kind as the Dr. wants me off Motrin due to Afib...I have not found a blood thinner I can take that doesn't make me sick...

[Happywalker]

Oh gosh! What happens if you happen to have an internal bleed? For example after falling and getting bruised? Could be a bit tricky.

[Happywalker]

Lucky you!!

[Jafib]

That was my plan as well and that is what the doctor had told me to sell me on the ablation. Now he is saying I have to be on them for a year... There are SO MANY things contraindicated with anticoagulants: Ibuprofen, Turmeric, CBD, Aspirin, ginger, garlic, some antacids, some antibiotics and the list goes on, and on and on! But honestly, not sure what to think now after hearing from BobD, CDreamer and some others...