Hello all
I’m in the process of being investigated for Osteoarthritis after presenting with a lot of pain my hands and legs and shoulders. Whilst I only have a dull ache in my legs, I have considerable pain in the base of both thumbs, and almost constant ache across my shoulders. My GP has referred me for XRays on my hands, and in the meantime I’ve been give a prescription for Fenbid Gel. Is anyone else on this forum using Fenbid, and has it eased your pain in any way?
Hi GrahamB8,
Fenbid gel is one I admit I've never heard of or tried, so can't comment on if that would work.
Our bodies and degrees of osteoarthritis all react differently to what we use. I've noticed that very often, what works for one, may not work for another.
From my years of having osteoarthritis, medications and over the counter applications (gels, creams) other than many leaving my hands feeling extremely sticky, none of them have worked.
Questions, from your post... you said about the pain in your legs and across your shoulders...
Could you be more specific on where the pain is exactly? as your post says "legs and across the shoulders'.
A few tips that could help alleviate the pain;
For your shoulders, you could try a pillow that keeps your neck in line with your spine, and a soft pillow under your arms, this helps reduce pain and inflammation at the centre top of your spine (between the shoulders), and supports both shoulders.. so they aren't too high, adding tension to the pain, or too low, pulling the joint and muscles down.
Your legs may feel easier if raised, with a pillow under them and your feet are upwards.. letting your feet fall to the side, which is what many naturally do, can put pressure on the knee and hip joints.
For your thumbs, try to keep them at body temperature 24/7, if it is osteoarthritis, cold and heat will make them worse. Thumb supports can be brought cheap enough for the left and right hand from places like superdrug and such like, and may help reduce the pain while you're waiting on the results.
A physio/O.T many many years ago told me "It's not so much the cream or gel you put on your hands that helps them, it's the 'massaging' action you do to/on your hands that actually helps them". I've since repeated this to a few different doctors, who have agreed. While, medically, it makes sense, I'm still un-decided on this. Though I have found TENS patches/devices have often worked better and quicker than creams, gels, patches and medications I've been given. But as i initially said, we all react differently to different treatment.
I believe I have tried them all, I tried Fenbid alone for two weeks and it did not work at all for me. Lidocaine cream, menthyl cream, cbd cream are the only ones that I feel help. I put them all on together under my wrist warmers.
Morning Graham, I think Kohai has pretty much covered it. I have never had any success with the various creams, ointments or gels that are on the market, messy but useless. I know there are others who feel they do a good job. My hands, wrists and thumbs are suffering at the moment, but I haven't decided whether that is my OA or Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) , either way, I find that wrist and thumb supports, available on line from you know who and others, do help with giving good relief. Pillows under legs definitely help. In terms of pain relief, the medication that worked for me was Naproxen and Co-Codamol (prescription strength 30/500). Is your leg and shoulder pain all the time or only when lying down, moving or walking?
Please be aware that NSAIDS interfere with cartilage regeneration, whether oral or topical. I've recently obtained some Flexiseq (had to order through Amazon as not available otherwise in Canada). This contains no drugs. It was developed as a carrier for drugs, however. When being trialed it was discovered that it worked just as well as the version containing the drug! I've been using it on a very painful knee for only about ten days and can already see and feel marked improvement.
Thank you all for your replies, and please accept my apologies for taking so long to respond.
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