Terrible joint pains

[Elkol]

Hi guys

as diagnosed with PBC a couple of months ago but not started Urso yet as my LF are in normal range.

however my shoulder / elbow is killing me at the moment ?

What’s the best thing to take to alleviate the pain?

eleni xx

[iagra]

You can safely take something like Aleve, Advil or Celebrex for a short period of time, up to 5 days. But, best not to take any oral medication for this type of pain. Use topical gel called Voltaren, which is 1% DICLOFENAC SODIUM TOPICAL GEL. Declofenac is the generic ingredient. I buy Declofenac topical gel, Kirkland brand, at Costco (I'm in the US). Use it twice a day, rub into the area where it hurts. If pain is severe, I'd take Aleve for a few days to bring it down, and then switch to Declovenac 1% topica gel. Good luck!

[Chris21]

Depends on what has caused pain? try a heat pad and gentle exercise moving the shoulder.

[IAmTheGlue]

I have something I ordered off Amazon and it is a Shoulder/upper arm ice pack/heating pad. You can freeze it or microwave it. It helped so much when I hurt my shoulder.

I am in compensated cirrhosis, so my medication recommendations may not apply to you. I was told never, ever take Aleve. Tylenol branded products were okay in limited amounts and advil very, very sparingly. I pulled a rib muscle 2 weeks ago. It has been incredibly painful. I went to urgent care and was given a muscle relaxer so I could breathe deep enough to avoid pneumonia and I took single (half doses) of Tylenol and Advil every 4 hours. The main things that helped is I spent a lot of time in our hot tub, used icey hot and a wearable heating pad. I did do stretches as I’m very afraid of losing my range of motion. My mom cannot walk or raise one arm, so I’m always mindful of staying mobile.

I hope you feel better soon.

[Michi1]

Voltarin is great, and I also use a natural remedy. Tank the skin and core of an organically grown pineapple, cover them with water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and then simmer for an hour. Let it cool enough to pour the water through a strainer into a glass container. 8 oz of that tea is better in my experience than a high dose Advil.

[Michi1 in reply to Michi1]

Take, not tank. Typo

[Skypony]

Hi Elkol, bit puzzled by your PBC diagnosis with normal LF. Unless you had a biopsy, diagnosis should depend on presence of AMA plus ALP above certain level, and should then be treated. Suggest you keep an eye on that situation.