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Hi everyone, I am experiencing severe pain in my thigh and knee. I have been referred for an x-ray, but in the meantime the Doctor has prescribed Naproxen, which is an anti inflammatory.
I am really concerned about taking this, as I am on Prednisolone for PMR and have heard that you shouldn't take the two together.
I have checked with the Pharmacist and he said it will be OK, but I am dubious. Can I have your opinions please.
Thank you, Attic x
ake the two together.t
I don't know how that little bit of Double Dutch got in at the end of my Post. Gremlins in the works I think. Ha ha x
Hi Attic,
Sure others on here take Naproxen. Hopefully your GP wouldn't have prescribed them if you shouldn't take them, and as your pharmacist has said its okay then it probably is. Guess it depends on the relative dosage of each drug, and it maybe wise not to take them together (as in - the same time). Plus your GP may only intend you to take them for a short period.
Would suggest you read paperwork in pack, but that's likely to scare you even more😳
Hi I was prescribed naproxen before diagnosis of pmr. Once I started on the pred I continued taking the naproxen alongside the pred under advice from my doc and rheumatologist. I stopped the naproxen after about a month of starting pred. I had no problems and I just made sure all were taken with food and didn't take them at the same time. x
My GP suggested Naproxen when I had sciatica. She said one should be careful with steroids and she would prescribe a PPI too.
I agree that if you are careful with how and when you take naproxen you should be fine, especially if it is for a short term. I take aspirin, occasionally, for headache, and have been very careful never to take it within two hours either side of pred, and always to have food and plenty of water.
Thank you HeronNS, I think I am a bit frightened of these because I have had them in the past and they played havoc with my stomach. I wasn't on Steroids then either.
Hopefully, the PPI'Street will work their magic. Fingers crossed.
Atticx
I took naproxen for migraine for a while. It was when I needed a painkiller for a dental issue that I ran into major gastric problem. But it was because I hadn't been careful. Took one at bedtime, no snack and lying down right afterwards. Next morning in so much pain could not go to work and over phone doctor said to take ranitidine and tums!
If it had been a headache I would certainly have remained sitting up, at the very least, and might have remembered the food!
Hello Attic,
I have also been experiencing awful knee and thigh pain and taken the odd Naproxen which were prescribed for me at the same time as the PMR/GCA diagnosis (by the GP to deal with the headache until I could be seen by the rheumy). I don't think its a great idea as they are an NSAID but the pain has been so unbearable on a few occasions that I couldn't cope. When I have taken them it's been later in the day whereas I take the Pred in the early hours. I am seeing my Rheumy consult next week and will try and remember to ask him. I'll let you know what he says.
You have my sympathy!
Thank you Molly Bloom, I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone. I am in tears all the time, which is just not like me.
Please let me know how you get on.Good luck.
Attic x
Gosh I'm sorry, that is terrible for you to be in so much pain. Mine has only been that bad a handful of times. If PMRPro is right and you have sciatic pain then there may be another type of treatment which would ease it such as physio, acupuncture etc and/or nerve pain meds.
I had knee and upper back xrays last time I saw the rheumy as I complained about the knee and thigh pain, and because of the location of my PMR/GCA symptoms, and he dropped the news that I have arthritis of the knee and cervical degenerative disc disease in a PS on a letter to my GP, cc-ed to me! I'm going to ask for full spinal xrays this time as the worst pain is in my lumbar spine.
I'll let you know about the Naproxen and I hope you get some answers and relief soonest x
Thank you Molly Bloom, please let me know how you get on.
Attic x
Hi Attic,
Saw the Rheumy yesterday who as predicted said t was not recommended to take Naproxen alongside steroids due to potential damage to the stomach. He said having taken them only occasionally in extremis, not to worry, but the best treatment is physio and for pain relief take 2 paracetamol morning and evening regardless of whether you have the pain or not. There is a cumulative effect which is more effective than taking it ad hoc. He said to see how that works and after a couple of weeks could try reducing to one dose a day but if we need to carry on at 2 doses a day, that paracetamol is relatively harmless compared to other drugs.
Obviously that is in relation to my diagnosis of arthritis of the knee, but I imagine most of that would be relevant for you. Luckily I have my first physio booked in 2 weeks. He said definitely dose up before having physio!
Hope that helps.
Thank you Molly Bloom, I didn't take the Naproxen in the end. I was too worried about it. I was in so much pain I went and saw another Doctor in the Practice. He prescribed Paracetomol and Codeine and sent me for an X-ray on my knee. I am awaiting the results, but to be honest, I don'the think it is to do with my knee at all. Time will tell.
Hope all goes well with your Physio. Take care.
Attic x
It's just occurred to me - is the pain along the line of the sciatic nerve? I had thigh and knee pain when the sciatic nerve was trapped by spasmed muscles in my lower back. Dealing with the spasmed muscles dealt with the sciatica. And they won't show up on a x-ray.
Using Naproxen
Worried
Worried about a hastened taper ...
Worried about possible GCA. Can anyone recommend rheumatologist in N. ireland?
