Hello all,
What do you use to relieve osteoarthritis pain. I’m having a lot of hip and sacral joint pain.
Currently on 13 mg pred where I’ve been stuck for months.
Tylenol barely does anything. Ibuprofen helps more but I don’t take it often because of the pred.
I had a new hip!!!
Ditto! But not so easy at the moment 😉
That's what I had to have done too. Tramadol did not help at all so Dr. had me on 1000mg Ibuprofen 3 x a day even tho it's not good for the stomach.
I would not be too keen to take Ibuprofen with pred as they are contra indicative, although my doctor seems to forget until I remind her and she then just mumbles. Are you on a list for a hip replacement? If not it is worth getting on it as it could be years before they sort out the backlog.
Are you sure it is OA? My SI joint pain is triggered by muscle spasm.
Several people I know swear by Flexiseq cream - WD40 for human joints
I think it’s both hip and sacral joints. I’ll look for the Flexiseq. Thanks Pro
Is flexiseq OK to use with pred?
I have used BioFreeze and Icy Hot....probably very much like any other non-RX product. For me, the Icy Hot seems to be more effective. Hope you get more comfortable. 💖
I have never used Flexiseq, I don't think it was around when my OA pain was at its worst., but none of the creams did anything for me at all, other than be messy. The only things which worked for me were Naproxen, which is a no no because of the Pred and Co-Codamol (30/500) which I still use now if/when needed.
Thanks Bicol,
What is Co-Codamol? Might be called something else is the US.
Yes, It's tylenol 3. I had to order Flexiseq from the UK via Amazon. Have been using it on my knee for about 10 days and it seems to be helping - but a couple of other things have changed lately so this is not a controlled study! It may not work so well on the hip, so I've read, but perhaps only because it's a much larger joint and maybe needs more than people apply? I have always avoided taking NSAIDS for arthritis as they interfere with cartilage regeneration.
However I'd be tempted to seek other reasons for the pain. Before my PMR diagnosis I had so much pain in one hip, especially when walking, I was sure I would need a hip replacement. X-ray showed no arthritis. In the end it appears to have been a combination of factors. Referred pain from arthritic spine one possibility, but I also suspect spasmed muscles. Physiotherapist said the muscles in my back were like bricks, and worked to reset the elecrical signals through "dry needling". At the time I had also just started low intensity light therapy. I thought applying heat might help the hip, (hadn't bothered to mention hip to therapist, PMR and a subsequent (mistaken) diagnosis of osteoporosis seemd enough to be getting on with), and I used a hot water bottle as hot as I could stand without hurting my skin, just lying on it at night. I had been on pred for about six months at this time (early 2016), and I believe had reached the dose where what I had considered OA pain was returning. In any event, for whatever reason, the hip pain disappeared after my home-made heat treatment and has never come back, not even an inkling of it. Since the dry needling (and I also do back exercises every day) I've not had any issues with my back either. So, do consider the possibility of muscle spasm.
It is a compound of codeine and paracetamol and comes in different strengths - usually used as an interim step between morphine and paracetamol/acetaminophen. It's POM in the UK
I use this - sensiwellness.co.uk/cbd/
About same price as Flexiseq (which did nothing for me ).
Cheaper from you know what online shopping site!
Interesting. It contains an active ingredient, CBD.
But the legal part of the hemp plant, not the hallucinogenic substance! Which as you know, is a no-no in UK🤦🏻♀️
Yes, I know. It's interesting that it helps. You know, years ago I read about CBD oil - at the time the hemp industry in Canada was literally throwing it away as a byproduct of the seed, hemp seed oil and fibre they were able to sell. Now it's a very expensive ingredient in medical products!
I know it’s been discussed on here many times about helping with PMR/GCA symptoms - not sure it does - never tried it then.
But I feel it does help with my OA....and as you know with chronic pain it’s worth trying anything, as long as it’s legal 😳- and I’d rather try a topical solution than tablets!
It’s effects may wear off in time...but for now it’s good.
Hope you’re okay at present.
I am feeling well, thank you. Extra pred top of list. Also I feel quite vindicated re my knee. All along I was insisting that my problem was some sort of soft tissue injury, started when I twisted my knee and exacerbated by subsequent events. But doctors and physiotherapist said ostoarthritis on its own could cause all my symptoms. It was months and months into the journey that I began to learn how to manage the condition better by altering my behaviour. I got special walking poles to off-load weight from legs to arms. I've been the one who sought out and finally found a useful brace and learned how to protect the soft tissue so it could finally heal. I believe the ongoing swelling hasn't helped the condition of the joint and Flexiseq really does seem to be helping with that. All along all I wanted was for this knee to feel just as good as the other one, which even now shows more advanced OA yet doesn't, touch wood, bother me. GP and orthopod both said the knee would never get better. Well, it is. 
How long it will last, who knows, but I feel optimistic at the moment.
Managed a longish walk yesterday with no bad after effects. It seems the muscles are finally regaining strength and that's a really important step as the chances of reinjury become lower. It's been hard work, but very rewarding. And lots of thanks to people whose sometimes chance remarks helped me find a new way of doing things. Like PMRpro mentioning how she'd been treated for (I think) ACL injury conservatively by immobilising the knee for a while. I promptly started walking like a zombie with a straight knee on that side! That was truly the first turning point, and then there came others....
As we often say on here , the medics might know things in theory, but the patients know it in practice! ..and although what works for one, doesn't necessarily work for all, if you don't give it a whirl, you don't know.
Glad things are improving ,,..long may it continue.
I empathise, I have the same problem - arthritis where I fractured the sacrum but I am told I also need a new right hip when operations resume in UK. I cannot take anything with codeine in it so rely on Paracetamol (Tylenol) and rest when it starts to really hurt.
I live in the US as well. On another PMR site, I read that a rheumy had suggested that one use GNC Triple Strength Glucosamine Chondroitin to deal with osteoarthritis pain. I was experiencing pain in the hip/leg and after going through a variety of tests, it was determined that my pain was indeed osteoarthritis of the hip. Had never had it before. I began taking the brand specific Glucosamine Chondroitin and much to my delight, the pain subsided and I was back to normal (as normal as a PMR sufferer can be). Just recently, it has flared up again (it can go in cycles and be affected by barometric pressure) and while I'm not happy it has, this recent flare is in no way as bad as the first time around. Maybe it could help you. I take 2x/day regularly. Good luck.
I've taken glucosamine since shortly after my initial diagnosis of OA over thirty years ago. Given how much arthritis x-rays have revealed (and obvious in my hands and feet anyway) I credit this for keeping me as mobile and painfree as I am. My arthritic knee only started to worry me after a soft tissue injury Spring 2020. I decided not to take chondroitin because of what it's made of and mad cow disease was very much in the news back then. I also limit my use of nsaids to other conditions, like headache or when I broke my leg, as nsaids interfere with cartilage regeneration.
I suffered with sacroiliac pain for years. I found a chiropractic internet site last year and they suggested 2 simple exercises to do for that area. WoW it helped so much.Their names are Bob and Brad and they are chiropractors. Just put their names and sacroiliac pain in your search bar and it should come up.
Also, Bio freeze gel is wonderful. Must be the gel. I think it works so well because you have to rub it in.
Good Luck
Im on the waiting list for a hip replacement the pain is unbearable i find the only thing that helps is health essentials extra paracetamol with caffeine from aldi i take 2 four times a day. Was on cocodemols before off the doctor didnt touch me theseare far better
I feel for you. I have a similar problem with the sacral joints and all the muscles in my hips from the center of my back to the hip bone hurt. I had hip x-rays last year and spacing is perfect so no hip replacement. At 78 that was a huge relief. The only thing I have found that helps is SalonPas roll on lidacain. It cuts the muscle pain by a lot. Don't know if it's available outside the US. Part of the cause is sitting so much since I got PMR. When I am busy gardening or doing a project, I end up so stiff and sore the next day I don't want to move. LOL
PMR from taper or osteoarthritis
A Flare or Osteoarthritis?
PMR Increasing pain, ear pain. 
