Taking ibuprofen while on a low dose of prednisolone

[calibriel]

Hi

I’ve already had one hip replaced 13 years ago (before my PMR diagnosis) and I’ve been lucky to get away with not having any trouble with the other - until recently. It’s deteriorating rapidly, and I’m on first steps of the “pathway” to have surgery, which I know will likely take years. The best pain relief I had before was from taking both ibuprofen and paracetamol (on its own, the latter makes little difference), but I’ve also been told I shouldn’t take ibuprofen while on pred.

My PMR was diagnosed in 2020 and I’m currently on 2mg pred, about to start tapering to 1.5, but I know I can’t count on that being successful. What are your thoughts, o wise ones? The pain in my hip is getting worse, and I didn’t get on with other analgesics before.

Thank you

[calibriel]

PS I also take lansoprazole. I just checked the leaflet in the pack and there’s nothing about not taking ibuprofen that I can see. I know I’m long overdue a review from my GP - I seem to have fallen through the cracks in the pavement when I moved house and changed surgery a year ago, though they keep repeating my prescription without question - and plan to book one. It has been suggested on this forum I may no longer need the lansoprazole on this low dose of pred.

[calibriel in reply to calibriel]

PPS Just checked online. ‘No available appointments’ - for the next 4 weeks!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

If you are thinking about taking Ibuprofen regularly, then it might be wise to stay with Lansoprazole - then at least your stomach is being protected. The reason why that and Pred are not recommended together is that they both can cause stomach issues, but as you are on on such a low dose you may be okay… but you do need to run it past your GP - do they have eConsult facility? If so, ask the question, and then they can decide if they need to see you F2F.

[calibriel in reply to DorsetLady]

The appointment I was trying to book online that’s not available for 4 weeks was a telephone appointment! I’ve only moved to the other side of town: I wish I’d stayed with my original surgery 😡😥

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to calibriel]

Dreadful - but if they have eConsult - you can ask & they have to respond… and you have a record…

[calibriel in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks! I didn’t even know they had an eConsult facility, but I’ve found it: by downloading an app. Only available Mon-Fri so I’ll let you know how I get on

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to calibriel]

You can submit question/comments any time - but have to wait until surgery opening times for it to be read….and actioned…

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'm on 5mg pred, my rheumy prescribes ibuprofen to take with paracetamol for back pain. I only take them once a day. No problems so far. And I'm not on a PPI - you should be fine.

[Croft9232]

It might also be worth checking your hospital trust website or the hospitals own if you know which hospital will be used for your hip replacement.

Just to perhaps ease your fears of length of time to wait for your new hip. I thought the same as you, a very long wait and it turned out from GP referral to see the Surgeon 11 weeks and then with X-ray showing Stage 4 OA in hip , a wait of 9 months! which I considered excellent considering everything.

Try not to worry. A day at a time .

[SusanEleven]

My experience for what it’s worth. I’m on low-dose prednisone, 2mg per day (on prednisone overall since 2015). I need a hip replacement (severe bone-on-bone osteoarthritis left hip) but am not a surgical candidate for now. My pharmacist said occasional ibuprofen is fine and recommended taking it only on a full stomach and spacing it hours apart from my steroids.

I started a course of physical therapy (in March; insurance approved 13 appointments and we stretched them out over three months) where I was taught a group of exercises to “offload” some of the stress on both hips and strengthen my core. I was surprised at how well it works. I faithfully do the stretches 7 days a week. I only need my cane now for longer walks and only take one ibuprofen every other day. There is still an occasional terrible day when a rainstorm is blowing through or if I take too long a walk. But otherwise it’s quite tolerable compared to what it was.

[madhouse1]

was your oain better controlled on higher doses of pred?

[calibriel in reply to madhouse1]

The pain in this hip started a couple of years after my PMR was diagnosed and controlled by pred. I think they’re separate conditions. The pred - high or low -seems to have little to do with it