well, here “up north” earlier this evening we had the most horrendous thunderstorm lasting 30 mins - and with huge hailstones -and, I kid you not, SNOW! My poor bedding plants have taken a right battering.
I digress! Hubby has been advised to take pain killers for the awful pain he’s getting with cervical stenosis. Think his body is getting used to the regular paracetamol, and he’s now having the odd dose of ibruphen. Someone has suggested using the gel instead as it’s easier on the stomach. And he’s wary of the effects of taking tablet form for too long.
Any thoughts please, you lovely expert s.
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Doraflora
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It is supposed to be easier on the stomach, but because any medication absorbed into the skin then circulates throughout the body caution is still advised. Be careful not to exceed recommended dosage.
As an OA sufferer myself I've always been reluctant to take NSAIDS (except for temporary relief of something like a headache or a broken bone) because they actually interfere with cartilage regeneration which is counterproductive in earlier stages of OA, but I also know that at some point the benefits of pain relief outweigh other considerations,
Thank you. I’m paranoid about things like that. I was even on the phone to the pharmacy before he used the gel, just to make sure it was ok with hubby’s other meds.
You’re not missing much! Apparently he had a spine operation which wasn’t successful. Then broke a shoulder by a fall downstairs and is in a wheelchair a lot of the time & his wife, Ruth Longford, and a lot younger than he, is apparently is fed up of being his “carer” & is divorcing him (according to the “media”)
My hubby is worried - ha. But I have threatened him🤣.
Had spinal operation in 2022 which wasn’t very successful -left with mobility issues. Along with other things - taken its toll on personal life -apparently divorcing.
Hmmm - in sickness and in health, for better for worse and all that. Can't stand the bloke personally. They are both 64 so she isn't younger - wonder who said that,
Exactly! I use a number system to try and deal with pain . One being the lowest and I’m never at less than that in any joint. Usually I have joints at 3-4 which is ok. Given thought that this is the entire body it only takes a single joint to become a five and then all the others, even at a one, become intolerable as a whole. I don’t think GPs have any idea what it’s like to suffer day after day after day and knowing it will never go away. It’s a life sentence.
I spent ages trying to explain to a new rheumy here doing a study on why our assessment score of the impact of PMR on us is always higher than they assign as disease activity. Actually - just dawning on me, they persist on using the joint pain etc assessment they use for inflammatory arthritis and my joints don't ever hurt except the right index finger but that is a Heberden's node, nothing to do with PMR. But the PMR can be playing merry hell. It is affecting half your body at least - and then something that in isolation and for a limited time is a 3 or 4 ramps up to being an almost intolerable 8. And reduces you to tears because you have no idea when it will ease off since painkillers never help.
No - I think it is something a bit different, A misunderstanding of PMR effects more than everyone with PMR is the same. But you're right in that why do they think a vasculitis has the same symptoms as an arthritis?
For a lifetime I have also been plagued by Cluster Headaches, the suicide headaches, and so many medical professionals have not yet understood the gravity of this agony in order to prescribe meds that adequately deal with it ... non sufferers just do not get it.
My son collapsed 2 weeks ago, vomited blood and clots. His blood pressure dropped and he was rushed to hospital. An endoscopy showed scarring on his stomach lining. He had to have blood transfusions and intravenous antibiotics. The cause was put down to ibuprofen so I am sure you know my answer.
Thank you. He is recovering well and doesn’t remember a lot of the horrendous incident. It happened in their en-suite and he broke the toilet seat. My daughter in law has horrible memories of trying to hold him up while he was vomiting blood, ringing for an ambulance and trying to keep their 13 month old son out of it as he thought it was messy play!She doesn’t want to use the en-suite now!
My GP prescribed Voltarol gel for my back pain, it's available over the counter but it is more expensive. I find it works better than ibuprofen gel for me.
I get really bad neck pain, I use a heated wheat neck wrap and also to sleep a neck collar, it just helps with me to not crunch my neck up during sleep and find the wheat pack soothing in the evening, for me co codomol doesn’t touch it but find paracetamol does, I prefer the gel to ibroprofen tablets, I also have a good osteopath that quite often finds that when my neck is bad it can come from my shoulder area, feel for your hubby, and you
We got a memory foam mattress about three months ago. I always said I wouldn’t have one and our old mattress was a good one and only 7 years old (but I think the current recommendation is to change after 7 years) but I have to say I haven’t slept as well for years. Certainly helps with the arthritic joints!
Let us know if it helps. Reading this reminds me how at one time I was looking into getting a sheepskin mattress cover. Must have been before PMR diagnosis, because haven't thought of it for years. If I recall they were very expensive, but could have got a single sheepskin locally sourced for much less and it would have been large enough for most of me.
Ha, yes I think sheepskin is still very expensive.
Mattress’s are such a gamble aren’t they, especially when hubby now wants a firmer mattress than me. That’s why we (well, I!) said we’d need to get two single beds with different mattresses. That way we’d both be happy. And they’ll both be fitted to a 6’ headboard so that’s ok.
And: I’ve gone for separate duvets. No more lying there for me with only about a foot of cover on me.
Different complaint, I get extreme pain in my calf and found Deep Freeze spray and also the gel, bought over the counter, was better to relieve the pain than the Ibuprofen gel I was prescribed.
There is still localised pain in my broken wrist and the early days recommendation, used more sparingly now, to ice the area (even through a cast) is surprisingly helpful. Had always thought heat was the key to relieving most pain, but this isn't always true!
I occasionally use the gel for sacroiliac pain when it’s really bad. It works well and quickly. But I only use it for a day or two which is usually time for a flare there to start settling. Ice packs for a few minutes help too. I haven’t read all the posts above, but otc cocodamol had paracetamol and codeine, which may help. Or Zapain which has same strength paracetamol more codeine. I find a mix ( 2 Zapain am, 2 cocodamol bedtime) mostly manages OA pain without the constipation problems usually experienced with opiate.
I have used OTC codeine based meds all my adult life for rheumatoid joint pain. Last year I found I had diverticulitis that MAY have caused by the codeine. So just a warning.
Thank you. Yes, as with every med, there’s a downside. My cocodamol and Zapain are both prescribed. I could buy the cocodamol strength otc but I think in view of the risks it’s better that it’s logged. The problem is that there are so few options for effective pain management. I’m hoping that taking 2 cocodamol and 2 Zapain daily is minimising the risk and giving a degree of relief.
Yes, I’ll be packing him off to the docs if he doesn’t improve, but tbh his demeanour has been much better today & he doesn’t seem to be suffering ‘quite’ as much. But it’s been much warmer here today & he’s done a little bit of gardening.
I don’t know if this will help but I now use an amazing product I came across, checked out all the reviews etc prior to buying. It’s called Warrior Balm . It’s made from natural organic ingredients and is great for so many pain conditions. It has brilliant reviews and most people I have recommended it to have found it helps immensely. It’s made by a company called M.C.C. Motorbikes Cosmetic Company, please don’t be put off by the name. There is a lovely backstory as to why this was developed. It is also handmade, packaged etc. The do a lot more products as well and I know use a few of them.
before I had my knees ‘done’ I used both acupuncture and a Tena machine both which helped though where were restrictions as to where in the body you can use them . For arthirits spot gels i use Voltarol Gel which seemed pretty effective
Co-codamol are far more effective in pain relief. But, as the chemist will ask you if you've taken them before. To be on the safe side, ask your doctor if they are safe for hubby, first. We in Nottingham missed the storm this time. All the best.
sorry…not an optimistic reply from me…a bad fall onto my Cocccyx four weeks ago has not improved.bursitis in right hip & sciatica in other hip appalling. Back issues, i have a spinal tumour, could be that) very bad. I am on highest dose of time release Tramadol and twice increased the strength of Butec pain patches, & I can only stand for 3 minutes before I’m in too much pain, but sitting down us appalling, too! Seems to me, there are some pains 5hat painkillers don’t cope with! I’m seeing the Dr for a depo medrone & local anaesthetic injection to help the Coccyx area & an examination of my back. I’ve been in chronic pain for 15 years & acute on& off for 12 years. Our 43 years old marriage nearly broke when the 12th disease was diagnosed & steroids were brought back into the picture again. Nearly split for a while. I fully understand Eamon & his wife. It’s hard having something wrong every second & so many different things going wrong, he’s lucky as he has more money & can pay for surgery & consultations, but then his back op went wrong. But being a cater of somebody like me is hell. Maybe even worse than having it yourself. I cannot take ibuprofen or gabapentin, duLoxetine or Pregabalin, but hear good things about them. But I really think it’s up to his Doctor, Doraflora! Nobody can prescribe painkillers without knowing a full history. I’d say Tramadol is one that has helped, though. S xx PS I went to a Pain Climic. He said you’re too overweight. I said it’s the steroids. He said I don’t care what it is, there’s nothing I can do to help you.
My hubby has chronic degenerative spine/cervical stenosis. In fact the neurosurgeon said he was concerned to see how much damage there was. Anyway, we’re so grateful to all you lovely people on here with the different suggestions.
Hubby has been slightly better today (it’s a lot warmer here today) & he was happily doing a bit of light gardening, which was good to see.
I’m sorry to hear about your marriage issues. Tension comes out in so many ways. We’re all human.
I so hope you can get some relief of your pain soon. x
And PS: what a so-and-so your consultant sounds to say something like that!
I’m just about to have my spine & whole back area looked at again. I can’t swim any more, & love swimming, but it’s just acute pain that’s stopping me! Warmer helps, it’s a lot colder here in the south of England atm. Thank you, but the good news is that I reduced by pred, & we talked a lot, & are very happy atm. The consultant I saw when we lived a long way from here, so I’m safe from seeing him again!! S x
Almost 32 years ago, I fractured my ankle and required lots of hardware along with a second surgery just 4 weeks after the first. The doctor kept saying Ibuprofen, more Ibuprofen. It wasn't long before my son found me out cold on the livingroom floor, called the ambulance . I had to perforations of my stomach and required 2 pints of blood. Diagnosis~too much Ibuprofen. Hopefully, they can prescribe something for his pain.💞
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Voltaren, (diclofenac) topical gel OK with pred?
Tablets v's injections
possible diagnosis of PMR for my husband. 
Ibuprofen gel/cream
Sensible GP, Rheumatologist not so much…
