Ibuprofen and Prednisolone

[Seamab]

I'm down to 2mg of prednisolone daily.On Monday I tripped on the kerb after crossing the road and had a bad fall,I appear to have torn/pulled muscles in my upper thigh.I have been taking Ibuprofen 400mg four times daily(along with Paracetamol),I know I really shouldn't be taking Ibuprofen along with prednisolone,but I also take Omeprazole 20mg daily,so I know this will give some protection.I don't think the muscle pull/tear is going to clear up anytime soon,so I wondered how long I fould keep taking the Ibuprofen along with the prednisolone.I would appreciate any feedback.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Even normally it is recommended not to take NSAIDs for more than a few days without medical advice. Have you been icing the injury as well as resting and elevating it? Does the ibuprofen provide any pain-relief?

[Seamab in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I've been icing,resting(as much I can,but I live on my own,so that's not too easy) and elevating it.The Ibuprofen is definitely helping a lot!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Seamab]

Yes, know that problem too!! I end up eating some strange mixtures at times. And getting the car out to fetch a litre of milk is a nuisance.

Always taking it with food I trust? Maybe extra omeprazole? My rheumy uses NSAIDs for some things if necessary and up to about 10 days is not unusual - it is the only time I take a PPI.

[Seamab in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I'm taking it with/after food.I might up the Omeprazole to 40mg(my GP lets me manage the PMR on my own so I think he would be okay with that).I could make 10 days the maximum,that sounds reasonable! Thanks very much for the advice.

[marigolds in reply to PMRpro]

I get litres of milk bought in with my shopping

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to marigolds]

I often only need milk having run out half way through the week and I am the only person who can do my shopping. There is no home delivery here - you go to the shop and fetch what you need. If I am doing a big shop obviously it comes with the shopping - in the car, but half way through the weekand it is icy outside, it makes for a very expensive litre of milk if I have to get the car out to drive the mile or so to the supermarket with an underground carpark!!

[RoomsonFire in reply to PMRpro]

Hello , just a suggestion re the Milk thing , we buy Long Life , UHT , in Litres , usually 12 at a time , it’s great with porridge , Coffee , bit sweet in Tea but otherwise great - 🌟

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to RoomsonFire]

I only use milk for tea - and I am very picky!! Has to be fresh, not even the extended life fresh version, and semi-skimmed!! The locally produced UHT stuff is OK if I am desperate but since it is only about 300 yards into the village with a small supermarket and a baker who sells dairy products, under normal conditions it isn't too bad picking up a litre when I need it. However - currently the road is a sheet of ice after some very unusual weather for us and then I feel safer taking the car and going to the supermarket in town which has covered parking. The steep ramp from our garage is salted and so is the road from there to the main road, about 100 yards, and anywhere a bus goes. But no bus between here and the village!!!

[RoomsonFire in reply to PMRpro]

Yes ! I ‘m fussy too and like Cravendale semi for Tea , unfortunately I don’t drive and our Village hasn’t a Bus 🚌, my Husband drives into Town once a week 🌟 x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to RoomsonFire]

No doubt you have lived there a long time? It wouldn't have ticked our boxes for retirement when we bought this flat over 20 years ago!! Had to be a shop and restaurant that was affordable within walking distance on the flat! At the time there were 3 of each! Still 2 of each - plus excellent bus service and normally even trains direct to the back door of the local hospital. Lift, garage, no garden ...

When I move back to the UK it will be to live with my daughter in a self-contained granny flat so they can run errands. There is a bus stop at the end of the drive and 2 shops and a butcher in the next village, a mile away, So sorted even if I give up driving at any point. I have lived in the country before - could never have done that if I didn't drive, certainly not when the girls were younger!!!!!

[RoomsonFire in reply to PMRpro]

❤️ Oxford is 20 miles away so our nearest big shopping, Cultural , Culinary place to go , I like the Quiet of the village and it’s safer for our Cat to roam about but yes a Bus would be a bonus if we were to move again 🚌 x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to RoomsonFire]

No - in retirement it isn't a bonus, if you don't drive it is an essential. And even if you DO drive at the time - you never know how long you will be able to. You on your own without a car or hubby with a broken leg in your village???

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to RoomsonFire]

UHT milk? Disgusting!

Fresh milk delivered to doorstep in glass bottles [saving the planet] from local dairy about 7 miles away, and I can see the “manufacturers” 🐄🐄🐄 grazing in the fields on my way to one of my favourite coffee haunts. Although shop/cafe on site has good coffee as well…😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I'd rather lemon in tea to be honest!!! No doorstep deliveries here - remember milk freezing at school in the winter and being off in the summer?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

I only have just a splash in tea .. and two 1 pint bottles a week [few days in between] delivered around 3-4am and put in a container… doorstep also faces north so no sun on it until after I’ve taken it indoors…

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I use more milk than you!!! 1 litre every 3 or 4 days - always need it Wednesdays and Saturdays. I do a main shop on Saturday afternoon, at a supermarket in town when it is quiet!! Out in the car on a Wednesday too - to get to aquafit - so nice timing.

[Pixix]

Are you allowed ibuprofen gel? I can’t take ibuprofen due to stomach problems, but I fall regularly due to very low blood pressure issues, & have hypermobility, so frequent tendon damage. My Dr has just prescribed ibuprofen gel to apply to my current injuries…shoulder, ankle & chest (costochondritis). PMR Pro, I’d be interested to know what you think of with regards to the gel,please? I’d like to use it, as Tranadol& bruphrenorphine patches aren’t helping the acute pain of damage through falls. Thanks!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

It is better but if you use it over a large area and a lot, you still absorb it via the skin and it can cause problems. Try it on the worst bits and see if it helps or causes a problem.

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. It’s for relatively small areas.mainly, ankle, shoulder (quite specific area), etc, & I’m waiting now for 3 ultrasounds. I don’t see it as long term usage, he said the ultrasound appointments aren’t usually too long a wait, as the hospital turns them into x-rays, even if the Dr requests ultrasound (happened to me last winter). One way of clearing backlog! I actually tried it on bursitis area yesterday…the steroid injection (general, into buttock, not specific into hip area),& it helped! Onwards…& thanks, S xx

[proactive in reply to Pixix]

I worked in an x-ray/ultrasound/CT department for 25 years in Canada. Teh hospital wasn't "allowed" to change the Dr's order for an ultrasound into an x-ray order! they are different modalities and ultrasound is better for showing soft tissue injury, x-rays better for bone injury or damage, so that sounds very odd to me.......If there was a question about the correct modality to use, hte radiologist would call the ordering Doctor to discuss and decide which was more appropriate.

[Pixix in reply to proactive]

Not here, sadly! My Dr sent me a message this morning to say my shoulder has to be x-rayed before it’s ultrasound tested. He’s obviously talked to the hospital, & that’s the result! It’s a pain for me as it may delay the time the ultrasounds are done, & we wanted to go on holiday. I’ve had a few of both of them & understand what you’re saying, my shoulder damage is not in the bones, I don’t believe, but, who knows?! The tests will tell! Thanks for your reply, interesting career you had! S x

[proactive in reply to Pixix]

Sorry to hear that, Pixix. Once the x-ray is done, and if an ultrasound is ordered, contact the booking clerk at the U/S department. see if you can get a sense of the wait time involved, then go on your holiday if you can - we need some enjoyment in our life!

If you decide to stay home and wait for an appointment, and if you are able to show up on short notice, let the know that you are would like to be on a cancellation list (as there is no preparation required for that exam) and with appointments booked weeks ahead, cancellations are very common - we got them almost daily....Good luck.

[Pixix in reply to proactive]

I live in the UK. The problem with the wait is that our travel insurance is very high. But if you are waiting for tests, or results of tests they often won’t cover you, or they will charge you an even higher premium. With 12 diseases to declare already, we have to pay dearly for our holidays! But the same principle about cancellations of appointments occurs here in the uk, too, & I always let them know I’m happy to come at short notice! Thanks for your thoughts, appreciate it!