Diclofenac

[Stelladevico]

I am badly in need of pain relief for sciatica but terrified of triggering RLS.

I am taking paracetamol, ibuprofen and gabapentin but wonder if diclofenac would be stronger than paracetamol.?

[SueJohnson]

It's also a nsaid like paracetamol. It might be slightly stronger. No harm in trying it to see

[Stelladevico in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you Sue

[Eryl]

Diclofenac is a powerful anti inflamatory and will work against RLS because the cause of RLS is inflammation. The problem is that it's not recomended for long term use. Inflammation is a process by wnich the body tries to repair damage so it's essential what you should be doing is to remove the cause of the damage. The cause of the damage in the case of RLS is most commonly our diet. There are lists of inflammatory foods on the internet

[Nanpat]

Yes it would be stronger, I also suffer sciatica and take Mobic, a NSAID

Paracetamol is NOT a NSAID, it’s acetaminophen

Good luck

[Stelladevico in reply to Nanpat]

Thanks for your answer. I will need your good luck wishes as am now taking Oramorph & cannot even sit to eat, let alone walk!

[SueJohnson in reply to Nanpat]

Whoops you are right !

[Nanpat]

is that because of the pain? You probably need something stronger then!

I also wear an opioid patch, mainly for rls but also for back pain. You can also take the nsaid intermittently with pain medication. Can you get a patch that will cover you around the clock till it settles……will settle in time I should think. Mine did.

[Stelladevico in reply to Nanpat]

I am seeing an orthopaedic consultant next week but dreading the journey.

I have a disc bulging in my lower back so I don’t think it will settle. It will either be steroid injections or surgery. I am so afraid the steroid injections will trigger RLS

[Nanpat in reply to Stelladevico]

Personally I would see a spinal surgeon who specialises in back’s only! My surgeon said I had to be 100% sure before I had surgery and I wasn’t so never went ahead.

I also had bulging disc which I left and it took 18mths but then it shrunk back…..you can google this, it happens. I had one steroid injection which only provided relief for 3 days but know of others who had much better results.

I have spinal stenosis and have fractured my back twice since November so now am very unsteady walking so rls episodes are horrible walking around in pain with a walker. Best wishes to you, I’d be interested in how you get by 😊

[Stelladevico in reply to Nanpat]

I am seeing the same spinal surgeon who gave me steroid injections nearly six years ago. The problem right now is that I am in so much pain I don’t see how I can make the journey to keep the appointment.

[Nanpat in reply to Stelladevico]

A spinal surgeon and orthopaedic are not the same thing. Spinal surgeon only specialises in backs which is what you need.

I had exactly the same thing and it did settle but took a long time, hope the injections work.

You need to take painkillers for the trip , good luck

[Ert223 in reply to Nanpat]

In order to shuttle the calcium out of blood and into the bones you need to take

Vitamin K7...also if your on statins you need to get off those because they do two things. Destroy muscle and prevent the calcium from getting to bones.

They diagnosed me with spinal stenosis went to see physical therapist for 6 weeks problem resolved. Bone doctors were pushing for surgery.

Good luck

[Stelladevico in reply to Ert223]

Thank you.

[Nanpat in reply to Ert223]

Thanks for reply, so exercise and vit k7 helped you?

I won’t come off statins as father died of massive heart attack at 66 and brother recently died suddenly aged 65.

Need to keep the cholesterol low, diet isn’t enough

[CORFUORBUST]

I take Diclofenic as and when. If I need it I have to take an extra Lansoporole to combat the damage it does to your stomach.

[Geepjul]

Diclofenac is in the same drug class as ibuprofen so the two should not be taken together orally. Ibuprofen gel has the same efficacy as diclofenac gel

I would not recommend diclofenac these days as it carries the highest risk in the class for cardiovascular disease. It has been taken off the shelf in the US because of the risk although it remains over the counter in the UK

[Dexterruf]

My experience with Gabapentin is a positive one. I take 4 during the night. I sometimes top up with Ibuprofen but the latter is more to do with pain in my legs due to inflammation of the joints and the work I have to do to look after my bedridden wife.