Painkillers?

[applehead19]

I am an 84 year old woman, and have sickle cell trait. I have never had any problems in this respect.

Recently I had an infected corn on one toe which was treated. However, pain continued and then seemed to spread to my leg. I have since had three X-rays because my doctor suspected arthritis, all of which proved nothing except that I have 'strong bones'. The pain in my joints is severe, especially early morning. Is it possible that the pain killers I have been prescribed are not compatible with the sickle cell trait? I have today decided to stop taking the pain killers, to see if there is any improvement.

Any advice would be welcome.

[baba360]

Try sunlight, I am in the UK where Sun is not in abundance, however, sunlight sans the heat radiance can be beneficial(even through my window) . I also find that reducing my sugar intake helps significantly. In the summertime when the sun is at its highest there can be no excuse for Me to escape the natural light and consequently avoid submission to 'artificial' painkillers.

[RadiantSue]

Dear applehead19, I hope you are well. I did not see your post until today. The first I thing I recommend asking for is hydration. No one will deny you IV fluids. They may be fearful about providing you with nacrotics, but they will give you IV fluids. Ask a hemologist to run tests for anemia. You may not be anemic, but still be experiencing a lack of oxygenation at a microvascular level which is causes occlusions. These occlusion (blockages in the tiniest blood vessels) can lead to symptoms, which include off-the-scale joint pain. For years I noticed that if I responded with rest (meaning canceling activities important to you), hydration and NSAIDS two out of the three times on or about the third day the crises would resolve on its own. I found a study online that I have never found again which stated that sickled cells can revert to a normal shape in three days. To me, this explained my experiences in which if the crisis did not resolve by the third data (remember I am a sickle cell trait patient) than it went out of control around the end of the third day requiring a trip to the emergency room. I hope this advice is useful I wish you the best. I am glad you were able to go so many years without symptoms. Take care of yourself. Please let us know how you are doing.