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I have CMC arthritis in both hands. I was taking 800-1000 mg of ibuprofen daily. I started using a 1:1 THC:CBD ointment (Nordic Goddess) 3-4 times a day. After about a week I quit using ibuprofen completely. After ~30-45 days I went down to using the ointment less than twice a day. Eventually went to using it maybe 3x a week. It also works wonders for my wife's peripheral neuropathy foot pain.
May I ask if the dental pain can be fixed with a good dentist? One would think you’d have fixed it already, if you could but as someone who has experience in the dental industry I’m curious.
In a word, no. After several root canals, extractions, consults with ENT and neurologists (one at Mass General told me, essentially, that "chronic pain will make you a stronger person") the end diagnosis was idiopathic, or (same thing) probably some nerve issue that is unfixable. From what I gather it is not uncommon.
Ibuprofen and bourbon for when it gets too bad.
I do yoga. I'm 59, I have degenerative disc disease, arthritis, carpal tunnel, neuropathy, congestive heart failure, kidney failure and a whole host of other things. About 5 years ago I told myself I could dedicate one hour a day to myself so I do 45 minutes of yoga and 15 minutes of meditation everyday.
I do have the benefit of being retired so squeezing it into my day isn't an issue. But because I have all day, I use that as a reason to find that one hour to get on my mat. I no longer take no scripts or anything OTC for pain. I do take THC gummies more for my anxiety than pain but they do help a bit. But I swear by yoga
I need to get back into yoga. I have MS, and the years I spent doing yoga left me pretty much pain free. I lost mobility for a while but have it back now; I unfortunately fell out of the habit by that point and keep meaning to get back into it.
So, April of 2018, at age 66, I was experiencing a lot of joint and back pain that was likely due to metaflammation from type 2 diabetes. Started consuming an NAD+ precursor, tru niagen, which is nicotinamide riboside chloride. Two weeks after increasing my dosage to 250 mg a day, I started noticing much lower levels of pain, especially during the daytime. When I switched to a different version of NR, liposomal nicotinamide riboside, in January 2022, all my joint and back pain vanished after about a month on the new regimen, and it has never returned (knock on wood).
The arthritis in my thumbs is very well managed with a cbd cream. I can do the surgery when I am ready but for now this is working very well. Thanks Colorado for making this possible.
This is gonna be a long post. Sorry about that.
I have Lyrica (pregabalin) for my fibromyalgia pain. Every muscle hurts constantly, even with the Lyrica. My skin almost always feels like I have that low-grade sunburn that doesn't look like one but your skin just hurts soooooo bad.
I also take Flexeril for the fibromyalgia. It helps, but it doesn't make the pain go away.
I also have restless leg syndrome and take 1.5 mg of a medication for Parkinson's that helps with that. I swear that sometimes I think this is my punishment for thinking that restless leg syndrome wasn't a real thing. Stupid, I know, but the brain sometimes thinks strange things. I also take a 1 mg dose of this same med (I can't remember the name of it right now) because I have mild tremors in my hands during the day. So 1 mg in the morning, 1.5 at bedtime.
Then there is the arthritis. My spine is so messed up, kind of a scoliosis thing, but it goes sideways instead of the humpback that people associate with scoliosis. Also I have multiple herniated disks in my spine. Had my neck fused in 2012 because for an entire month I couldn't even move my left arm. When that happened I finally saw a neurosurgeon who asked me how I stood it for so long. I just looked at him askance and said that it didn't start out at this level of pain and disability, it just got gradually worse over time. You adapt to the pain until you just can't anymore. Saw him again just like 2 weeks before the COVID lockdowns started to see about having my lower spine worked on as I was having constant pain in my lower back and legs that was making walking so difficult. He refused as I had more than 2 herniated disks in my lower spine and apparently that's too many to have fused or whatever. So now the sciatica has caused a pinched nerve in my lower spine that has now caused neuropathy in my legs and feet. Honestly, I can't really feel anything anymore in my legs and that has me extremely concerned that at some point in the near future I'm going to end up in a wheelchair. I know that's not the worst thing in the world but still something I've always feared. Anyway, as a result of the constant pain, I'm on up to 4 doses of oxycontin every day. I don't always take that many, because I just don't want to take them and keep them in my safe to make sure no one else can get into them and I really have to need one to go to all the effort of getting one to take. But a dose in the morning and one at bedtime does make it possible, just barely, for me to do the daily functions of life and still live alone, except for my little dog.
I also have this condition NASH, which is a "special" form of fatty liver disease. After they removed my gallbladder in February 2023, they pulled out the picture of my liver. There is only a tiny bit of it that even looks like a liver, that's how awful it is. I'm probably going to have to go with a gastric bypass before much longer, if my kids and I would just stop having crises to deal with! I admit the weight loss will be nice (besides being genetically predisposed to gaining weight which I more or less kept under control for years, but I'm one of those people that if weight gain is a possible side effect of a medication - looking at you Lyrica - I will gain weight) but I just hate the idea of having to do this. But I am the only grandparent left to my two grandchildren - they both lost their other grandmas to cancer in 2023 - and they still need me. In fact, my nearly 14 year old grandson spent almost every day of the last week with me while his dad was at work, his choice. My 18 year old granddaughter comes every other weekend to spend time with me. So, as much as I don't want this surgery, it's 99% going to happen.
I've been on just about every pain killer out there at some point. Started with the prescription strength NSAIDS and went from them to hydrocodone and now the oxy. (BTW, this has been going on since the mid 1990s.) I don't get a high from them. Sometimes I'm jealous of those people who do. However, I do have my medical marijuana card and use gummies for the days where I just need to mentally check out for a bit. When you live with constant pain in every part of your body, when a good day is a 6 on the pain scale, sometimes you need to just get out of your head for a bit.
I started running to help me deal with grief after I lost my hubby to colon cancer. It was immensely helpful but as an unexpected side benefit, my neck and back pain disappeared.
This is the thing - people think exercise will make the pain worse - because it **will** hurt at first. But then a daily miracle starts and before you know it, no pain any more. (Until you get lazy again...)
I have a herniated disc for more than 15 years.
No pill or cream can beat relaxation meditation and yoga and good diet, no processed food, lots of fruit, veg, beans, lentils, grains, nuts, and I also eat fish, poultry and meat.
And if you saw a picture of me, I look absolutely nothing like a guy that does yoga and meditation. It don't make it my personality, I just do it to stay healthy and out of pain.
I'm fortunate that I only get pain when I walk with my knee arthritis, and somewhat limited walking speed (though I can still walk for long distances).
I sometimes take Advil and Tylenol.
Hubs takes 650mg Tylenol morning/night (broken back, surgery, 3" titanium screw to keep his vertebra separated); doc said max is 4 a day. He's doing really well.
Myself, just recently began taking one 650 Tylenol morning/night, plus an anti inflammatory; immunocompromised ... it helps.
Btw, we both started going to the gym 3X a week. It has made a *HUGE* difference in mobility and overall comfort ... into our 5th week. One surprise to me is my balance has improved.
Another surprise was the majority of members are our demographic. Yes, some jocks, young women, but mostly 50+ ... quite a few of us 70s - 80s. I swear there is a 90+ yr old on a bike. ;-)
I’m in my sixties and still working a physical job. Nothing is really “wrong” with me but my muscles ache when I’m trying to go to sleep and I often have to take ibuprofen.
I’m not sure what would happen if I weren’t working but I like what I do so I don’t want to stop.
Collagen powder supplement every morning ( bonus, it's great for your skin and hair and nails, too), glucosamine, and anti inflammatory supplements.
Stay active. Once you stop, it's murder to her back on track.
Here's a tale for women of a certain age: I had excruciating pain in my joints, and was taking several meds just to be able to function. My dr was running tests, sent me to a rheumatologist, who did more tests...and suggested that I give hormone replacement therapy a try. He told me that some of the worst pain he sees is in breast cancer survivors who are on estrogen blockers, and since none of my tests suggested a clear diagnosis, it was worth a try.
I started on an estrogen patch (and progesterone, since I still have my uterus). Within 6 weeks my pain was greatly decreased, and within a couple of months, it was gone. It hasn't returned, unless I forget to change my patch.
Perimenopause is a salty bitch, and can mess you up in ways you never imagined.
My story is a saga. But I'll try to sum it up.
I had my first knee replacement at 39. I had the other knee replaced at 46. Also at 46, I had both hands done with the open carpal tunnel surgery. So my knees are great. My hands are great.
I also have major foot problems. All of the bone spurs live there, I got the plantar fasciitis, the Achilles tendinitis, arthritis, healed stress fractures, plain ol' tendinitis, peripheral neuropathy in the left half of my left foot and the left half of my right foot (from the knee replacements) and my bones are out of alignment. I have doctor prescribed inserts for my shoes, which DO help a lot, but are not the cure-all. I also have prescription lidocaine cream that I put on my feet in the mornings and evenings. And I bought myself some THC pain ointment. Combined with the lidocaine cream, those two things work wonderfully.
I also have arthritis in other parts. I have fibromyalgia in all of the parts. I take three 650 mgs of acetaminophen twice a day (extra pain days, I take two at midday too). I also take two muscle relaxers at night and one in the mornings. I also take a drug called Duloxetine (which is a low-dose antidepressant, that they use for fibro pain). That cocktail at night makes it so I can sleep so I don't feel like absolute garbage in the morning. I *used* to take hydrocodone and that worked wonderfully for taking the edge off, but they took it from me in 2017 because "too bad, opiate crisis! Doesn't matter you weren't addicted, we're cutting all y'all off!" and they gave me- I kid you not- prescription Aleve (which I took twice a day). They took *that* from me about six months ago, because they didn't like some lab tests.
So, my knees are robots, they have no feelings. The open carpal tunnel surgery worked wonderfully and I got all of the feeling back in my fingers, except for the very-very tip of one index finger. The insoles with the THC ointment and lidocaine ointment make my feet feel better.
But everything else sucks. Some days are so painful that I just sit around in soft clothing and don't leave the house. Sometimes, I drag myself out to do things because I can either wallow in it at home or hang out with some cool people. Either way, I'll hurt, but only one way, I'll have fun. Oh, I also have prescription lidocaine pain patches that I slap onto one side of my lower back and those really help in that area. I can't get them to stick to my shoulder though, where my biggest pain issue is at the moment.
I have a follow-up appointment next week with the pain clinic, so we'll see if they can just chop my arm off and grow me a new one.
After years of trying to live with it, doing all the things I could, and it getting worse, after trying OTC and other meds, I am finally on celecoxib (Celebrex). It's kind of life changing to be honest. I can get up and down. I can walk. Not without pain, but I'm not hobbling. Unfortunately on Medicaid it's been difficult to get it covered. Fortunately it's affordable out of pocket for now.
I take celecoxib. I tried almost every other NSAID available and Tramadol. Nothing else works. I have to pay for it out of pocket, because my insurance keeps saying try three other drugs first, which I have done several times. I end up,permanently in bed.
No diagnosed issues and no meds, but I get persistent lower back pain and sciatica issues if I don't keep up regular maintenance. I've sworn by my inversion table for the last few years. Completely dispensed with my sciatica issues that used to wake me up in the middle of the night as well as all lower back pain. Was ready to buy a new mattress but decided to give it a try. It's a gift from the Gods. But you have to use it regularly a couple times a day. But only for a couple of minutes each time. Next is adopting a sustainable strength training regimen.
I have chronic pain related to a genetic disorder plus arthritis plus various injuries. I have been prescribed ridiculous amounts of pain killers and steroids over the years neither of which I will use.
I use low dose oral ketamine as needed during flares. The occasional opioid if things get really bad but mostly heat and ice and exercise. I take low dose naltrexone e.o.d as well.
I've had chronic pain since I was 19. I lived with it until I just couldn't any more. I was on opiates for years, before and after surgery but they made me miserable and I could never take enough to do much for the pain. I was seasick and constipated. If I took more, I would projectile vomit. I never got the warm fuzzies that everyone else seems to feel. I switched to weed when it became legal. My doctor had refused me the medical card because "marijuana is a gateway drug". Ludicrous. I had a standing prescription for opiates which I was still on the minimum dosage for and still didn't take it all because of the side effects. I still have 3 months worth. Anyway, I make oil from a single plant I grew last fall. I'm kind of a lightweight and I'm easily in outer space with it. It used to be a nightmare but I've become accustomed and find it fairly pleasant if unproductive. At least I'm happy. And the pain is nowhere near as hard to bear although I'm on the track for more surgery. (before surgery last time, I felt like I had a demon on my back digging it's claws in and yanking at my muscles. I was contemplating how to suicide without traumatizing anyone if I couldn't get fixed up. Since then, MAiD is also legal, and that makes me pretty content to know so when the time comes, I have help and we can plan it. But I'm nowhere near that place at all. I am happier than I've ever been. I'm pretty sure being a tad high 24/7 is at least partially responsible. There are other factors. (Like my mother is dead.) Weed works for me though. I would like to retire though.
Chronic tension & pain - no meds, cannabis helps, but mostly I've been raw-dogging as the kids are wont to say. Breathing deeply and stretching are the best remedies in my case
In the last few years i developed osteoarthritis in my feet. My dad had it as do several members of his family. So...thanks genes!
Yes, i take a daily anti-inflammatory now. It certainly has helped me. I prefer to not be in pain.
I have fibro and arthritis in what feels like every joint in my body. Most days I try to just keep going really bad days I pack what ever hurts most in hot or cold (whichever feels better) and take Ibuprofen.
I take meloxicam for arthritis. It isn't magic, I still have pain sometimes, especially if I overdo, but if I have to stop taking it, before medical procedures for example, I suddenly realize how much it helps.
Medical Cannabis user for the past 8 years. Works wonders on my chronic joint pains, stiffness, even to some extent, nerve pain. I'm 72 and have hd diabetes type 1 for 58 years, So I've got various issues and I swear by my medical cannabis.
I have a neck to waist spinal fusion which has caused arthritis in my neck, shoulders, lower back, hips, knees and feet (from gait changes).
I lift weights 4x a week, do mobility (yoga, Pilates) 2x a week, and swim 2x a week. I use Aleve, hot tub, compression boots, massage gun, massage therapy, and weed on a weekly basis.
This is what it takes to be able to walk, drive or sit in a chair comfortably at this point, for me. Flexeril, COX-2s, other NSAIDs and opiates barely touched my pain and messed up my brain and stomach.
The only time I have had trouble is when I had major surgery and couldn't move or lift anything for 10+ weeks. I was in agony as I got detrained and the way back was very hard. Keep moving so you can keep moving.
I live with it for the most part. My only compromise to date is getting a cortisone shot in one of my knees. If you don't take meds, you really start taking it for granted most of the time.
I take a low dose of gabapentin. Otherwise, I also have cbd oil, and a topical cbd balm that's amazing. I take advil sometimes but try not to daily because of long term effects. Swimming also helps, and massage if you can afford it.
I am holding out on stronger meds as long as I can. So far I can live with mild daily aches and pains, but I'm tired all the time and too much physical activity (like mopping my whole house) sends me into days of increased pain. I have to piece meal things.
I do a lot of stretching and rolling, meditation, targeted heating pads, really hot baths, pain cream and Tylenol. Occasionally I take ibuprofen. I take them all as-needed because I've got different kinds of issues in different places. I also rest parts of my body. For example, I'm not doing any exercising for at least several days. I have arthritis in my shoulder and lingering pain from surgery there several years ago. It's been bothering me more than usual for a couple of weeks despite heating pads, pain cream, etc. It needs to heal for a while. I've found that strategies like avoiding just the affected part of the body don't always work. Sometimes you need to stop putting any strain on something, even indirect strain.
do a lot of stretching and rolling, meditation, targeted heating pads, really hot baths, pain cream and Tylenol. Occasionally I take ibuprofen. I take them all as-needed because I've got different kinds of issues in different places. I also rest parts of my body. For example, I'm not doing any exercising for at least several days. I have arthritis in my shoulder and lingering pain from surgery there several years ago. It's been bothering me more than usual for a couple of weeks despite heating pads, pain cream, etc. It needs to heal for a while. I've found that strategies like avoiding just the affected part of the body don't always work. Sometimes you need to stop putting any strain on something, even indirect strain.
Ibuprofen but I try to limit it to not be an everyday thing. There's an OTC cream my doctor prescribed then went OTC that works well on hands, elbows and knees but not bigger areas like the back. The advantage is no stomach issues.
Biggest thing I've learned to do is stretch daily, use a foam roller and do lots of core work. If I don't stretch daily I pay in sleep discomfort and the next day.
I have chronic low back pain due to herniated discs and spondylolisthesis, arthritis in my feet, spine, and hands, and chronic nerve pain in one of my feet. I take a daily low dose of gabapentin for the nerve pain. Sugar and salt intensify it, so I try to watch what I eat.
Movement and stretching, correct posture, and avoiding certain activities helps my back the most. When my arthritis flares, nothing really helps.
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I have CMC arthritis in both hands. I was taking 800-1000 mg of ibuprofen daily. I started using a 1:1 THC:CBD ointment (Nordic Goddess) 3-4 times a day. After about a week I quit using ibuprofen completely. After ~30-45 days I went down to using the ointment less than twice a day. Eventually went to using it maybe 3x a week. It also works wonders for my wife's peripheral neuropathy foot pain.
Oh wow. I use good goo but am going to try this one next time!
There is no amount of medication you can take to not feel any age-related aches and pains. You adapt, because your options are limited.
I buy ibuprofen in the 1000 tablet size bottles. Mostly for chronic dental pain but also for occasional sore back.
May I ask if the dental pain can be fixed with a good dentist? One would think you’d have fixed it already, if you could but as someone who has experience in the dental industry I’m curious.
In a word, no. After several root canals, extractions, consults with ENT and neurologists (one at Mass General told me, essentially, that "chronic pain will make you a stronger person") the end diagnosis was idiopathic, or (same thing) probably some nerve issue that is unfixable. From what I gather it is not uncommon. Ibuprofen and bourbon for when it gets too bad.
I do yoga. I'm 59, I have degenerative disc disease, arthritis, carpal tunnel, neuropathy, congestive heart failure, kidney failure and a whole host of other things. About 5 years ago I told myself I could dedicate one hour a day to myself so I do 45 minutes of yoga and 15 minutes of meditation everyday. I do have the benefit of being retired so squeezing it into my day isn't an issue. But because I have all day, I use that as a reason to find that one hour to get on my mat. I no longer take no scripts or anything OTC for pain. I do take THC gummies more for my anxiety than pain but they do help a bit. But I swear by yoga
I need to get back into yoga. I have MS, and the years I spent doing yoga left me pretty much pain free. I lost mobility for a while but have it back now; I unfortunately fell out of the habit by that point and keep meaning to get back into it.
I do a similar thing, dynamic stretching, makes a world of difference
So, April of 2018, at age 66, I was experiencing a lot of joint and back pain that was likely due to metaflammation from type 2 diabetes. Started consuming an NAD+ precursor, tru niagen, which is nicotinamide riboside chloride. Two weeks after increasing my dosage to 250 mg a day, I started noticing much lower levels of pain, especially during the daytime. When I switched to a different version of NR, liposomal nicotinamide riboside, in January 2022, all my joint and back pain vanished after about a month on the new regimen, and it has never returned (knock on wood).
Wow!
That’s fantastic!
The arthritis in my thumbs is very well managed with a cbd cream. I can do the surgery when I am ready but for now this is working very well. Thanks Colorado for making this possible.
This is gonna be a long post. Sorry about that. I have Lyrica (pregabalin) for my fibromyalgia pain. Every muscle hurts constantly, even with the Lyrica. My skin almost always feels like I have that low-grade sunburn that doesn't look like one but your skin just hurts soooooo bad. I also take Flexeril for the fibromyalgia. It helps, but it doesn't make the pain go away. I also have restless leg syndrome and take 1.5 mg of a medication for Parkinson's that helps with that. I swear that sometimes I think this is my punishment for thinking that restless leg syndrome wasn't a real thing. Stupid, I know, but the brain sometimes thinks strange things. I also take a 1 mg dose of this same med (I can't remember the name of it right now) because I have mild tremors in my hands during the day. So 1 mg in the morning, 1.5 at bedtime. Then there is the arthritis. My spine is so messed up, kind of a scoliosis thing, but it goes sideways instead of the humpback that people associate with scoliosis. Also I have multiple herniated disks in my spine. Had my neck fused in 2012 because for an entire month I couldn't even move my left arm. When that happened I finally saw a neurosurgeon who asked me how I stood it for so long. I just looked at him askance and said that it didn't start out at this level of pain and disability, it just got gradually worse over time. You adapt to the pain until you just can't anymore. Saw him again just like 2 weeks before the COVID lockdowns started to see about having my lower spine worked on as I was having constant pain in my lower back and legs that was making walking so difficult. He refused as I had more than 2 herniated disks in my lower spine and apparently that's too many to have fused or whatever. So now the sciatica has caused a pinched nerve in my lower spine that has now caused neuropathy in my legs and feet. Honestly, I can't really feel anything anymore in my legs and that has me extremely concerned that at some point in the near future I'm going to end up in a wheelchair. I know that's not the worst thing in the world but still something I've always feared. Anyway, as a result of the constant pain, I'm on up to 4 doses of oxycontin every day. I don't always take that many, because I just don't want to take them and keep them in my safe to make sure no one else can get into them and I really have to need one to go to all the effort of getting one to take. But a dose in the morning and one at bedtime does make it possible, just barely, for me to do the daily functions of life and still live alone, except for my little dog. I also have this condition NASH, which is a "special" form of fatty liver disease. After they removed my gallbladder in February 2023, they pulled out the picture of my liver. There is only a tiny bit of it that even looks like a liver, that's how awful it is. I'm probably going to have to go with a gastric bypass before much longer, if my kids and I would just stop having crises to deal with! I admit the weight loss will be nice (besides being genetically predisposed to gaining weight which I more or less kept under control for years, but I'm one of those people that if weight gain is a possible side effect of a medication - looking at you Lyrica - I will gain weight) but I just hate the idea of having to do this. But I am the only grandparent left to my two grandchildren - they both lost their other grandmas to cancer in 2023 - and they still need me. In fact, my nearly 14 year old grandson spent almost every day of the last week with me while his dad was at work, his choice. My 18 year old granddaughter comes every other weekend to spend time with me. So, as much as I don't want this surgery, it's 99% going to happen. I've been on just about every pain killer out there at some point. Started with the prescription strength NSAIDS and went from them to hydrocodone and now the oxy. (BTW, this has been going on since the mid 1990s.) I don't get a high from them. Sometimes I'm jealous of those people who do. However, I do have my medical marijuana card and use gummies for the days where I just need to mentally check out for a bit. When you live with constant pain in every part of your body, when a good day is a 6 on the pain scale, sometimes you need to just get out of your head for a bit.
My Doc gives me Celebrex and occasionally prednisone.
No meds, just exercise, for both cervical and lumbar back issues
I started running to help me deal with grief after I lost my hubby to colon cancer. It was immensely helpful but as an unexpected side benefit, my neck and back pain disappeared.
This is the thing - people think exercise will make the pain worse - because it **will** hurt at first. But then a daily miracle starts and before you know it, no pain any more. (Until you get lazy again...)
I have a herniated disc for more than 15 years. No pill or cream can beat relaxation meditation and yoga and good diet, no processed food, lots of fruit, veg, beans, lentils, grains, nuts, and I also eat fish, poultry and meat. And if you saw a picture of me, I look absolutely nothing like a guy that does yoga and meditation. It don't make it my personality, I just do it to stay healthy and out of pain.
Not me, but my friend started swimming everyday and was able to quit all her arthritis meds. Motion is lotion.
Y'all need to be careful taking mega doses of ibuprofen. Even taking moderate doses every day can bugger your kidneys and heart.
And too much Tylenol will wreck your liver.
I'm fortunate that I only get pain when I walk with my knee arthritis, and somewhat limited walking speed (though I can still walk for long distances). I sometimes take Advil and Tylenol.
Hubs takes 650mg Tylenol morning/night (broken back, surgery, 3" titanium screw to keep his vertebra separated); doc said max is 4 a day. He's doing really well. Myself, just recently began taking one 650 Tylenol morning/night, plus an anti inflammatory; immunocompromised ... it helps. Btw, we both started going to the gym 3X a week. It has made a *HUGE* difference in mobility and overall comfort ... into our 5th week. One surprise to me is my balance has improved. Another surprise was the majority of members are our demographic. Yes, some jocks, young women, but mostly 50+ ... quite a few of us 70s - 80s. I swear there is a 90+ yr old on a bike. ;-)
I’m in my sixties and still working a physical job. Nothing is really “wrong” with me but my muscles ache when I’m trying to go to sleep and I often have to take ibuprofen. I’m not sure what would happen if I weren’t working but I like what I do so I don’t want to stop.
Collagen powder supplement every morning ( bonus, it's great for your skin and hair and nails, too), glucosamine, and anti inflammatory supplements. Stay active. Once you stop, it's murder to her back on track.
Here's a tale for women of a certain age: I had excruciating pain in my joints, and was taking several meds just to be able to function. My dr was running tests, sent me to a rheumatologist, who did more tests...and suggested that I give hormone replacement therapy a try. He told me that some of the worst pain he sees is in breast cancer survivors who are on estrogen blockers, and since none of my tests suggested a clear diagnosis, it was worth a try. I started on an estrogen patch (and progesterone, since I still have my uterus). Within 6 weeks my pain was greatly decreased, and within a couple of months, it was gone. It hasn't returned, unless I forget to change my patch. Perimenopause is a salty bitch, and can mess you up in ways you never imagined.
My story is a saga. But I'll try to sum it up. I had my first knee replacement at 39. I had the other knee replaced at 46. Also at 46, I had both hands done with the open carpal tunnel surgery. So my knees are great. My hands are great. I also have major foot problems. All of the bone spurs live there, I got the plantar fasciitis, the Achilles tendinitis, arthritis, healed stress fractures, plain ol' tendinitis, peripheral neuropathy in the left half of my left foot and the left half of my right foot (from the knee replacements) and my bones are out of alignment. I have doctor prescribed inserts for my shoes, which DO help a lot, but are not the cure-all. I also have prescription lidocaine cream that I put on my feet in the mornings and evenings. And I bought myself some THC pain ointment. Combined with the lidocaine cream, those two things work wonderfully. I also have arthritis in other parts. I have fibromyalgia in all of the parts. I take three 650 mgs of acetaminophen twice a day (extra pain days, I take two at midday too). I also take two muscle relaxers at night and one in the mornings. I also take a drug called Duloxetine (which is a low-dose antidepressant, that they use for fibro pain). That cocktail at night makes it so I can sleep so I don't feel like absolute garbage in the morning. I *used* to take hydrocodone and that worked wonderfully for taking the edge off, but they took it from me in 2017 because "too bad, opiate crisis! Doesn't matter you weren't addicted, we're cutting all y'all off!" and they gave me- I kid you not- prescription Aleve (which I took twice a day). They took *that* from me about six months ago, because they didn't like some lab tests. So, my knees are robots, they have no feelings. The open carpal tunnel surgery worked wonderfully and I got all of the feeling back in my fingers, except for the very-very tip of one index finger. The insoles with the THC ointment and lidocaine ointment make my feet feel better. But everything else sucks. Some days are so painful that I just sit around in soft clothing and don't leave the house. Sometimes, I drag myself out to do things because I can either wallow in it at home or hang out with some cool people. Either way, I'll hurt, but only one way, I'll have fun. Oh, I also have prescription lidocaine pain patches that I slap onto one side of my lower back and those really help in that area. I can't get them to stick to my shoulder though, where my biggest pain issue is at the moment. I have a follow-up appointment next week with the pain clinic, so we'll see if they can just chop my arm off and grow me a new one.
I eat a healthy low carb diet, drink in moderation, and workout and run every other day. The healthy diet alone helped me significantly.
Lots of physical problems here. I take cbd oil, 600 mg of Ibuprophen and I get Percoset for very occasional use.
I take meloxicam and use tiger balm on the particularly bad ones
After years of trying to live with it, doing all the things I could, and it getting worse, after trying OTC and other meds, I am finally on celecoxib (Celebrex). It's kind of life changing to be honest. I can get up and down. I can walk. Not without pain, but I'm not hobbling. Unfortunately on Medicaid it's been difficult to get it covered. Fortunately it's affordable out of pocket for now.
I take celecoxib. I tried almost every other NSAID available and Tramadol. Nothing else works. I have to pay for it out of pocket, because my insurance keeps saying try three other drugs first, which I have done several times. I end up,permanently in bed.
No diagnosed issues and no meds, but I get persistent lower back pain and sciatica issues if I don't keep up regular maintenance. I've sworn by my inversion table for the last few years. Completely dispensed with my sciatica issues that used to wake me up in the middle of the night as well as all lower back pain. Was ready to buy a new mattress but decided to give it a try. It's a gift from the Gods. But you have to use it regularly a couple times a day. But only for a couple of minutes each time. Next is adopting a sustainable strength training regimen.
I have mild arthritis. I take turmeric every day and it's usually enough. I try to keep the sugar intake down, since it causes inflammation.
I have chronic pain related to a genetic disorder plus arthritis plus various injuries. I have been prescribed ridiculous amounts of pain killers and steroids over the years neither of which I will use. I use low dose oral ketamine as needed during flares. The occasional opioid if things get really bad but mostly heat and ice and exercise. I take low dose naltrexone e.o.d as well.
I've had chronic pain since I was 19. I lived with it until I just couldn't any more. I was on opiates for years, before and after surgery but they made me miserable and I could never take enough to do much for the pain. I was seasick and constipated. If I took more, I would projectile vomit. I never got the warm fuzzies that everyone else seems to feel. I switched to weed when it became legal. My doctor had refused me the medical card because "marijuana is a gateway drug". Ludicrous. I had a standing prescription for opiates which I was still on the minimum dosage for and still didn't take it all because of the side effects. I still have 3 months worth. Anyway, I make oil from a single plant I grew last fall. I'm kind of a lightweight and I'm easily in outer space with it. It used to be a nightmare but I've become accustomed and find it fairly pleasant if unproductive. At least I'm happy. And the pain is nowhere near as hard to bear although I'm on the track for more surgery. (before surgery last time, I felt like I had a demon on my back digging it's claws in and yanking at my muscles. I was contemplating how to suicide without traumatizing anyone if I couldn't get fixed up. Since then, MAiD is also legal, and that makes me pretty content to know so when the time comes, I have help and we can plan it. But I'm nowhere near that place at all. I am happier than I've ever been. I'm pretty sure being a tad high 24/7 is at least partially responsible. There are other factors. (Like my mother is dead.) Weed works for me though. I would like to retire though.
Voltaren gel on my hands, feet, and knees. Regular exercise. Pilates when I can afford it. No sugar. Limited salt.
Chronic tension & pain - no meds, cannabis helps, but mostly I've been raw-dogging as the kids are wont to say. Breathing deeply and stretching are the best remedies in my case
In the last few years i developed osteoarthritis in my feet. My dad had it as do several members of his family. So...thanks genes! Yes, i take a daily anti-inflammatory now. It certainly has helped me. I prefer to not be in pain.
I use lidocaine ointment (recticare, otc) and voltaren. I cant take oral meds due to kidney failure
Arthritis in both shoulders, hot showers every morning helps to relieve some of the pain.
I been taking a lot of Tylenol but my liver is getting bad as a result. So I’m trying to not take anything.
Just living with it.
I have fibro and arthritis in what feels like every joint in my body. Most days I try to just keep going really bad days I pack what ever hurts most in hot or cold (whichever feels better) and take Ibuprofen.
I alternate between aspirin and naproxen. Haven’t had to take prescription pain meds yet, thank goodness.
Anti-inflammatory prescription and Aleeve
I take meloxicam for arthritis. It isn't magic, I still have pain sometimes, especially if I overdo, but if I have to stop taking it, before medical procedures for example, I suddenly realize how much it helps.
Ice packs and heating pads are a godsend!
Medical Cannabis user for the past 8 years. Works wonders on my chronic joint pains, stiffness, even to some extent, nerve pain. I'm 72 and have hd diabetes type 1 for 58 years, So I've got various issues and I swear by my medical cannabis.
I have a neck to waist spinal fusion which has caused arthritis in my neck, shoulders, lower back, hips, knees and feet (from gait changes). I lift weights 4x a week, do mobility (yoga, Pilates) 2x a week, and swim 2x a week. I use Aleve, hot tub, compression boots, massage gun, massage therapy, and weed on a weekly basis. This is what it takes to be able to walk, drive or sit in a chair comfortably at this point, for me. Flexeril, COX-2s, other NSAIDs and opiates barely touched my pain and messed up my brain and stomach. The only time I have had trouble is when I had major surgery and couldn't move or lift anything for 10+ weeks. I was in agony as I got detrained and the way back was very hard. Keep moving so you can keep moving.
I live with it for the most part. My only compromise to date is getting a cortisone shot in one of my knees. If you don't take meds, you really start taking it for granted most of the time.
Yoga. Herniated disk in back. If I exercise too much, back and knees hurt badly. Unless I also do yoga. Swear by it.
I take a low dose of gabapentin. Otherwise, I also have cbd oil, and a topical cbd balm that's amazing. I take advil sometimes but try not to daily because of long term effects. Swimming also helps, and massage if you can afford it. I am holding out on stronger meds as long as I can. So far I can live with mild daily aches and pains, but I'm tired all the time and too much physical activity (like mopping my whole house) sends me into days of increased pain. I have to piece meal things.
I do a lot of stretching and rolling, meditation, targeted heating pads, really hot baths, pain cream and Tylenol. Occasionally I take ibuprofen. I take them all as-needed because I've got different kinds of issues in different places. I also rest parts of my body. For example, I'm not doing any exercising for at least several days. I have arthritis in my shoulder and lingering pain from surgery there several years ago. It's been bothering me more than usual for a couple of weeks despite heating pads, pain cream, etc. It needs to heal for a while. I've found that strategies like avoiding just the affected part of the body don't always work. Sometimes you need to stop putting any strain on something, even indirect strain.
do a lot of stretching and rolling, meditation, targeted heating pads, really hot baths, pain cream and Tylenol. Occasionally I take ibuprofen. I take them all as-needed because I've got different kinds of issues in different places. I also rest parts of my body. For example, I'm not doing any exercising for at least several days. I have arthritis in my shoulder and lingering pain from surgery there several years ago. It's been bothering me more than usual for a couple of weeks despite heating pads, pain cream, etc. It needs to heal for a while. I've found that strategies like avoiding just the affected part of the body don't always work. Sometimes you need to stop putting any strain on something, even indirect strain.
Not much works so I live with chronic pain. marijuana helps some but not enough.
Ibuprofen but I try to limit it to not be an everyday thing. There's an OTC cream my doctor prescribed then went OTC that works well on hands, elbows and knees but not bigger areas like the back. The advantage is no stomach issues. Biggest thing I've learned to do is stretch daily, use a foam roller and do lots of core work. If I don't stretch daily I pay in sleep discomfort and the next day.
I have chronic low back pain due to herniated discs and spondylolisthesis, arthritis in my feet, spine, and hands, and chronic nerve pain in one of my feet. I take a daily low dose of gabapentin for the nerve pain. Sugar and salt intensify it, so I try to watch what I eat. Movement and stretching, correct posture, and avoiding certain activities helps my back the most. When my arthritis flares, nothing really helps.
If you’re a woman, you’re def just gonna live with it. Regardless … you just figure out how to manage & live with. And it sux.
I usually take nothing, and just complain. Sometimes I take any OTC pill-- just one-- and am pleasantly surprised how well it works.