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What to take for the pain

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Posted 12/7/2009 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
I had surgery on my neck in 2002, well as the years went on I develop pain and acheing on the left side of my neck and down my left arm, I had surgery on the right side. I went to the doctor she had test done she said I have a case of mild arthritis!! Well let me tell U this it doesn't seem like a mild case I have the heating pad out every day I have went through 2 of them, and I need to go back to see the doctor but at this point I cant afford the co-pay. I have tried everything over the counter and nothing seems to help, the one thing that does help for about 5 minutes is standing in shower and letting the hot water run down my neck and arm. When I move my neck in a circler motion I can hear the bones cracking and I don't think thats normal.

If anyone have any ideal's about what to take over the counter could u please give me some advice on what to take, I don't want to take any pill that my doctor gives me because u can get addicted to it, but at this point I cant take anymore.sad

            confused depression, anxiety, non-epelectic sezuries, arhtritis

 This is my first time on this site im ususally on the depression site, but it started getting so bad I said to my self let me check out one of the arthritis sites HELP!!

Posted 12/7/2009 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
I use Aleve which is the same as Naproxen but at a lower dose then the Rx Naproxen.

I was on narcotic pain meds for awhile but they were not practical and I was beginning to need more so I was weaned off and now use OTC Aleve but twice a day per my MD's instruction.  I also use heating pad but my osteo is in my low back and my hip area.

Good luck,

Kitt

Posted 12/7/2009 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
OTC Aleve,

I tried Aleve before, but I'm going to try it again OTC Aleve, thank you very much Kitt for the quick reply!!
Posted 12/7/2009 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
You are very welcome and do stick with us.
Posted 12/7/2009 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
My husband has OA in his knees and the doc told him that he can take up to 8 Advil a day (with food) because he didn't want a prescription pain killer either. It doesn't take the pain away completely for him but it makes it managable. His OA is pretty severe though with lots of fluid build up and bone spurs - he's looking at surgery for sure in his future.

I have OA as well but I can't take Nsaids so I use Tylonel arthritis. This seems to work fairly well for me. Some days are worse then others and sometimes the TA doesn't seem to work as much but for the most part, it takes the edge off.
Posted 12/7/2009 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
Moist heat works better than a heating pad. You can make one by using a tube type sock filled with rice and knotted closed. Warm this in the microwave (not too hot). You can also make these out of a dish towel sewed up the sides, filled with rice, then sewn shut.

Just be careful with over the counter nsaids or tylenol. Nsaids & aspirin based meds can be very hard on the stomach when taken long term. Tylenol is hard on the kidneys & liver.

Take care and hope this helps.
Posted 12/8/2009 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
I take Naproxyn routinely, and when I'm having a bad pain day, I take Tylenol arthriis with it. If heat helps, the ThermaCare wraps are really good. The heat lasts about 8 hours, and can really soothe - plus, since they are self-adhesive, you can put them on and go about your regular activities.
Posted 12/8/2009 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Do you feel that this is arthritis pain or do you think its more of a nerve pain? The reason I ask is because I have had two discs fused in my neck and the pain before the surgery was excrutiating. Not even time relief Morphine helped. The reason I ask is I am wondering if you have another disc that has been injured. Especially when you talk of the pain down your arm. I would take the Aleve for now, but if you can you really should get a MRI, xrays don't show nerve compression. Good luck!
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