Can’t take NSAIDs for pain

Pappy

Pappy

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Moved back to NY from Florida. 🤓 2025
Because I’m on a blood thinner. I have a very bad case of arthritis in my back and some days the pain is near a 10. I take Tylenol fairly regular, but it only takes the edge off. Anyone else out there with a similar condition or any suggestions?
 

I was going to suggest Turmeric, but when I just looked it up to be sure it was safe, I found that it shouldn't be taken with blood thinning medications. Only other thing I can think of is Therma Care Heat Wraps, they last all day and are pretty effective for back pain. Can also be used in other areas if needed. We buy them when they're on sale at Costco, but they are pricey, not cheap...simple heat therapy.

thermacare-heatwraps-lower-back-hip.jpg
 
Pappy, I assume you have spoken to your doctor about this? My friend takes Tramadol (Rx) when hers gets unbearable. She said her doc said it was less problematic than opioids.
 

I can't take anything for pain either because I have a duodenal ulcer. When my knees act up I use a heating pad that also has an insert that can be moistened for wet heat. I also use it dry or I ice my knees . Whatever feels good and keeps me moving. Important that whatever method you choose only use 20 minutes on,20 minutes off.
 
Paba, (Para -aminobenzoic acid has blood thinning and anti inflammatory effects.) I use it for arthritis I had in one finger joint. It healed it quickly and I've taken it even since. That was almost 4 years ago.

You can ask your doctor if it's okay for you to take with your blood thinning medication or if you might need to adjust dosages. Paba is natural and can be purchased online or in health food stores.

Good luck.
 
Maybe take a look at tart cherry juice, or tart cherry extract capsules. When I retired I had a lot of day to day pain in my lower back and wasn't sleeping very well. I read an article in a AARP magazine about Tart Cherry Juice, gave it a try, and I'm doing much better now. Was it the tart cherry that helped? I don't know but I am much improved and glad I gave it a shot. I believe you can take it with a blood thinning medication but as chic says it's best to ask your doctor first before doing anything.

Here's a link with some info or just google tart cherry juice and you'll find lots more.

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2013/6/anti-inflammatory-properties-of-tart-cherry/page-01

Hope it helps.. :encouragement:
 
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I've used Dr. Jarvis' folk medicine remedy for years, and I have no arthritis pain. Every day, mix two teaspoons of ACV and two teaspoons honey in an 8-ounce glass of water (I use an organic not from concentrate unfiltered apple juice instead of the water).

I agree about cherry juice above.

I used to have problems with my knees and when I began using fish oil capsules, the condition improved.

Some of these might not work well with your blood thinner, so do your research.

You also might want to watch what you're eating. Some foods are inflammatory and will make arthritis flare up. Keep track of what you're eating and note what you've eaten when you have pain.
 
Butterfly said:
Pappy, I assume you have spoken to your doctor about this? My friend takes Tramadol (Rx) when hers gets unbearable. She said her doc said it was less problematic than opioids.
Click to expand...


Tramadol [is] an opioid.

From drugs.com.......

"Even though tramadol is an opioid (morphine-like) medication, it is not considered a narcotic or a controlled substance by the United States Drug Enforcement ..."
 
Pappy said:
Because I’m on a blood thinner. I have a very bad case of arthritis in my back and some days the pain is near a 10. I take Tylenol fairly regular, but it only takes the edge off. Anyone else out there with a similar condition or any suggestions?
Click to expand...

What 'thinner' are you taking? I take aspirin and use Indomethacin for pain. Perhaps ask you doc about that?

That said...even Indo, though....doesn't do the job when Arth, is at it's worse. And yes I do believe the weather has an effect.

For short term, and on smaller locations , knees, elbows, etc. Bio-Freeze seems to help. It is topical, so at least it's not another 'drug' [in] my stomach.

Best of luck, I feel your pain.....literally !
 
Pappy said:
Because I’m on a blood thinner. I have a very bad case of arthritis in my back and some days the pain is near a 10. I take Tylenol fairly regular, but it only takes the edge off. Anyone else out there with a similar condition or any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Not sure if you've been diagnosed with either O/A or R/A, but I will give a little info into my dealings with R/A.

I've had R/A for over 20 years now, I've been through the gamut of R/A meds. There are plenty of other R/A meds that are not NSAID's. When NSAID's no longer did the job for me and began to bother my stomach, my Rheumatologist put me on Plaquenil for a couple years. After that ran it's course I was changed to Methotrexate. The Methotrexate didn't agree with my liver so my Rheumatologist changed me to Sulfasalazine (which didn't work at all for me), and then Leflunomide (which worked pretty well for about 3 years). I am now in the process of changing from Leflunomide to Xeljanz XR. All of these meds run their course in your system after a while, it depends on how aggressive your R/A is. If you haven't seen a Rheumatologist that would be your best bet. I also have a running prescription for pain meds from Primary Care Physician which helps out a lot on bad pain days or days when I overdo it.

Good Luck!
 
I have O/A and it is getting worse as time goes on. I really appreciate all the suggestions. Thank you. I have an appointment with my VA doctor soon, and will address some of these ideas with him. My doctor is allow one half hour with each patient, so have plenty of time to discuss this.

My non vet doctor prescribed Meloxican. I don’t know what the heck he was thinking. :mad:
 
I agree with everything Smiling Jane says, Pappy. Vinegar, even though it is acidic, will actually help alkalize the body, thus helping to prevent pain and inflammation.
I also take blood thinners, and I use turmeric in my green smoothies sometimes, and it has never bothered me before. Bromelain is also a natural anti-inflammatory and pain reliever, and you can get it naturally in raw pineapple or you can buy bromelain tablets.
I try to stick to anti-inflammatory foods as much as possible, but my doctor said that if I do need a pain medication, that Alleve (or one of its generic equivalents) is the best one to use with my heart conditions and meds.
I also use DMSO for knee pain, and have used it on my back and hips as well. Combining it with BenGay, or something similar, really seems to help with deep muscle pain.
 
I take a 50mg Tramadol about every-other day, summertime I can go longer. My VA doctor also has me on ibuprofen 800mg, which I take about daily. Generally only need 1 of the ibuprofen 800. Also use Topricin Arthritis Cream from CVS or Walgreens. Now, as suggested by a member, I take a 3mg Boron daily, but will be increasing that to 6mg shortly.

Actually, my pain isn't serious. More of a "nagging/achy" type pain in areas I've had surgeries in (hip replacement and rotator cuff surgery in both shoulders).

I read online that, for some Seniors, higher elevations and lower humidity is best for any kind of arthritis sufferer. So, our plans are to leave Florida and move back to either northern Colorado or into Cheyenne, Wyoming. By the time of that move, we will both be retired and not have to face snow/ice so much as an employed person would. For 5 1/2 years, I worked for a Senior Healthcare Company in Denver, Colorado and was pretty surprised at how many Seniors live in the Denver metro area.
 
Pappy, same here. I took my orthopedic's advice and I take two Tylenol and two Aleve at the same time when the pain gets up that far on the scale. I would have thought that I would have had stomach pain or nausea doing that, but no problems have ever shown up. After all, you can get Percocet or Vicodin with Tylenol, as well. By taking the four (4) pills at the same time, it really does help. My pain level may go from a 10 down to a 3 or 4. Doctors around here have finally wised up and will not give Rx's for narcotics, unless the patient has some really bad long term chronic pain, like cancer or some serious pain with a broken back, like my friend just suffered three weeks ago taking his Christmas lights down. His Neurologist gave him a script for twelve (12) Percocets to be taken only at bedtime. He asked what should he take when he is awake and has this pain he is suffering from. The doc told him to take a non-narcotic, non-steroid called Tramadol, which also requires a Rx. He tells me that it doesn't help much.
 
There is an NSAID ointment, I believe it's called Voltaren.It is a prescription.
My daughter sustained a really bad back injury when she was a medical and she was pretty much living on ibuprofen, to the point where she wound up with colitis. ..
It doesn't work as well as the pills but it does help.
 
I use a back rub for chronic back pain, either Capacin or liniment. I have given up hope of it ever getting better.
 
Giantsfan1954 said:
There is an NSAID ointment, I believe it's called Voltaren.It is a prescription.
My daughter sustained a really bad back injury when she was a medical and she was pretty much living on ibuprofen, to the point where she wound up with colitis. ..
It doesn't work as well as the pills but it does help.
Click to expand...

I used that on my elbow when I had Epicondilitis (Tennis Elbow). On me, I did not get any relief. I was glad that my insurance paid for it. I really don't like paying for medicine that does not help.
 

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