Pain Meds

[martha]

Husband (T3 complete) is having a lot of (muscular?) pain in shoulders as well as increased arthritis pain in hands, shoulders and other joints. He takes naprosyn which doesn't seem to be effective for the arthritis. Also discovered he is taking up to 24 ibuprofen/day as well as several vidodin/day. He also takes neurotin (400 mg x 4hrs) for neuropathic pain. Is there something better to try for the arthritis and muscle pain above injury level or a better combination than all this ibuprofen and vicodin?
thanks,

martha

[marmalady]

Hi, Martha,

24 ibuprofen a day is waaaay too many! I have arthritis (the 'arthuritis' as my Southern relatives call it!) in my thumb joints, and am and have tried lots of stuff; ketoprofen, Vioxx, Orudis; none of which worked very well; I'm now taking glucosamine and chondroitin (search for other threads re this), along with MSM, hopefully to do some good in the joints and Alleve (over the counter), which is the only pain med that seems to help me. I also tried capsicum cream that really did help; the only problem was that it was on my hands, and one time I rubbed my eye, and it was all over! Capsicum is made from the oils in cayenne pepper. Have him check with his doc for suggestions, too.

Do you know how addictive Vicodin is?!!!!