Naproxen (Aleve) 220mg X2 daily due to aches and pains from just working my ass off all my life plus a little joint pain in my hands from Lyme disease.

Sore lower back and aching left shoulder that really hurts when I cough. I know - don’t cough. I don’t take anything. I’ve tried Aleve and ibuprofen with little relief to justify taking it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mcrimm,

How about "Relief Factor" as seen on TV

600 ibuprofen 3x's day, 500 tylenol 3x's day, lyrica 100 3x's day for 10+ years.

Funny I should happen across this post today. I just returned from the VA Hospital, 3 hours away, to get another shot in one of my many joints eaten up with arthritis. I have much more trouble dealing with bulged disc and resulting sciatic pain all the way down the legs, degenerative disc, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis which also require DMARDs. I have but one kidney left so it’s a serious affair to use anti inflammatory meds which are the most effective at reducing some of the pain for awhile. I also use Diclofenac cream which is a coin toss as to effectiveness. I consider my arthritis and extreme kidney stone troubles much less troubling than my father and brother’s conditions fighting aggressive cancers. When it gets hard to deal with, particularly on stormy days, I have but to look at their trials and my wife’s recent heart attack to be reminded it could be much worse and I have much to be thankful for everyday. That said, the pains of aging are about as plentiful and palatable as crooked politicians. I’ve found Aleve to be the most effective over the counter solution (and heat) to the aches of aging and Arthur-itis.

I am not suppose to take those types of pain relievers due to bleeding ulcers. I have always led a physical life. Grew up on a horse farm, bailing hay, martial arts & cheer leading. Fitness competitions as an adult. I broke my right arm when I was 15 & it has hurt me ever since. Never was the same. Also had carpel tunnel & trigger finger surgery on that same right arm. Pretty sure I have arthritis in both hands, have confirmed arthritis in both hips, lower spine, & base of my neck. Have a totally shredded tendon in my ankle, so yes, I have chronic, minor pain every day.

I do lots of stretching & yoga, foam rolling, etc. Wear compression sleeves on my ankle every day. My husband recently bought a medical device that uses electro stimulation. It helps but it has to be done about every 3 days to keep the pain away. About 2 weeks ago, I started using a roll-on CBD oil on my wrist, twice a day, every day. It really does seem to help. Stuff is not cheap though.

The "minor" pain is really annoying. Sometimes just pushing the button to open the microwave door or brushing my hair sends excruciating pain all through my wrist. I do a lot of tasks left-handed just to give my right wrist a break.

 
I am 74 and have deteriorating sciatica in my left leg. It mostly affects the lower part of the left leg, and I experience pain while walking, with a cane, and some muscle cramping. The leg is also weaker in general. I can walk without the cane, but with difficulty. I also quit competitive shooting, a self-imposed restriction. I do not feel comfortable moving through a course of fire with a loaded pistol, and no cane.
 
7 years ago, I tried a course of oxycodone for six months. I had the expectation that it would get rid of the pain. It did get rid of some, not all, but mostly I ended up addicted and with the associated problems of having to take stool softeners and laxatives. I finally quit that on my own, cold turkey, because it did not meet my expectations and introduced the other problems.
 
Now, 7 years later, I realize that nothing is going to get rid of all of it, so I decided, with my PCP, to try a regimen of a less addictive opiod (Tramadol), going in with expectation that I would only get some relief. I have been with that for a year now, with a pain management clinic, and I supplement the Tramadol with ibuprofen and metaxalone (a muscle relaxant, for the leg cramps). No real constipation to speak of, with only 3oz of prune juice in the morning to manage that.
 
Surgery in this case is very hazardous, because of the location of the bone spur (right at the foramen of the vertebra), with surgical entry through the abdomen. And surgery would not regain anything I've already lost, so I plan to manage this pain as I'm doing now.

quote:

Originally posted by Hamden106:
How about "Relief Factor" as seen on TV

Online searches I have made for information on this product, confirm it is pure hype. When you hear people like Glen Beck pushing it, you can pretty much figure it's a scam. I've noticed with certain products like this, it's a type of Ponzi scheme. They use the money from the first victims to fund a massive advertising campaign to lure in even more people. I learned years ago that often, there is an inverse ratio between the quality of a product and the amount of advertising. I'm old enough to remember, when ball point pens first hit the market. There was a huge marketing campaign for Paper Mate pens. They were awful, quit writing after about half a day but their advertising was everywhere.
As for how much pain medicine I consume in my late seventies, the answer is little to none, despite having the usual arthritis symptoms and a herniated lumbar disc. Despite or perhaps because of being a physician, I have rarely taken medication of any kind, except something obviously necessary, like an antibiotic. Just the other day because of Covid and the naggings of my dear wife, I got my first ever flu shot. Most of the time, I just can't be bothered to remember to take something. I'd just as soon endure the symptoms unless they are severe.

I have arthritis in my hands. I mainly feel it when it comes on to rain, or I have to put my hands in cold water.

I use Aleve (Naproxen) when it is at it's worst. Here's a tip. Try Voltaren. It is now OTC. You'll need to use it a few days, but it is a "GAME CHANGER" for pain management.

I take aspirin, daily, for “blood” purposes, so that was not included in my voting choice.

On the rare event the chronic pain I have gets so severe I’ll take another ASAID. Funny, I awoke this morning thinking maybe I should start taking something more often. Why should I remain in pain or stiffness when a Tylenol or Advil would probably do the trick.

I am considering CDB, btw.

advil, usually, and not daily, sometimes not weekly,

I did take a couple Tylenol a few minutes ago, cause it is what we have at work, and doing some door trim and baseboard work at home yesterday has my knees hurting,


I have a relatively high tolerance for pain, but still take an advil once in a while, depending on soreness from the days activity,

19 yrs cutting meat, 40 yrs retail on concrete have my feet, knees, and hands hurting every now and then

I have a lot of aches and pains but so far they are manageable without even over the counter med's.
Chronic use of anything comes with side effects and risks, even if small and i don't want to add to my potential future problems until I have no other choices.
Most of my adult life has involved doing things that put extra stress on my bones and joints but it has also helped with weight management and made me more active, helping with cardio health.

quote:

Do you use OTC painkillers to manage and reduce chronic, but minor pain? If so, how often?

I have no severe medical conditions that require prescription pain killers. For "minor" pain that you describe, no need for any OTC pain meds. But, if I tweak a muscle here or sprain a joint there that's more than just minor pain, OTC ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) is good enough. My 99 y/o father, who is still very active with his daily gardening, takes a couple of Tylenols twice a day for his minor ache/pain.

I'm not exactly an "older people" (not even 40 yet), but I do have constant minor-to-moderate pain from arthritis in my right knee, since I have ~15% of the cartilage cushioning left after a lifetime of excessively pounding on it, combined with a series of knee injuries and surgeries.

I generally only take OTC meds at night when the pain gets too bad to get to sleep, which is usually only after being on my feet all day long, or after doing something very strenuous (hiking for miles, etc.), or sometimes when the weather's making a drastic change (aka "old man knee").

That's typically a few times a month, so I voted "Occasionally". The rest of the time I just suck it up and deal with it.

I'll be needing a replacement knee at some point in the not-too-distant future. My doctor initially estimated back in 2009 that I'd likely need a knee replacement within ~10 years, but so far that hasn't been the case, and it's still a ways off. I'm hoping to hold off as long as possible, as knee repair/replacement technology is constantly evolving. The new technology involving replacing/regrowing cartilage rather than installing a whole new bionic knee is especially promising.

I've held off on stuff like cortizone shots as well, as my doctor said that once I start down that path it'll provide some short-term relief at the cost of accelerating the downward slide towards a required replacement.

I am seventy-four with arthritis in all of my joints. The orthopedic surgeon wants to replace my knees and then my hips. My joints are pretty much bone on bone. I am resisting surgery as long as possible.

I also have peripheral neuropathy with nerve pain in my hands and feet. I take one 81 mg aspirin a day for my heart. I live with the pain.

Ibuprofen was my go to pain relief for decades. Really worked for me, as in miracle drug. Unfortunately they don't coexist with blood thinners so no more for me. I take Acetaminophen now but it does not work nearly as well as Advil but it's all I got now.

I found Advil works directly on the inflammation causing the pain while Tylenol works in your brain to dull the pain.

I'm too stupid to think about taking drugs to relieve any minor pain other than an upset stomach in which case, my go to is alka seltzer.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
my go to is alka seltzer.

I use those every now and then,

great hangover cure too

My 99 y/o father, who is still very active with his daily gardening, takes a couple of Tylenols twice a day for his minor ache/pain.[/quote]

Good for him, we should all be that lucky or fortunate depending on how you look at it.

Take two(2) Aleve pills twice a day. For years I was able to take them only as needed, but those days are long gone. They keep me moving and doing, and I can't ask for more than that. The pain is never going to go away until I Do!!