My go-to is Naproxen (Aleve)

Nothing else seems to work for me like Aleve does

Advil.

Neither Aleve or Tylenol seems to help me at all.

Not condoning, just relaying the info... But according to a friend who suffers with migraines...

Two Goodys Powders and a beer will cure any headache ever made...

I rarely take "meds," per se. Only when I've injured myself or badly overdone it. For the day-to-day joint and muscle pain and stiffness that's just part of growing old I've found Turmeric, CBD oil, and regular exercise mostly does the trick.

quote:

Originally posted by kramden:
I'm speaking of the inevitable joint pains. Knees etc. What OTC meds seem to help the best?

I've had to move to certified THC-free CBD oil.

I was taking so much ibu it was getting ridiculous.

I chew a 10mg CBD gummie when I get off shift. If I'm still uncomfortable after dinner I'll take 800mg of ibu before bed.

ETA: I've got the beginnings of arthritis in one knee and hip, and degeneration in my upper back... and a spine fusion L4-S1.

Just like grapefruit, NSAIDs like Advil are verbotten given the other meds I'm on. Aspirin and tylenol are the only "safe" ones for me.

Folks need to ensure that there are no contraindications for OTC meds they might be considering.

Aleve/Naproxene for the arthritis in my hand; tylenol for headaches.

I have an aversion to pills and medications. Unless I am in so much pain I can't sleep or function, I usually just tolerate it.

Fortunately, at 68 I'm in pretty good shape. I've been a runner for decades, so any issues I have are usually running related, and I know exercises to address them.

At my age (82) I take 2 handfuls of meds every day, but none of them are for pain. I am blessed not to have pains. I've never had a headache. I keep some Tylenol on hand to break a fever (not very often).

flashguy

Excedrin for Migraine headaches if caught early enough and Aleve for bulged disc with accompanying sciatic nerve pain and cramps, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc, and osteoarthritis. It’s bad enough that I also use a prescription pain reliever which I also use for kidney stones coming from my one remaining kidney.

I'm 65 and I never take any of those - haven't in probably 40 years.
I just never felt like they did very much.

Aleve is pretty much a daily thing these days to keep me going in the right direction.

Thanks for all of the replies.

For the last several years all I have used is White Willow Bark. It doesn't have a bunch of chemicals in it like the modern day stuff. Willow bark was the basic Aspirin was in the early days.

For all-over type muscle pain (I have fibromyalgia), I take kratom herb (a member on this forum turned me on to it). It took over the role from Oxycodone, and actually seems to work better. I dose every 2-4 hours or so (my monthly habit is around $3-400).

For more localized pain like joints, or headaches, good ol' ibuprofen does the job. Fairly large doses, though.

Why not address the root cause? Granted, harder than popping pills long term.

Had 2 different doctors (VA and a PCP) doctors take me off of ADVIL due to possible kidney/liver problems. ......................drill sgt.

I Have taken half the recommended daily dosage of glucosamine chondroitin every day for the last 3-4 years.
I’m 67 and since I started taking that OTC med I really have no aches or pains. Just started playing tennis again after laying off for 2 years. Expected to hurt a lot when I started back but that never happened.

MSM for general inflammation related aches and pain. Ice and Advil for more acute pain.