The past few years have been tough on people who rely on painkillers to fight arthritis pain, leaving many to explore alternative pain relief therapies. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) got a bad name in 2004 when Vioxx and Bextra were pulled off the market: Studies had revealed they increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Although Celebrex and other NSAIDS like ibuprofen and naproxen are still available, they carry some risks of heart disease and of gastrointestinal bleeding. And opioid drugs like morphine haven’t fared much better.
Both doctors and patients are skittish about their risks for dependence and unsettling side effects, such as depression, constipation, nausea, drowsiness and breathing problems.
Still, worry doesn’t quell pain. And pain abounds. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 76.2 million, or 26 percent of Americans, suffer chronic pain – and more than half of those suffer from arthritis. The question that plagues many of us is this: Can’t something be done for pain besides pills?
The answer, fortunately, is yes. No one’s saying that pills don’t have their place in managing your pain. But pain physicians are now leaning toward pills’ measured use in combination with an array of alternative therapies for arthritis pain relief – from electrical stimulation to meditation, from pain pumps to shoes.
Below, experts advise Arthritis Today about innovative therapies that may offer relief.
1. Topical medications
WHAT THEY ARE: Gels, creams and patches that are applied to the skin supply sodium channel blockers, such as lidocaine or prilocaine. Prescription NSAIDs that come in drops, gels, sprays or patches are also becoming popular.
HOW THEY WORK: Sodium channel blockers work by numbing nerve endings close to the skin. Topical NSAIDs work by reaching the joint fluid and decreasing inflammatory proteins like prostaglandins, says David N. Maine, MD, director of the Center for Interventional Pain Medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. “They have a direct anti-inflammatory effect.”
PAIN THEY WORK WELL FOR: Sodium channel blockers work best for nerve disorders like diabetic neuropathy or neuropathic pain. Topical NSAIDs help relieve the pain and inflammation common in arthritis.
RISKS: Although studies don’t yet bear this out, physicians believe topicals may pose fewer cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks than oral NSAIDs because the topicals are absorbed locally rather than throughout the body. Says Dr. Maine: “GI side effects are rare compared to oral nonsteroidals.” About 10 to 15 percent of patients have some reaction, usually skin related, including rashes, irritation or itching.
B/c of medication problems and multiple infections, I spent 11 months in the hosp and then 2 years in a nursing home learning to walk again. I lost ability to walk b/c I was in a state where I interacted with people appropriately but I didn't realize what I was doing. I ended up having multiple joint contractures and being unable to move my legs and arms. I was told I may not walk again in fact. But PT helped immensely. During the time I couldn't walk, my lower back wasn't too painful. But as I walk more now, it's beginning to bother me as I am on my feet more. So it's getting time to think of having the procedure done again. Many people find it very painful. Others find it somewhat painful. For me, the pain isn't bad and it's short term and will relieve the daily pain. So I don't care if it hurt horribly, it'd be worth the day to day relief of my pain.
hips, and hands.
I use a cream called INFLAMYAR for a couple
of years. I have been getting this product from a couple of different companies over the internet. I use it on the top of my foot, and have now started using it as a hand cream. Works very well. I also get injections in the top of my foot. Have had two over the last couple of years and plan on getting another one this week. Hope this one works as well as the other two.
Some days can be such a challange even to do the simplest of things. Like tying shoe laces
To know that I am not alone comforts me.
I'm curious if anyone has tried this approach instead of drugs and what the results are.
pain pas eight years ,
Tired of being in pain
EMAIL ME INFO ON HOW TO OBTAIN THE PRODUCTS.....
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS MATTER.
SARA COPLEY
304-648-7392
Cream for the Pain ?...
FM for at least a year
Husband been pushing me in wheel chair for over a yr. He's70
Can't bead, cross stich due to crippled fingers.
Get so so depressed.RA is not fun.!
Currently on double dose Acterma. This is my 5th RA med (infusion) and it only moderately helps.
Can't wait for warmmer weather. These Ohio winters are tough on us old RA bones
Vioxx and Bextra before. Only recently heard
about heart issues. Have very bad arthritis in my feet, so seems like these topical
creams would work. Is there only the one?
(Voltaren)? Would love to get off the pills
altogether. Celebrex, Advil and Ultram, as
they upset my stomach. It would be great to have no pain or nausea .
I use these in addition to pain pills.
Long story short, I'm a mess. I have a lot of pain throughout my body. I'm a 65 year female. I had a cervical spinal fusion 9/09 with a lot of complications from the surgery. I ended up in a coma for a week and caught spinal meningitis. What was suppose to be a 2 hour surgery, 3 day hospital stay turned into 8 hours in surgery, 3 weeks in the hospital. I was on a ventilator for 24 hours, in ICU for 1 week. Three weeks in the hospital and 6 weeks of home health care with a pic line for antibiotics.
I have arthritis in my hands and throughout my body. Some days I wake up and my right hand looks like a baseball catcher's mitt. I also have bursitis on my right thigh, fibro, degenerative disk disease in my spine and herniated disks in lower spine.
I love the Voltarin Gel. It really works for me. It IS an RX. My doctor prescribed it for me because I can't tolerate any of the oral NSAID's.
I take MObic/Meloxicam at night. I had a PKR in my right knee in Sept. 08 and will be having a revision to a TKR shortly as there is now arthritis elsewhere in the knee (the unreplaced parts). I had a TKR in my left knee April 2010, which makes my knee feel better. However I have lingering scar tissue issues with it next to the implant, not in the knee, which causes a lot of pain. I don't take anything during the day, but when I go to bed, I do take one prescription painkiller. Between the lingering scar tissue stuff and the PKR knee needing revision, I would never get to sleep without it. It doesn't make me sleepy, it just relieves the pain which is what I need.
It is a doctor-prescribed compounded medication and we get ours at a compounding pharmacy. Insurance covers some of it. Initially we paid out of pocket but now insurance companies recognize the effectiveness of these locally applied medications.
So the compounding feature may be a drawback if you don't have a local compounding source. But ask your MD if there are other creams or gels that he would recommend. They exist.
Hubby also applies it to his lower back pain. Says it helps.
Without this med. I can barely use my hands - I'm back shoveling, gardening, etc.. Still need to protect my hands ....
Best wishes for feeling better.
ALL IWANT TO DO IS TAKE CARE OF MY GARDEN, YARD AND MY HOME AND PLAY A LITTLE GOLF. HOWEVER IF THE PAIN AND THE SWELLING DOESN'T GET ME THE FATIGUE WILL! AND THAT IS HOW EVERY DAY GOES! TOLD NOT TO GOLF FOR IT MIGHT DO PERMANET DAMAGE TO MY JOINTS! ANYBODY OUT THERE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?
I would still like to see NSAID's available in a patch form here - they work the best.
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