Arthritis

9 watchers

Debbs Jan 2021 11:19am, 13 Jan 2021 3 posts	0 Debbs Have run to a reasonable if slow standard between ages 45 and 55 - completed a slow marathon aged 50 - stopped running aged 57 due to knee pain which turned out to arthritis - have spent the last 2 and half years devising an exercise plan to maintain mobility - walking 5 miles daily but as soon as I introduce some walk/run sets I struggle to keep the pain away - cannot take pain killers as they disagree with me - have lost 6 stone and am still slowly losing weight (planned) Any ideas pleas
Northern Exile Jan 2021 11:21am, 13 Jan 2021 7,250 posts	0 Northern Exile What sort of arthritis are you suffering from Debbs? Assume it's osteoarthritis?
minardi Jan 2021 12:04pm, 13 Jan 2021 6,278 posts	0 minardi I get OA in my hips in the cold weather - do you have pain all year round Debbs? Is it worth experimenting with different pain killers to find one that suits? Cocodamol makes me nauseous and there's another one that makes me constipated (the name slips my mind just now) so it's all just trial and error for me.
Northern Exile Jan 2021 12:48pm, 13 Jan 2021 7,253 posts	0 Northern Exile Co-codamol definitely has a reputation for causing constipation, especially in stronger doses Debbs, if it is OA you're suffering from then of course it's degenerative and there is no magic bullet. I second minardi's advice, you need to find some form of pain relief that you can stomach - I assume it is a stomach issue that stops you from taking it? If it's NSAIDs that you're struggling with, then I assume you've done all the usual things like taking them with food, using a PPI etc?
swittle Jan 2021 3:47pm, 13 Jan 2021 72,036 posts	0 swittle NHS physiotherapy over 8 months [about once a month] got me running again: no manipulation, just a series of exercises, one or two added at every appointment. Was advised to cut walking back from 5 to 2 miles daily. How accessible similar services are now I do not know.
Little Miss Happy Jan 2021 4:57pm, 14 Jan 2021 4,168 posts	0 Little Miss Happy Have you tried a topical NSAID?
Northern Exile Jan 2021 5:10pm, 14 Jan 2021 7,266 posts	0 Northern Exile Good point LMH. You can get Voltarol with 2.3% diclofenac nowadays (i.e. double strength), whenever I have a flare-up it works wonders.
jennywren Jan 2021 5:10pm, 14 Jan 2021 16,235 posts	0 jennywren I have OA (and a replacement hip) and used to rely on a prescription NSAID called meloxicam. I tolerated it really well for ages but then developed tinnitus which is a recognised side effect. Now take paracetamol occasionally and prescription strength ibuprofen gel for my arthritic knee. It’s tricky getting the balance right.
Northern Exile Jan 2021 5:14pm, 14 Jan 2021 7,267 posts	0 Northern Exile Concur. I was reliant on naproxen for some time, but apart from IA I also suffer from digestive tract issues (HH, Barretts, LPR) and that means I have to be careful - I've had one bout of gastritis/oesophagitis and that was enough. I control my IA largely through diet nowadays and like you use paracetamol and ibuprofen when the situation demands. I still have codeine on standby though!
Northern Exile Jan 2021 5:15pm, 14 Jan 2021 7,268 posts	0 Northern Exile p.s. I've also used celecoxib (another COX-3 inhibitor) and that works, but the jury is out on side effects and like my codeine stash it's on standby