Pain relief

[Glenn MacGrady]

When I get my sinus headaches I reach for 3 ibuprofen. Here is a copy and paste from a google search:

"Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS rarely affect the liver. Unlike acetaminophen (Tylenol) most NSAIDs are absorbed completely and have negligible first-pass hepatic (liver) metabolism. In other words, the way NSAIDS are metabolized makes liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity) very rare."

Thanks. This quote motivated me to re-research why I had recalled long term medical risks from NSAID's like ibuprofen and naproxen that were greater than the risks from acetaminophen, especially for older folks. It isn't damage to the liver, but damage to other important organs such as the stomach, kidneys, heart and brain.

HERE is a peer reviewed research paper from the National Institutes of Health website, which summarizes its conclusions as follows:

"Studies of older adults show that chronic NSAID use increases the risk of peptic ulcer disease, acute renal failure, and stroke/myocardial infarction. Moreover, chronic NSAID use can exacerbate a number of chronic diseases including heart failure and hypertension, and can interact with a number of drugs (eg, warfarin, corticosteroids). Preferred analgesics in older adults that may have a lower risk of these adverse drug reactions include acetaminophen, a nonacetylated salicylate (eg, salsalate), a short half-life NSAID (eg, ibuprofen), or low-dose opioid/opioid-like agents in combination with acetaminophen (in appropriate patients)."

 

[yellowcanoe]

It sucks to realize in your family's baseball team you are on deck
Not at bat quite yet

 

[Iskweo]

Sighhhh. My knee is sore tonight too Brad. I thought maybe if I could get the wife to.....karin is not buying into it. There is obviously an element to this that is eluding me. Good idea though.

Christy

 

[yellowcanoe]

I'm on the up. Knee is training. It's bionic. I spent 30 minutes kneeling. God I am so glad to be free of pain meds
For 8 months post tkr kneeling was not possible and my surgeon said " you won't like it"
Today I can say I like it
The trouble with arthritis pain it can't help but get worse

 

[lowangle al]

I took three advils after reading this thread yesterday. I didn't know I was in pain from a ruff day at work until I got up from the computer. I got relief and was glad I didn't suffer needlessly. I also took a tylenol PM before bed. They are a good thing to have on a trip especially if you have a hard time sleeping.

 

[redoleary]

I'll usually pop a couple of ibuprofen if I need it, but that's usually for a headache if anything. I've had some pretty bad tennis elbow in the past and I used DMSO topically on it and I'm convinced that's what cured it. I get my DMSO from the tractor supply place in the horse aisle for a fraction of the cost that I can get it anywhere else.

 

[lowangle al]

I get my DMSO from the tractor supply place in the horse aisle for a fraction of the cost that I can get it anywhere else.

Do they sell horse tranquilizers there? I hear they're fantastic.

 

[yknpdlr]

Though I am always reluctant to take anything, on the third day on the Yukon 1000 canoe race I was broken enough to haul out the 800mg Vitamin I. Couple of times a day until the finish, it worked well for me.

 

[sweeper]

As a rule I don't get headaches, I've been known in the past as the 'Angle of Migraines', Tis better to give then receive. One morning I started to ask my Postmaster a question, she interrupted me with, 'Not now Kevin I have a splitting headache'.

"In that case" I relied, "my work is done here, can I go home?"

!

I have lots of aches and pains that I've learned to live with, and the few times when I thought I needed help the acetaminophen was empty. Most of the time that I have taken a pain reliever it done around 2 AM and even after a redose I still can't sleep.

 

[wgiles]

One Naproxen Sodium in the morning mainly for hip pain. It seems to make some difference, but not much. It's what my doctor recommends. I've taken Ibuprofen, but can't say that either makes much difference, I'm certainly not pain free. For me, balancing activity and rest seems to do the most good. I do volunteer work on Tuesdays. Mostly up and down and a lot of standing. On Wednesday, my hips almost always hurt more than usual.

 

[redoleary]

Do they sell horse tranquilizers there? I hear they're fantastic.

I'm going to look into that.

 

[frozentripper]

A pain reliever that's found growing in the north is wintergreen... a tea will work like aspirin, although wintergreen tea does not feel exactly like aspirin. Birch (or willow?) twigs might have the same effect since they also contain salicylin IIRC. I haven't tried the more potent fermented tea yet.

Due to this property, the wintergreen plant was used by many civilizations in much the same way as we do aspirin today. Most often the chemical would be derived in a tea, which would soothe sore muscles, calm a headache, and relieve general pain. For a more potent supply the tea would be left steeping for several days until it started to ferment. This fermented liquid was the preferred method for use as a medicine.

http://blog.emergencyoutdoors.com/ed...ia-procumbens/

Glad to hear your knee's all right after the surgery, Kim, and kneeling while canoeing is good to go... my hip replacement also turned out great, operating better than the other natural one which has some arthritis from time to time. Now all I need is a brain replacement to get rid those headaches which start up after working too hard, which includes paddling long hours.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I have a lot of wintergreen in my yard. But all I want is pain relief when I want it.. And it's usually right now! OK lazy You can chew it too. How much, I don't know

 

[dogbrain]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned simple basic stretching and core strength exercises for back, hip, knee pain. I find that when I'm on a regular schedule, most of my long term aches and pains go away. It's really worth considering getting into a routine and I think you'll find you're reaching for that bottle of vitamin I less often. That being said, I'm glad I had a full bottle on my Quetico trip last year. I cracked a tooth and spent the last 8 days of my trip trying to knock back the pain. It was barely enough, but I did make it back home to the dentist for a badly needed emergency root canal.

 

[arm2008]

Foam rolling, stretching, PT exercises manage most of my pains. Tumeric extract with piperin seems to be making a difference with the inflammation that causes most of my pain. Ibuprofen for break-through pain, and it seems more effective when I take it infrequently. Thankfully (?) most of my pain started in my teens, 20s, and 30s so I can't relate to people who complain about getting old and all the sudden hurting - the pain is just business as usual. In fact, after some good PT I'm actually doing things now that I couldn't do in my teens!

 

[yellowcanoe]

Stretching helps but when you have arthritis and are over seventy its effects of erosion of bone and cartilage aren't helped a whole lot by stretching. And we do have to keep moving as arthritis otherwise will put you in a wheelchair.. It almost did me.. Now I just have the discomfort of artificial joints.. The pain never goes away entirely

 

[dougd]

I've done the stretching numerous, trips to PT and the chiropractor and pills including flexril and stuff like that for my back. Arthritis, degenerative disk diease. Just had an epidural shot in L4 and 5 for the constant pain, daily. Hoping that will help. Doing the St. John recently was not a lot of fun on my back and ended up kneeling a lot, sitting was not a good thing. Which reminds me I need to put knee pads in the bottom of my boats.

 

[sweeper]

I've been helping a local farmer with his haying for the past 3 days ( for the 1st time in 45 years), first night of course no meds in the house, second night I did get some Tylenol, 400mg was enough, thinking about going without tonight.
This is what I needed just before a week on the Allagash, a good work out, I just wish we didn't have almost record heat on Monday.

Second cutting should be right before my Algonquin trip!