Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: dealing with joint pain?

My aunt had arthritis and couldn't take any of the NSAIDs or aspirin - her stomach couldn't handle it - and didn't do well on the more powerful prescription pain meds - they made her nuts. Her doctor put her on Tylenol. She took 8 extra strength Tylenol every day on a regular schedule, not just when she felt bad. As Michele says, that helps keep the pain under control - if you let it get bad it's harder to beat back. You should check with your doctor about this - Tylenol can impact the liver but other than that it's pretty benign. I recently found Tylenol Arthritis, which has a time-release thing that makes it good for 8 hours at a pop - great for right before bed. I'm not saying Tylenol is going to do as good a job on the pain as a narcotic type pain reliever but it can beat it back some.

Also, consider aspirin. It's gotten a bad rap because it can be tough on the stomach but it really is a wonder drug and there are buffered forms of it. Again something to check with your doctor. Perhaps alternating aspirin and Tylenol would help.

There are supplements like glucosamine (I think it is). I though they were all hooey but a doctor of Joe's suggested he take it for his knee so you might talk to your doctor about that. You could also try the ThermaCare wraps for your knees and the one for your back might help your hips.

Also - and this is a big ticket item - consider a waterbed. Not the kind that's one big ballon but the kind that looks like a regular mattress and is filled with multiple water chambers. A friend of mine has one in her guest room and I love to visit her because I know that after sleeping on that bed all the things that usually ache first thing in the morning won't (and at my age that's pretty unusual). I can't remember the type of bed it is but if you're interested, I'll ask her. When I move to a house where the floors can take the weight, that's the first thing on my shopping list.

I hope this helps. I'm sorry you're so miserable.

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