Around Christmas 2015, my left hip started to hurt. I thought it might be the weather. I thought I might have accidentally “bumped” it. I took some over-the-counter ibuprofen and hoped the pain would go away. It didn’t. So I called for an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon (the same surgeon who successfully replaced my bone-on-bone knees with new titanium knees). But, of course, I had to wait five weeks to get in to see him.
My surgeon examined me, had an X-Ray taken, and told me: “You can use this cream on your hip or I can give you a shot.” I opted for the steroid shot. And he gave me this new pill, Duexis, which is 800 mg. of ibuprofen with famotidine to protect my stomach.
A week later, the hip pain is greatly reduced. The shot and the Duexis tablets are working. What a relief! How do you deal with your aches and pains?
I take it like a man! Except gout; that requires pills!
Bob, I’ve experienced a few gout attacks. The first one felt like I broke my toe! Ouch!
I weep and feel sorry for myself.
Dan, I believe in Better Living through Chemistry.
I’ve noticed that while, say, ten years ago the automatic response at the doctor’s office would be painkillers, today it’s much more likely to be a steroid shot (in combination with non-opioid pain meds). At home, I take Aleve (naproxen) for aches and pains, but my fall-back for headaches is always some type of aspirin (I prefer Vanquish–when I can find it–or Exedrin Headache: aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine; I’m not much of a coffee drinker, so perhaps that’s why the caffeine helps).
Hope your hip continues to feel better!
Deb, I could usually make it through the day by ignoring the hip pain. But at night, I couldn’t escape the pain. So the steroid shot and the Duexis seems to have fixed my hip pain. I now sleep like a baby. I’m glad your approach is working for you!
For aches. I soldier through. For pains, I turn off the television political coverage.
Jerry, I was happy with the results of Super Tuesday! Trump vs. Hillary! Can’t wait for the Debates!
Well, I have had knee pain for a year and am wondering if I should get a steroid shot before a trip to Europe in May. It was originally a sprain but arthritis has set in now. It mostly hurts going up hills and on days when it is going to rain.
I used to take tylenol or excedrin regular and pm option. Since I’m now taking blood pressure and cholesterol meds, I rarely take pain relievers. I’m lucky to not often have pain, and can bear it.
My dad had hip pain, and he got the shot as a trial to see if he could avoid hip replacement. He was so happy right after getting the shot, actually kicked up his heels. Sadly, the effects didn’t last more than a couple of days, so he had to have the surgery.
Maggie, I had several steroid shots when my knees started to break down. And, like your father, I could kick up my heels after a shot. But, the effects of the shot wear off after a while. And, ultimately, the steroid shots stop working. Then I moved on to Synvisc injections. And when they stopped working, it was time for my total knee replacements. I’m sure I’ll be getting new hips in the coming years.
Jackie has had cortisone shots. The first worked great; after that, not so much. She has finally admitted that after 2 1/2 she is almost back to normal after her knee replacement. She can walk greater distances and (somewhat) faster. The pain is gone.
We take various acetaminophen products. She can’t take muscle relaxers when her back acts up because the last time it caused two incipient ulcers.
Jeff, glad to hear Jackie is pain-free. Recovery from knee surgery takes longer than people think.
Oops, my bad. Not muscle relaxers, those were just worthless. It is the anti-inflammatories than caused the ulcers. This time they gave her a steroid for her back and it shortened the suffering.
Jeff, the Duexis tablets I’m taking are supposed to protect the stomach from problems. Maybe they would help Jackie.
Terribly sorry, George…and everyone. The fun of wearing ourselves out.
“But, of course, I had to wait five weeks to get in to see him.” –No, no, George. That only happens with nationalized healthcare, along with Death Panels. No One ever faces delays in the Free Enterprise system!
Todd, there is a shortage of doctors in the U.S. The delays will only increase.
Shame on you, Todd. Only YOU were born with the Instant Access Ticket.
You like that corrupt, shrill, criminal harridan?! And I thought you were smart!
So Bob, you’re a Trump supporter? Wow.
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As for meds. My primary Care doc doesn’t seem to believe in drugs. Really. If I have pain he tells me to take Tylenol. If I can’t sleep he says Tylenol PM. If I’m stressed out he tells me to “relax and take a walk”. Really.
Rick, I’m at the point in Life that I want RELIEF from pain, not platitudes.
Once when I was very stressed out, he did prescribe for me: 1/2 of a valim. I kid you not, the pharmacist had to cut it in half. Of course it did nothing. Don’t say I need to change doctors, I get the one they give me. Period.
I’m a big fan of drugs and shots.
My last cortisone shots for my knees (both) was 10 years ago. Occasional issues can be handled by drugs. If pain lasts longer than a week (so far that hasn’t happened), I head to the doctor for drastic measures. Arthritis surgery on my hands was a must in 2011 and I’m 100% better.
Cancer treatment often causes a lot of issues down the line. I get a hydrocodone prescription filled every two or three months.
Beth, I was on Lortabs (hydrocodone) after both of my knee surgeries. I found I could only listen to books, not read them while on opiates.
No, Rick, I’m a Sanders man! If it’s a contest between Hitlery and Trump, I’ll go with Trump! Anybody but Hitlery is my motto!
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George, reading this from you and the others I feel almost young again …
I’ve had problems for many years – poly arthritis or poly-arthrose and of course things like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from too much sitting at the keyboard in front of a computer …
Once I even had a small blood clot in my leg (embolism) from teaching a seminar in a very small room without the option of movement.
And then the orthopedist found out that my left leg was one cm shorter than the right – so I had been walking round kind of lopsided all my life …
Then he prescribed me a “high heel” – every left shoe got an extra cm, luckily here in Hungary that’s not too expensive …
Strange, the second comment is not accepted …
Still trying!
After all that and since I’m retired I feel better, though some times there is some back pain for which my doc prescribed several alternatives – he says I should switch between those medications which are:
Diclofenac 150
Ibuprofen 600
Novalgin (Metamizol)
But I take them only when absolutely needed – and of course I take Omeprazol for my stomach …
And since we try to stay active, go for a walk with the dog every day etc (my wife looks after me …) I’m feeling better than ever – even after having turned 73 right now!
Wolf, 800 mg of ibuprofen works for me. This new formulation that’s tummy friendly, Duexis, is my new favorite for pain relief.
And now comes the last part – a bit OT:
Our dog is getting old (she’s 14 now, that’s quite an age for a large shepherd dog) and also has similar pains – last summer a young shepherd dog invited her to play and she was really ill after too much running around. So the very nice vet came home to us here in Hungary, gave her an injection and also told us to give the dog a pill similar to Diclofenac which has only to be taken once a month!
George – I’ve got a date with the ortho doc to repair a torn-up knee. My biggest problem is thinking up a good lie about how it happened to tell my friends. How about: A punk stole an old lady’s handbag and I ran him down and recovered it? That sounds pretty good, but not very plausible.
Elgin, perhaps “I injured by knee while praying” might work better.