NSAIDS backslash

Fitzroy
Fitzroy Member Posts: 32
edited 8. Nov 2012, 06:09 in Living with Arthritis archive
Greetings everyone, Hope you're having a good day (as you can).

I take Tylenol (Paracetamol in GB?) and NSAIDS in one combination or another. I usually make one the main pain duller for a couple of months and if I need an extra relief I take a bit of the other. That way my body gets a bit of rest from the side effects of each drug. Has anyone here experienced an increase in pain after stopping NSAIDS? Not just because you aren't taking it but what would be an increase in inflammation.

I'm going to get a shot of Hyaluronic Acid in my hip and the hospital told me to lay of NSAIDS for a week prior which I was right in the middle of. Usually I wean myself by taking every other day for a week. This time I just stopped and started on Tylenol and had a very bad inflammation of my neck. Which is usually a bit of a problem but this time it was really awful. Not sure it was a coincidence or not.

Comments

  • LignumVitae
    LignumVitae Member Posts: 1,972
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hey Fitzroy,

    Hope things settle soon. I take Celebrex a COXII inhibitor and had to stop that suddenly earlier this year. I was using steroid injections at the time to help with my arthritis but I noticed the lack of anti-inflammatory quite quickly. It was surprising the difference I felt. I too used paracetamol/ tylenol but it just doesn't quite do that much does it?!
    As I say, hope you are feeling better soon and the shot helps.
    LV xx
    Hey little fighter, things will get brighter
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Fitzroy, where in the world are you? I used to be on Celebrex but my GP changed it because it was too expensive for him (never mind it worked and worked well, I'm only the patient.) After flirting with Naproxen for a good while and getting nowhere I have switched to diclofenac and that DOES make a difference viz I know if I miss my daily dose. I'm using it to ease my Achilles tendonitis and it does. I also have to take co-codamol as my pain duller but I don't usually take more than four a day but I can't do one or the other - I need both. We do find ourselves balancing along a treacherous tightrope at times. I hope the Hyaluronic jab helps matters, please let us know how you get on, yes? DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Fitzroy
    If you are new to the forum then welcome from me.
    I am sorry I cant help with the meds, but I do want to say that I hope the rash clears up very soon, must say they can drive you mad at times.x
    Love
    Barbara
  • Fitzroy
    Fitzroy Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi, that's funny, I meant my topic name to be NSAIDS Backlash . I sound like a computer programmer saying Backslash. The neck problem is likely more degenerative joint problems caused by a car accident or two 25 years ago. Normally I have it fairly well under control but stopping Celebrex might have caused a flair. I live in BC Canada for someone asking. Raining like crazy here and that likely doesn't help much. I had these gruesome spasms in my neck last night. I haven't had that much fun in quite a while. Much better this morning though I 'm a bit tired.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Ah Tylenol! I have to be really careful when I’m in the US as it seems to come in lots of different strengths but in virtually identical packaging

    I can see the merits in alternating the NSAIDS and Tylenol but I can’t say I’m surprised at the increased inflammation when you stop the NSAIDS. They are, after all, anti-inflammatories whereas the Tylenol is just pain relief. When I took NSAIDS I took them regularly day in, day out. They did wreck my stomach :roll: but that was before it was acknowledged that a stomach protector was required with them.

    I hope the shot helps. Mine's RA but I have a few neck problems. I find a shaped memory foam pillow helps and, for really bad days, I have a neck brace.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Fitzroy
    Fitzroy Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Ah Tylenol! I have to be really careful when I’m in the US as it seems to come in lots of different strengths but in virtually identical packaging

    It 's like toothpaste, you can't get the basic kind any more;)

    I can see the merits in alternating the NSAIDS and Tylenol but I can’t say I’m surprised at the increased inflammation when you stop the NSAIDS. They are, after all, anti-inflammatories whereas the Tylenol is just pain relief.

    I see what you mean. But is it possible there is a sling shot effect where the amount of inflammation you get shortly afterwards is actually higher than if you had not taken NSAIDS at all.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Oooh I've no idea about that. It's an interesting theory. I think it'd take someone with some insider medical knowledge to answer it though.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Fitzroy
    Fitzroy Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I just got back from the hospital from my Durolane shot into my R hip. Last time I had regular radiologist put it in. He was hack. He froze my femoral nerve. I had to lie there for several hours while my dead leg slowly came back to life. It also hurt a heck of a lot. This time I had a young resident and I thought "oh boy, this is gonna hurt" but no, she was brilliant. Almost never felt it. Walked out and drove home. Phew. Fingers crossed the stuff works for a few months.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I hope it works too, Fitzroy. I'm glad it was a better experience this time.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Fitzroy
    Fitzroy Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    StickyWicket,

    Hi, how long did you take Celebrex before your gut turned to swiss cheese? I always thought I could somehow take these drugs for short periods of time until I "got things under control" but guess what? I find myself more and more reliant on them. I know we're all different in regards to how our bodies handle different meds and even how we handle them at different times but I'm curious non the less. Did you take the standard dose of 200 mg per day?

    Best,
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hey Fitzroy, it was me that was asking where you lived having failed - spectacularly so - to see it listed on your username. :oops: Yesterday was a rough day, that's my feeble defence. :oops: I apologise.

    Right, congratulations on having the shot and well done to the young one for being so good. I swear some people have a knack for these things and those that don't really shouldn't take part in the activity. It may not hurt them but it darn well hurts us. :wink:

    Sometimes I think we can't help but become reliant on the meds because when you find something that works it is a lovely thing. Anti-inflammatories are fine as long as one has a stomach protector too. I take one omeprazole per day and will only take the diclofenac after that and some food. Celebrex was developed as a med that would not need the protector but that does bump up its cost - the fact that two meds come in cheaper than one shows that for sure.

    Right, you rest up now to give the jollop time to sink in through the joint so it can really work and I hope you feel an appreciable difference soon. DopeyDaisy.
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • tillytop
    tillytop Member Posts: 3,460
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Fitzroy

    Your "backlash" theory makes perfect sense to me (even in my current addled state :lol: ) and I have experienced a "rebound" type effect both when stopping NSAIDs and when decreasing steroids. With the steroids, even when cutting down very slowly, I know that the almost immediate apparent increase in inflammation is no indicator of the true state of affairs - it is always worse for a few days before it settles down to wherever it's going settle (if that makes sense).

    I read what I thought was a brilliant analogy which said that the human body always strives to maintain the status quo. So if, in the case of autoimmune inflammation, the body has "decided" that a certain level of inflammatory response is needed, the more anti-inflammatory meds one takes, the more the immune system ramps itself up to try to maintain that level. So, if you suddenly reduce the anti-inflamm meds, it takes a while for the immune system to go back to its "default setting". Think of it like someone (the inflammation) pushing really hard against a closed door - the harder the person pushes, the more force is needed on the other side of the door to keep it closed. But if the opposing force (in this case the anti-inflamms) is suddenly removed, the person (inflammation) on the other side is still pushing just as hard and, more than likely ends up in a big heap on the other side of the door!

    I'm sure I haven't explained that very well but hopefully you get my drift.

    I suspect that this is why anti-inflamms are found to work better when taken regualarly, rather than just "as and when" like pain meds.

    Tillyxxx
  • Fitzroy
    Fitzroy Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Thanks folks,

    and Dreamdaisy, my profile didn't include my location yesterday. I decided to update my info after you asked. So fear not, your mind and vision are perfect, it is I who is playing tricks on you.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Norty, norty you! DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,159
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Tilly

    That was a great explanation and actually makes some sense to me too now.

    I think you are right as well :shock:

    Fitzroy

    I try to take my anti-inflams (arcoxia - also a Cox2) sort of as and when. For periods of need when I have to rather than all the time, but that's just me - I fear if I use them too much they might stop working :oops:

    Love

    Toni xx
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Fitzroy wrote:
    StickyWicket,

    Hi, how long did you take Celebrex before your gut turned to swiss cheese? I always thought I could somehow take these drugs for short periods of time until I "got things under control" but guess what? I find myself more and more reliant on them. I know we're all different in regards to how our bodies handle different meds and even how we handle them at different times but I'm curious non the less. Did you take the standard dose of 200 mg per day?

    Best,

    Celebrex is one of the 'newer' NSAIDS, designed not to mess up the stomach. I've never actually taken it as, by the time these came onto the market, the older NSAIDS had already done for my stomach to the point where I've not to take any, even the newer ones, again.

    But, as I said, it was the non-Cox2 inhibitors that did for mine over a period of probably about 20 years non-stop and, for at least half that time, without stomach protectors of any kind.

    If I was starting again from scratch I'd have no qualms about taking the Cox2 inhibitors though I'd want lansoprazole or omeprazole at the first hint of trouble.

    Good luck with the jab. I love 'em.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright