Pain management

Peebs

Hi. Have been diagnosed with moderate OA in my knee, but not sure this is the whole issue. Inflammation in surrounding tissues rather than joint is awful. Pain today has been worst ever - walking and resting/elevating. Some relief when on my bike on the turbo trainer for 45 mins. GP prescribed Naproxen which hasn’t made any difference at all - been taking it for 10 days. Today had to take cocodamol also. Any advice gratefully received. Is this usual prescription?

chrisb

Hi @Peebs

Welcome to the versus arthritis forum.

You have OA in your knee causing inflammation and pain. You are taking Naproxen but this doesn’t appear to have made any difference to date to the pain you’re experiencing. You’d like to hear from any forum members who have been in a similar situation as to what you should expect in terms of pain relief with this medication.

You may find this link to our website useful:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/painkillers-and-nsaids/

In addition, here is a link to a past discussion in the forum which may be of interest:

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/53618/naproxen

I hope you receive some useful feedback.

Best Wishes

ChrisB (Moderator)

Peebs

Thanks! It was useful to read. I’m new to this and trying to do what I can to reduce the impact now I know my usual strategy that hoping it will go away is not going to work.

stickywicket

It's a bit of a b*mmer, isn't it? The relationship between pain experienced and damage done can be quite tenuous. As can the relief experienced from so-called painkillers. There are other anti-inflammatories besides naproxen. Both they, and straight painkillers tend to work better if taken round the clock for a while.

One thing almost guaranteed to make things worse is to carry on as normal. With OA I find pain experienced bears a direct relationship to what I've been doing. Cycling is good but 45 minutes might be too much right now. . Listen to what your body is saying and build up slowly.

I'd really recommend VA's page on exercises. https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/

Exercise is essential but, again, we do have to listen to our body and adapt accordingly. It's annoying but, if we don't, it bites back.

Fran54

Hi. Yes I take Naproxen when needed for the osteoarthritis in my knee and luckily if taken even for a few days, does help with the pain. On other days when the pain is less, I take Ibuprofen.

I was given physio exercises to do and my physiotherapist was very understanding when I told him that some days I could not do the full amount, because it got too painful and uncomfortable. He advised me that as long as you do something each day if possible, that is better than nothing. Also told to gradually increase the amount that you do as well.

As stickywicket advised, you have to listen to your body and also importantly, be kind to yourself.