Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group NSAIDS don't work, now what?

Since starting down this road (not diagnosed with AS, but suspect it) of major foot/ankle/leg/hip/hand pain/some back pain, and trying numerous forms of NSAIDs to take it away, I've found nothing that works. At least nothing that works for more than 2 weeks. Or didn't have side effects that made me have to stop taking it.

I've had the plantar fasciitis for about 10 yrs and had surgery on both feet. It helped for a little while, but not now. My job (med tech) has me on my feet all the time and lortab is my friend. It is the only thing that will stop the pain, but even that doesn't help all the time. And I don't get enough pills to get through the month of pain any more. I don't want to take narcotics, but it's the only thing that helps. I just want the pain to be diagnosed and dealt with...not take more pills.

NSAIDS are supposed to be antiinflammatory, but my pain doesn't go away. Is this common? Have tried ibuprofen up to 3200mg/day, aspirin w/caffeine up to 2000 mg/day, naprosyn (can't take it), feldene (can't take it), lodine (didn't work and it killed my stomach), mobic (worked for 2 weeks, then quit) and a couple of others that slipped my mind. Have to call the rheumy back next week to inform him that lodine with prilosec didn't work and wonder if I could suggest to him something else.

Xray of lumbar spine and SI joints were 'normal' from what I heard back from doc. I didn't see the report and may ask for a copy for my own entertainment. All I've had done with imaging for feet has been xrays. Maybe MRI or CT to see if there are soft-tissue problems?

One other question....people talk about icing sore spots to reduce the inflammation. I notice that my muscles/joints hurt far more when they are cold, so icing has never been comforting to me. Is this weird?

Still new here...51 yrs and female.

Thanks for your insight.

I cannot take NSAIDS. But I just finished a Predisone Burst. My stomach is completely trashed. It will take me a month to get my digestive system on track now. I am on vicodan for pain. It sometimes takes the edge off. Other times I just don't take it. It seems when certain spots flare pain meds just don't touch it. I don't use ice. I use only heat. Like you it just makes the pain there more. I would get an MRI if you could. Like you said it picks up the soft tissue better. If you have nerve damage or disc issues.

Thanks.....after my most recent hip steroid injection (for bursitis), the doc put me on a medrol dosepak. I couldn't see that it did any good at all. The hip stopped hurting because of the injection, but nothing else in my body changed a bit....same pain in all the same places. Maybe it wasn't enough prednisone? Anyway, thanks for the response. I'll just try to stay warm till spring....can't be too soon for me. Hope your stomach gets better soon.

Hi Rumble - welcome to the site.

I am an older woman (53) to be developing this disease - it's obviously much more common in younger people - so I found your post interesting. I haven't found any NSAIDS that work for me. I was on a very low dose of prednisone that helped but I wasn't willing to stay on it indefinitely - I had a lot of side effects from such a low dose.

I can't stand ice on my joints either - doesn't help at all - in fact I get more pain. Only heat seems to loosen things up and ease the pain a tiny bit.

I found that even with anti-inflams I still had to take panadol/codeine to get me going. I did discover the hard way that they were working for me when I accidently missed one and discovered aches I didn't know I had until the next dose kicked in.
One anti-inflam did nothing for me, others I had to stop because of the side effects. If the NSAIDs aren't doing it for you it might be time to talk to the doctor about other options. In the meantime protect your gut.
X-rays may not show anything for years - MRI is probably your best bet. Avoid CT scans unless absolutely necessary as they expose you to a lot of radiation and the gain might not out weigh the risk. Molly posted a link to an article several weeks ago on this and is well worth a read. Will post the link if I can track it down.

Hang in there.


Here it is:
https://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=332828&an=0&page=7#332828

Thanks for the reply....lots of people reading this weekend. Long term pred would not be good for me. Already osteopenic with very strong family history of osteoporosis (mom and both grandmothers). It is only because of the severe bursitis pain that I'll go through the injections. They certainly aren't pleasant, but aren't supposed to increase osteoporosis in the femoral neck (my worst spot).

Stay warm.

Oh, Wendy, I am going to see if I can get up out of this chair. If you are an older woman, then I ought to be not able to be in here sitting at the computer.

Hugs.
Possi

I guess I took every anti-inflammatory there was and all of a sudden started having asthma from one so that was that. Then we went to Asulfadine and Placquinel, Methotrexae, Prednisone all through all of this, Remicade, Humira and I am sure I have missed some.

I started this with RA as a child and added the AS and SLE and Fibro and other autoimmune things in my 20's. Now I am going to a pain management/spine specialist for procedures to stop the pain path and taking pain meds. We are just going for quality of life now.

I fought it hard with every drug there was for many many years but the drs tell me now we are just trying for quality of life because I don't react well to the meds.

I wish you well. I just hate reading the posts where people are just getting started trying to find something to help. I just hurt for you. Just don't give up. So many people here have had such good results from so many different meds and are living very good lives.

I will be thinking of you.

Blessings.
Possi

I wondered about the possibility they were working, but after stopping and starting them 3 times, there just wasn't a pattern of relief, other than my stomach stopped hurting without Lodine.

I'd do an MRI if I could get one, but will accept the CT if insurance won't spring for the MRI. I saw the post about radiation exposure, thanks for the link.

Thanks for your response (I like to read your responses to others....so caring! Everyone here is so nice). It would be nice to find something non-narcotic that helped, since docs get so self-righteous when you have to ask for stronger meds. I wish good things for you....aren't you in Okla? Isn't it supposed to be warmer this time of year?? Wishing for warm days soon. Don't even mind those 105 degree summers. Hate the cold, though.