Arthritis Meds Anyone?

Hey guys.  I just got home from the ER myself.  About a week ago my right knee started bothering me when I was in the pool and it has just gotten worse.  In the past, I would take an ibuprofen or something similar and the pain never got as intense as it is now.  I can barely walk and my knee is swollen.  I really thought I'd twisted or torn it in some way.  The doctor in the ER insists that it's arthritis.  I'm not convinced, but until I can rule that out, are there any meds that some of your RNYers take for arthritis?  They gave me Vicadin (sp?) in the ER, but I can't work and take that.  I have some Darvocet that I had left from my surgery, I'll take one of those at night, and I will call Dr. Walton's office tomorrow and talk to Brandy or someone.  Just wondering what you all do for the problem?

My knee was really swollen last night, and when I got up this morning and weighed I was 3 lbs. heavier than I was yesterday.  Now I didn't eat enough yesterday to make me gain 3 lbs.  I was thinking it was maybe fluid from the swelling?

Thanks,
Marsha

Sorry you are hurting and swelling.  I talked to my doctors about it because I have fibromyalgia and I had been on anti-inflammitories before surgery.  Currently there is no non-NSAID anti-inflammitories on the market.  I was told that if I needed to go back on them (had to stop 30 days pre-op) that they would monitor me for ulcers and sometimes you've just got to weigh the risk versus the reward.  I would ice and take Tylenol and then put in a call to your doctors office.  Hope you start feeling better soon.  When you are injured like that it is a vicious cycle, you can't exercise because you hurt, but if you push through the pain sometimes you hurt worse and then you won't exercise.

You can easily gain 3 pounds of water weight with a swollen knee so don't worry about that.

I can't answer your other questions but I'm sorry you've got a puffy knee. Call your doc first thing in the morning!  And keep us posted.  Pamper yourself in the meantime!

Marsha,

i am sorry you are feeling bad, I had to quit my Nueroton(SP) before surgery and there has been a few days that I would have killed to had one back when the OA in my back gets to acting up. Tylenol just isn't the same. But hey I now have much less weight bearing down on the bad hip and back.

I can't give you and advice but I can empathize with you.  I haven't had any ibuprofen for the last 2 weeks and I am feeling it.  And no, Tylenol just doesn't work like ibuprofen does!