View Full Version : Favorite non NSAID and non tylenol pain pill/cream to take?
I have pain 24/7 and I can't take NSAIDS. I take about 3g of tylenol every 24 hours. I know about being careful with that.
I do use Arnica gel for some of my muscles, but I can't tell if it's really working or not.
I haven't investigated CBD oil yet.....but maybe soon.
How about a natural supplement for anxiety too? Any experience with that?
Thanks!
If aspirin isn't one of the NSAIDs you avoid--I like BC cherry-flavored aspirin and caffeine powder, and I occasionally take Goody's orange-flavored acetaminophen/aspirin/caffeine powder, as well. I figure the powder version, taken with liberal amounts of liquid, won't just sit in my digestive tract like an corrosive mini-bomb. Works for me.
Nope, can't take ASA either. It's NSAID too. It's such a bummer to not be able to take an NSAID. Every once in awhile, I can take 1/4 of an aleve in a week and do okay......but no more, and no more for several weeks. My GI tract was destroyed by NSAIDS and antibiotics. Your comment about taking liberal amounts of liquid got my attention. With most meds, I probably don't take nearly enough water with it.......especially with a sluggish esophagus.......so drinking lots more water with meds is something I'll definitely start doing. Thanks for reminding me!
Teacher Terry
5-4-18, 5:03pm
CBD oil is supposed to help with anxiety too.
CBD oil is supposed to help with anxiety too.
The trick is finding the right brand/dose, since CBD isn't standardized. In states where cannabis is legal, medical dispensaries can steer people to the the right brand of CBD, or combination of CBD and THC, but even there, it's a process of trial and error.
Yes, trial and error. I am not finding my sweet spot with CBD but willing to keep trying. I have found magnesium (many forms of it) to be helpful with muscle aches, restless legs and sleep. It is one of the few supplements I know is working and can feel when it kicks in.
I've taken magnesium for a long time, but have trouble with it causing diarrhea, no matter what form I try. I take it mostly for irregular heartbeats, but I've never felt that it helped with my muscle pain. What type do you use Simplemind? I was on mag citrate for a long time, not realizing it was causing diarrhea (since I have IBS), so switched to mag maleate, mag chelate and some others......but they all seem to cause some degree of diarrhea.
I feel like I'm wired really weirdly. When I was young and smoked marijuana, I had some very bizarre reactions to it, while everyone around me was having a blast. So I'm almost afraid to try the CBD oil.......even though I know it doesn't have the psychotropic properties to it.
I'm just trying to avoid the brain meds like SSRIs. My muscles hurt everywhere, but I'm hoping to find some relief with more natural stuff. Everybody is so different. One thing might work great for one person, but do unpleasant things or not work at all for others. Yes, it is a lot of trial and error, unfortunately.
Magnesium relaxes muscles, and is used as a laxative for that reason.
There is a topical anti-inflammatory called Voltarin. I've used it on myself (worked on minor pain) and the vet version on my horse (he had no comment). It's Rx but OTC in Canada.
I've taken magnesium for a long time, but have trouble with it causing diarrhea, no matter what form I try. I take it mostly for irregular heartbeats, but I've never felt that it helped with my muscle pain. What type do you use Simplemind? I was on mag citrate for a long time, not realizing it was causing diarrhea (since I have IBS), so switched to mag maleate, mag chelate and some others......but they all seem to cause some degree of diarrhea.
I feel like I'm wired really weirdly. When I was young and smoked marijuana, I had some very bizarre reactions to it, while everyone around me was having a blast. So I'm almost afraid to try the CBD oil.......even though I know it doesn't have the psychotropic properties to it.
I'm just trying to avoid the brain meds like SSRIs. My muscles hurt everywhere, but I'm hoping to find some relief with more natural stuff. Everybody is so different. One thing might work great for one person, but do unpleasant things or not work at all for others. Yes, it is a lot of trial and error, unfortunately.
Cathy,
I take CALM, a powdered magnesium supplement. The dosage that works for me is 1 teaspoon in the morning and 1 teaspoon in the evening. For pain, have you tried Arnica Montana homeopathic pellets (30x)? Supposedly, this does not interfere with any meds. Also, take Mag/Phos homeopathic pellets for irregular heartbeat on occasion.
Icy Hot with Lidocaine is magical!
Would the turmeric, ginger and pepper mixture in warm milk help? It seems to work like aspirin for my arthritis, but I have no idea if it would help muscle aches or never ending pain. I mix 1/2 tsp. turmeric, 1/2 tsp ginger, a grind of black pepper in about an inch of milk- can use more if necessary. Heat it about 30 seconds in the microwave, stir, drink then I put water in to rinse it out of the glass and drink that. I do it at night and it lasts almost the whole next day.
Cathy, I just saw an article in LIVESTRONG that talked about a like between fibromyalgia and aspartame. Do you consume aspartame?
https://www.livestrong.com/article/82676-aspartame-fibromyalgia/
Evidence of an Aspartame-Fibromyalgia Link
While there has been no study determining that aspartame causes or contributes to fibromyalgia, one 2010 article published in "Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology" reported on two stand-alone cases of individuals whose fibromyalgia symptoms vanished after they ceased aspartame consumption. In one case, a 50-year-old woman suffering from fibromyalgia for more than 10 years went on a vacation where she did not consume aspartame. During the vacation, her symptoms were nonexistent. After the incident, aspartame was completely removed from her diet, and she saw a complete regression of her fibromyalgia symptoms. A 43-year-old man, who had a similar experience, also saw a complete regression of his fibromyalgia symptoms, without recurrence, upon ceasing aspartame consumption.
Have you ever tried meditation? I know your condition is chronic, but maybe for times when it flares up meditation and breathing techniques would work for you. I have tried meditation and breathing for pain in the past and it has worked for me--most notably when I gave birth to 4 children and required no epidurals or drugs as a result. But I've also used those techniques for headaches and things like that.
Thanks catherine.........I knew about aspartame and really avoid it. I used to meditate and I should probably get into it again. The only problem is my whining dog. It's hard to find a spot where she won't bug me outside the door.
I did transcendental meditation when I was younger. Very cool stuff. The hard part was emptying my ADD mind! But I did learn to do it. One time, I felt like the only thing holding me down was my breathing. Very interesting experience.
Thanks for the heads-up about the aspartame. I worry about all the sugar substitutes, since they all seem to eventually have problems of some sort. I'm surprised aspartame hasn't been banned.
nswef........do you just ginger powder? That's an interesting combo. I will try it. I just recently starting taking turmeric capsules twice a day. Could I make that concoction with almond milk?
Tradd.....does icy hot with lidocaine burn? I got something like that in a patch and it didn't help. Curious thing though....it didn't burn at all, until I took a shower the next day and when the area got wet, it really burned! Very strange.
I think part of the problem is that my nerves are very weird and act in funky ways. I never know how they're respond to anything.
Thanks everyone! I really appreciate your input.
herbal lodge Minagin. Worked on my back spasms.
Ha! I should go back to aspartame--maybe it would reverse-engineer my elderly aches and pains. I had nary a twinge while I was using it. Some may have a sensitivity to the amino acid its made from, but I think most of those "artificial sweeteners gonna kill ya" stories come straight out of the National Sugar Institute's PR office.
A friend of mine liked Artharrest, until she couldn't find it any more. She's ordered a topical pain reliever with the same ingredients--ArthRX. No word yet on whether it works.
When I do use a sugar substitute, it's the old saccharin. I don't use it hardly ever. Not enough to give me bladder cancer........which was it's main down side.
Simplemind
5-5-18, 11:30am
Magnesium citrate is going to cause bowel issues. There are many different types of magnesium and I take different combos (taurate/glycinate/malate sometimes citrate) orally. What I find best before bed is magnesium chloride spray. I get mine on Amazon and spray it on my feet and legs before bed. Malate is good for fibromyalgia. If you google types of magnesium it will give you a rundown of what type is good for different issues. Many people use CALM and I'm one of them but for me the spray is ahead of the pack for muscle aches, pains and tension.
Cathy A., I just use ginger powder. I think you can mix it in anything that has some fat in it. One day I mixed it with a bit of ricotta cheese and it was great. I would think if you take the capsules just a powdered ginger in hot water or hot milk would work, too. I don't know if it has to be taken together...the internet thing I read emphasized fresh ground pepper to make the turmeric activate. Good luck.
Simplemind.......I've read about some of the spray/cream magnesiums and always was a little skeptical....but it sounds like it works for you. I'll definitely check that out.
Thanks nswef for that info!
Simplemind.........p.s....would you mind telling me what brand of the spray you use?
Magnesium citrate is going to cause bowel issues. There are many different types of magnesium and I take different combos (taurate/glycinate/malate sometimes citrate) orally. What I find best before bed is magnesium chloride spray. I get mine on Amazon and spray it on my feet and legs before bed. Malate is good for fibromyalgia. If you google types of magnesium it will give you a rundown of what type is good for different issues. Many people use CALM and I'm one of them but for me the spray is ahead of the pack for muscle aches, pains and tension.
When I travel I also take magnesium gel to put on the bottom of my feet. Will look for the spray and see if it comes in a small enough container.
herbal lodge Minagin. Worked on my back spasms.
Says not to use if you are sensitive to aspirin...
Simplemind
5-5-18, 10:42pm
CathyA I'm super frugal and I buy what ever is the cheapest. I think the last one I bought was by Artnaturals. You can also make it cheaply by buying the chloride flakes and mixing with distilled water. You can google the recipe but I think its 50/50. I bought a small 3oz spray bottle that I fill with mag spray for traveling. Spraying magnesium on your skin is the quickest way to get it into your system. It is my favorite way to take magnesium even though I will take other forms during the day, spray is great for bedtime. BTW, it may sting when you first start using it and you can wash it off in about 20 minutes. Keep it away from any broken skin.
Gardenarian
5-6-18, 12:26am
I've tried the Voltaren gel and it didn't work for me.
For pulled muscles and strains I use Ibuprofen, 3 pills every 4-6 hours. It doesn't bother my stomach but it makes my tinnitus worse.
I use Tylenol for headaches, but I rarely get them. It isn't effective for muscle pain, for me.
A hot bath with 2 cups of epsom salts works well, but I don't find the relief lasts very long.
I hate ice packs but they can be helpful.
Have you tried near infrared light therapy? I have had some success, but I need to use the light a lot longer than recommended - an hour vs 20 minutes. I got a discount light unit from the manufacturer, who lives in my town, but the prices are going down. It's small; some therapists do have full body light beds.
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