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Q. I have taken pain relievers for years for arthritis pain in my knees and hips and plantar fasciitis in my left foot. I thought drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen were my friends.
My rheumatologist prescribed Celebrex but suddenly my kidney enzymes soared and I was told no more NSAIDs, ever! My pain has not gone away. What can I take that won’t raise my blood pressure or kill my kidneys?
A. Many people get pain relief with over-the-counter NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve). Others do well on prescriptions such as Celebrex, diclofenac, meloxicam or nabumetone.
Chronic use of these medications can result in side effects, however. Like you, some people find that their kidneys can’t handle NSAIDs. Others develop ulcers, high blood pressure, elevated liver enzymes or other reactions such as drowsiness or mental fogginess.
Readers searching for pain relief without such complications sometimes benefit from home remedies such as pineapple juice or gin-soaked raisins.
Others find herbs helpful: “I have osteoarthritis and can no longer take NSAIDs due to a spike in liver enzymes and a family history of heart disease. After I read in your column that turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory I started taking it. Now I feel as well as I did on NSAIDs with no side effects. My rheumatologist is skeptical and wants more information.”
We are sending you our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis with pros and cons of arthritis drugs and other approaches such as home remedies and supplements like boswellia, ginger, MSM or turmeric.
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I am aware of the powerful effect of Turmeric. My family and frinds say that I am like the father on "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" with a use for everything with Turmeric. I also have severe arthritis and am interested in you articles for alternatives for Arthritis
I am diabetic and eating the right foods and doing well. I also have kidney stones caused by eating "Oxalate" foods. They are pretty much the foods
that are good for diabetes. If I cut them out I will have very little left to eat. What should I do?
About the arthritis pain, perhaps diet is making it worse -- foods from the nightshade family -- tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, etc.
I have high Creatine level 2.8 and have lost function of one kidney. I also have Pagets disease along with arthritis. can I use this home remedy with my medication? I do get pain...
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: TURMERIC HAS HIGH AMOUNTS OF OXALATE. WE DON'T RECOMMEND IT FOR SOMEONE WITH LIMITED KIDNEY FUNCTION OR A HISTORY OF KIDNEY STONES: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION, MAY 2008.
Ever since I read about CERTO in your colums, I have become a regular user and and it seems to have considerably eased my fingers & hands arthritic pains. It has helped my knee pain but not as dramatically as for my hands. I have now switched to liquid Certo and would like to know if the liquid Certo needs to be refrigerated once the pouch is open. There is no such indication on the product. Thank you so much for your help and hope to hear from you soon. = Gaston
I would definitely refrigerate it after opening.