A New Remedy for Musculoskeletal Pain
Ibuprofen, ketoprofen, Phytoprofen. The first two pain relievers are NSAIDs, prescription anti-inflammatory pain meds. The third is a mix of ginger, turmeric, and Boswellia, also known as Frankincense. Because pain comes in different flavors and strengths, each has its value.
Time was, our local pharmacist mixed ketoprofen into a cream, which worked real well when rubbed on painful joints. At first we used it mostly for hands because the joints are close to the surface, but over the years it has become clear that it works even for a large joint like the knee. The beauty is that you don't have to take it into your body, so it's less likely to cause kidney, stomach, or liver trouble.
Nowadays you can buy a similar product without a prescription. It's called Voltaren gel and the NSAID involved is diclofenac.
Believe an old codger who gets the occasional ache; this stuff is great. Recently I got my third COVID vaccine and by evening my arm was swollen and painful. I had a tube of 3% gel on hand, so rubbed that on, slept well, and woke up in the morning with a happy arm! The non-prescription 1% strength suits most purposes and probably would have done the same trick for my arm. Three ounces of the non-prescription gel cost around $12 compared to $90 for the 3% brand-name prescription stuff.
As far as side effects go, an allergic person can get skin irritation. And about 10% of those in the manufacturer's side effects tests got temporary skin irritation from using fifty times the usual amount for up to a year. Not too bad.
Pain: The Big Picture
- We can't avoid pain. In fact, the harder we try to, the more likely we are to get into trouble with addiction or with worse pain. Think of a back surgery that went wrong.
- In general, the more pain you've had, the less it will bother you in the future.
- Most pains go away on their own.
- Pain pills can kill you.
Quick Points About Pain
We can still prescribe 10% ketoprofen from an out-of-town compounding pharmacy, at about $80 for two ounces. This is usually more effective than the 3% diclofenac gel.
Adding acetaminophen to an NSAID (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, etc.) can make it work better. Really.
NSAIDS work better than APAP (acetaminophen) for most people.
Ibuprofen is a little easier on the stomach than naproxen (Aleve).
Aspirin can make asthma worse.
For many people, topical camphor, menthol, clove oil can make a tension headache go away.
For some pain, such as migraine, we can offer preventive treatment.
Pain can be due to tissue damage or physiologic processes. Psychological distress is normal and can make recovery more difficult. Don't ignore that!
When Pain Gets Out of Hand
Give us a call. If you are on narcotics, we may be able to transition you to buprenorphine/naloxone. If you have a loved one at the end of life, we're not going to worry about addiction. Every situation is different.
Be well!