Keith’s GoutPal Story 2020 Forums Please Help My Gout! Gout Treatment Anti Inflammatory Drugs-Are they be used for pain management ?

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  • #2989
    phofab
    Participant

    I just realised that I  posted this elsewhere, instead of starting a new topic.

    I read on these pages about the ongoing pain of gout. Yes!! I experience the real gouty scream your head off pain but I hit it as soon as I get the twinges with Voltaren Rapid 50 – anti inflammatory. In a bad attack maybe 3 per day, but generally I take one with the evening meal and that lasts 24 hours. It maintains the pain at acceptable levels. I generally only take them for a few days.

    It must affect the attack as within days my feet return to normal and the pain ceases. Only in an extreme attack do I have severe pain more that 2/3 days. Thinks – that is a while to be in severe pain???

    Maybe I have just got used to it. They say if you beat your head against a brick wall long enough you start to enjoy it.

    Before I was prescribed Voltaren I did have a foot nearly half again in size for around 3 months. I still can fondly remember the attack it was over the Gulf War period and all that was on TV in the dawn shift was Gulf War re runs.

    Later!! I did have a point to make, “why aren't anti inflammatory drugs being prescribed as part of the treatment”. Pain killers and the forte versions don't help me a great deal.

    #7328
    zip2play
    Participant

    They usually are. The best of these for gout is colchicine and prednisone…the worst, aspirin (except in huge quantities) and acetamenophen (useless.)

    between these are all the NSAIDS with indomethacin probably the best.

    Of course the opiods all work fairly well to control pain but doctors are loathe to prescribe them.

    #7332
    phofab
    Participant

    Hi Zip

    As previously stated I have never found Colchicine to be a pain killer apart from the first time when I took them every hour and following many long  hours alone in the little room , I achieved relief from pain , but only for a few hours and it kicked right back in. I was too frightened of the Colchicine to take it again for many years.

    The only drug that has helped with the pain is the Voltaren, which if you can commence taking it on the first twinge, will sometimes kill the attack at the outset-1 day. It can reduce the swelling and pain levels in most cases; in  a bad attack within 1/2 days and I cease taking them.In an attack, I also, do take the Colgout at the rate of 3/4 a day for 2 days which cleans out the system. This is why I have always considered Colchinine (Colgout) an extreme laxative. But I get pain/swelling relief from the Voltaren, in most cases on the first tablet.

    I rarely have need for the pain killers in addition to the Voltaren and Colgout.

    The Voltaren  also reduces the swelling rapidly.

    The Votaren was prescribed to me by a rare breed , a doctor who was a fellow sufferer.

    It makes me wonder if sufferers are relying on the Colgout for pain relief which seems to be extended , in my case, when Votaren does the job, usually on the first night.

    #7337
    GoutyGal
    Participant

    Voltaren is extremely effective for pain management but has significant side effects.  I have taken 150 ml per day for 19 years for severe arthritis.  A year ago I was diagnosed with advanced stage Chronic Kidney Disease.  Long term Voltaren usage has been blamed for the kidney damage.  I suffer from gout because my kidneys are functioning poorly and not excreting the uric acid.  During a gout attack I use colchicine and Voltaren; aware that I am continuing to damage my kidneys.  However without the Voltaren I am unable to move about with my arthritis.  Suggest you consult your Dr about what is an appropriate dosage for your situation.

    GoutyGal

    #7339
    trev
    Participant

    Well I know one poster here who is no fan of voltaren -and Zip will back me up;)

    I had it prescribed at hospital when I had a head injury a few years back [concussion after effects took 9 months to clear]. I didn't take many, glad to say. I assume looking back it was their anti-inflamatory action that was a plus and makes them popular  for non specific cases.

    Though paracetamol has been slated somewhat here as a pain killer I usually default to it, but coupled with Codeine- which is supposed to be habit forming, but I've never had a problem at moderate doses. [3 or 4 a day]

    [Paracodal, Co-Codamol or Solpadeine are the UK versions.]

    Obviously, in  prolonged & severe pain cases, compromises are made with more powerful meds -but this is my take.

    I admit in a gout attack the pain killers are not enough- but I prefer a 'deadener' [rather than a surefire all in releif]+Colchicine coupled with other palliatives than get in too deep with meds- I already take enough for BP!

    I'm steadily working to make gout history for me.

    #7378
    phofab
    Participant

    Re Gouty Gal's comments.

    I totally agree with Gouty Gal, that Voltaren is not a pleasant drug. My useage is only minmal compared  to 150mg per day. It would destroy my gastro tract at that rate.

    I basically use it to sneak in and hit the attack early, get rapid reduction of the pain and swelling and cease the treatment within 2/3 days, so that my exposure is very restricted.

    (Sounds a bit like entering a nuclear reactor only for a short time to limit the exposure)

    I have had occasions when I have been on it for weeks (last year combined with my current attempt at the Allopurinol treatment) but I haven't used it for 6 + weeks.

    It never really takes away the total pain but it gets it to a level that I can ignore it and I can continue functioning.

    What works for one doesn't always work for another.

    The steroidal drugs had a heavy impact on me and it would be foolish to totally discount Voltaren, it may be that the long term pain sufferers are reacting adversely to the various Anti Inflammatory drugs prescribed . In Australia Voltaren is a prescription only drug and would be worth discussing with your practitioner and trialling it for the short term relief of the symptoms – reduce the pain and swelling.

    Maybe, I have just been fortunate in finding something that only works for me.

    Unless you are commencing the Allopurinol treatment for the first time, there should be no need to have months of pain.

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