I know the feeling since I have a bad back, bad knees, and arthritis here and there. I use Lidoderm patches, Excedrin Back and Body pills, sometimes just Tylenol and at times Darvocet. I sometimes use an ice pack and sometimes a heat pad. Old age isn't for sissies as they say. I hope you will start feeling better soon. Some days are better than others.

Sue

I, too, am 'old' (59), and suffer constant back pain, leg pains, arm pains, neck pains - 2 baby aspirins seems to relieve my pain, especially at night. I am a gardener, and have had this problem for many years - arthritis goes with the hobby. I sleep with a body pillow next to me - if something starts to ache, I support it with the pillow - it really helps me. My elderly dog (10) and I take an o.t.c. glucosamine every morning, also.

I've had severe pain down my Spine,
For spine pain, I like the flexible gel packs from the freezer with one thin layer between pack and skin. No frostbite, and it numbs the area making it pain free.

Occasionally after a heavier day playing outside I will have a little back pain, and even fall to sleep with the gel pack. It works great too in the recliner.

Sue

I like to get to the source and treat the problem. Mineral ice and motrin help some, but I find that with the arthritis in my knee, the best help was following my dr's instructions to take Glucosamine and Condroiten. That doesn't treat the pain, mind you, it rebuilds joints (you have to take one of the preparations that includes gelatine for the maximum benefit), so it takes 2-4 months to actually see a difference. I take only half what's recommended on the package and it's completely taken away the pain and clicking I've had in my knee for years.

Do have a chat with your dr., and fine out what he recommends. And it's never a good idea to take old pills prescribed for something else, to treat a new problem. Please, get to the dr. so you'll feel as good as possible, as soon as possible. Hope you feel better.

Depending on the type of pain, all I have available that works for me is prescription Naproxen (500 mg tablet), a muscle relaxer, and my heating pad.

I won't take pain pills every day..sometimes I just go on and work through it.

Depends on the source.
Unfortunately, TV ads, etc don't explain to people that there are two separate categories of pain relievers...anti-inflammatories(NSIDs) which lower pain due to inflammation(treats the source of the pain), and analgesics - which mask pain.

If the pain comes from inflammation(like arthritis, a sprain, I take an NSID - I also have Naproxin (500 mg), and keep a lower-dose OTC like Aleve handy.

If inflammation is not the cause, like a tension headache, etc....then I take an aalalgesic...Tylenol.

Just Tylenol-due to kidney failure and dialysis I can't take any other pain relievers.

can't take my advil anymore, so have to take tylenol, and it doesn't work that well so more often than not, don't bother...and no it's not the golden years!

I take motrin.I AM to easy to get hooked on pain killers and I stay away from them.I do not knock the ones that take them,but just for me I stick to motrin.Motrin helps my headaches and back pain even though I have had 3 back surgeries.I do hope your pain gets much better.I hate being in pain.Makes you feel bad all over.

My mom has neck pain occaisionally and uses a heating pad. I bought her a new style of heating pad last month for her birthday. It's a Sunbeam brand (bought at Walgreen's) and it's circular (hard to explain) with a cut out so that it can be formed around a knee or clipped around your abdomen (it has snaps too) and is weighted like a bib that the dentist puts on you before taking x-rays. It cost about $50 but I really liked how it was shaped so it could form to the body without having to be held all the time.

for my arthritic fingers, I wash a load of dishes, or hand washables, or as a last resort I use a hot rice bag.

Yesterday, while I felt a headache coming on, I sat back, and tried my darnest to zone out. Managed it. Ache went away without pills.

But, when nothing helps, gimme pills.

Moni

Gayle, have you been to the doctor about it? Sounds pretty serious, shouldn't you be getting checked out?
I only take Ibuprofen when something hurts, only when it hurts for a prolonged period of time as I have 'sketchy' kidneys - my Doc would prefer I take Tylenol as it is easier on the organs supposedly, but I don't find it relieves the pain.
Many times my rice bag warmed in the microwave does the job better than any medication.
Suzan J

I don't react well to most pain relievers, so it's rare for me to take anything at all.

But I want to share that my hip and knee pain has greatly improved since I recently gave up a bunch of foods. I think I talked about this on the forum before.

I've known for some time that the nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers) increased my joint pain, but I wasn't strict about avoiding the tomatoes and peppers. Then I learned that artichokes and okra contained the same substance, so I gave them up, too.

Not long after, my pain increased to the point where I was exhausted all the time, and felt like I was becoming a cripple. It turned out that two other foods were causing this: grapefruit and peanuts. When I gave them up (I had already given up oranges years before), the pain practically disappeared and my energy levels shot up.

You might take a look at what you're eating. Some websites give a list of foods that commonly trigger arthritis and joint pain. That's how I found out about the grapefruit and peanuts.

I also take Triple Flex 50+. It also has all the good stuff in it for your joints. I know I am going to need surgery, but just trying to prolong it.

Sue