Advil works very well on most people.

Oh, I wish it worked for me!

The osteo I have in my fingers is not affected by the weather like most ... just movement of the swollen finger joints. Voltaren ointment works on so many also but has no effect on me unfortunately. Sadly the injections that give relief are limited as to how many I can get & I don't really look forward to Rx pain relief & the side effects.

Turmeric capsules have gotten a lot of attention and are supposed to reduce the pain.

Oh yes, I have taken the turmeric for years (unfortunately doesn't help my arthritis!) but take the curcumin complex (95% curcumoids)that is supposed to work better (has black pepper in the curcumin). Supposed to help with a lot of things?!?

I go to a rheumatologist soon so will see if I get any better ideas from them!

When you take ibuprofen, how many mgs do you take? I take 600mg two times a day for arthritis and it is effective.

I also have osteoarthritis in my hands in my arms in my lower back in my knees and I personally got sick of the pills and I turned to making my own arthritis Salve for my hands and other parts of my body does it work? Absolutely yes you have to put it on all the time but it's great for your hands 2 what's for dinner I still a lot of stuff on Facebook I make stuff for fibromyalgia also I just got sick of the doctors pills my mom has rheumatoid arthritis she loves myself for her arthritis she 79 you're interested my group on Facebook is Kathy's Natural Touch go take a look if you're interested I could arrange to ship it to you

Thanks, Kathy!

I just had X-ray of my knee & it is wearing out! Shots don't help long & I am now on a metal off-set cane all the time & ice packs & need a transport wheelchair. May have a less invasive procedure done to remove the pieces of bone that have broken off & irritating the membrane. Total knee replacement I am told by friend ( & others who have had both done!) say the knee replacement is MUCH more painful with longer healing & a lot of PT - over a year! than the hip replacement was! I am not a patient person with myself & hate all the outdoor gardening, etc. I have done all these years that I now can't do at all... poor hubby now has to take over most of it & I try NOT to be critical of his methods? So much fun in a kitchen chair on wheels trying to make meals & trying to stay off my leg ... gee! those kitchen cabs., sink, the stove burners, etc. are so much TALLER than I had imagined?!! :)

Adelante here has been SO good about getting needed handicapped equipment & now I need a small, narrower transport chair for the house & car as the walkers don't work now with my knee.

Wish my condition now, Kathy, was more amenable to your suggestions but think it has gone too far & sadly I had no warnings earlier! I too, like your mother, will soon be 79 & been quite out-door gardening/lawn mowing active all my life & no major joint issues on either side of my family except osteo in hands.

Janen:

Yes, Dr. has me now on Rx (that strength not available off-shelf now I heard) 600 mg Ibuprofen 2-3 times/prn a day & it helps well for 3-4 hrs.! Was taking Tylenol too & alternating with the other but worry about the long-term affects of each!? Which is best for inflammation & which for pain ... I haven't figured it out yet for sure!

Thanks Janen!

I just found out that the ?arthritis in my hands is really pseudo gout-not arthritis. A month on probenecid has controlled most of the hand pain with just my thumbs still painful! Who knew gout could be confused with osteoarthritis? A rheumatologist decided it when the hand. dr. gave up on treating my ?'osteo. arthritis' with steroids!

amazing how knee replacement has evolved over the years! A lady in church just had her knee replaced on a Friday, went home next day on Saturday & was in church the following Sunday!

The probenicid (for gout) has helped a lot with the pain in my fingers but not altogether. Odd an Orthopedic doctor didn't recognize gout from all the x-rays he ordered? The Rheumatologist recognized it from the x-rays... not as 'gout' but as pseudogout which is now called by another name as the crystals in the joints are different form regular gout. Is more common in older people (me!) that gout; for me it hurts all the time & not just with any particular diet.

Rt. knee gave out in May 2916: was taking ibuprofen (Advil) Rx 600 mg 4 x a day for the knee pain & ice packs under the knee braces the Dr. gave me as well as a shot of cortisone. Guess Advil is for the early inflammation/swelling? After a couple of months I did get relief from ?something... but the initial knee site is still tender but no longer take anything for pain. THEN July 28 the left leg suddenly gave way with NO warning & I fell to the kitchen floor. NOW been on the Advil/ Ibuprofen 4 times a day & more ice packs. I read about the long term side effects of Advil & the Nurse Practioner I saw agreed & had me switch to Tylenol/acetaminophen 600 mg. 4 times a day for pain & now a Rx for Tranadol... IF I need it between the Tylenol doses.

This has been one CRAZY year for me: hearing aids, one & then the other knee giving out, pseudo gout, etc. !!

Yes, 'Beverly hills' it seems every month or so there is new & better knee replacement! Now the rotating machine is no longer used here I'm told!

Vieja_gw.... From my experience with two hip and a knee replacement...I am here to tell you that if you have a good surgeon and do your PT, a joint replacement in no way hurts worse than joints full of arthritis and bone on bone! Go into surgery with a positive attitude and don't baby that new joint..they will bend. I don't even think about my artificial joints..they are so much better than what I had! I used a walker for a couple weeks, then a cane for a week...kicked them both to the curb and within 6 weeks, all was well. Someone is giving you some bad information about how much pain you will have... My SIL had both of her knees replaced at the SAME time and got along wonderfully. I had my surgeries when I was 68, 69, and 70 years of age. You are taking a huge amount of pain meds already...and that could harm your liver...and no matter how many injections or meds you take, it won't make it better in the long run. Good luck!