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Answers tagged Tylenol: Page 1 of 1
Q:

Tina from St. Albert asks: I have arthritis in my knees. It is so bad and the meds I tried don’t help… from advil to Voltaren to ketoprofin and Diclofenac Sodium. Is there a shot of something that would help? It’s hard to walk and swim and sleep etc. I’m trying to lose weight and exercise, but it hurts too much to keep up my walking regiment. Thanks.

The goal for treatment of osteoarthritis, be it in the knees or elsewhere, is to improve pain and function.  There are a number of different strategies, many of which can be used at the same time.  Pain relievers, starting with regularly scheduled acetaminophen, or NSAIDs as described above, work for some people.  For the knees in particular, braces can help.  Weight loss, exercise, and maintaining muscle strength around the knees can also be an important part of management.  Injections into the knees, often with cortisone but also hyaluronic acid, can also help some people.  A walking aid, such as a cane or walker, may also help.  If none of the above are helpful alone or in combination, speaking to an orthopedic surgeon about the benefits and risks of a knee replacement may be an appropriate next step.

Q:

Donna from Calgary asks: I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, and experience a lot of pain in my shoulders , lower back , knees and hands.  My question is what medications can I take that won’t harm my kidney? I’ve had a lot of cortisone shots but was told I may not be able to have that much longer. I just not sure what to do at this time.

The focus for management of osteoarthritis is around improving function and reducing pain.  Of course, we want to reduce pain in the safest way possible, and the safest way is different for different people.  For most people, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is one of the safest pain relievers.  While most individuals will use acetaminophen when the pain is worst, for those with chronic pain, acetaminophen is more effective when used on a regular basis to prevent pain flares, never using more than recommended on the bottle.  Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) arguably may be more effective, but do have other side effect concerns, and should be avoided for those with kidney problems.  Topical anti-inflammatories are available which are likely safe even for those with kidney problems.  Cortisone injections are a safe option as well and certainly there is no limit how long you can have cortisone injections, as long as they are effective.

Finally, often forgotten but perhaps most important is the role for physical and occupational therapy.  Maintaining range of motion and muscle strength is an important part of management of osteoarthritis, and by its very nature is safe.



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