General Chat

How many people on drugs for blood pressure problems, statins etc and eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice/squash? :-0

https://www.nhs.uk/news/medication/prescription-drugs-and-grapefruit-a-deadly-mix/

Rollo, one fact you have not mentioned that certain types of Osteo arthritis are genetic such as mine is. No injections,pills or potions have really helped and now after 2 TKR (total Knee replacements) I can actually walk and get about with no pain in them. Shame about the rest of me :-D :-D :-D

single malt before bedtime
centuries of happy customers

the best treatment for knees is to use them and not get fat
adults with no knee problems who want to keep it that way should brisk walk at least one mile every day BUT don't run on hard surfaces eg pavement
for those who cannot run to catch the bus the physios have a bunch of exercises wich will build up strength in the knees over a few months until longer walks are possible
swimming is also very good plus there is no danger if overweight

a bonus from looking after your knees is a flatter tummy and stronger heart

there are no painkillers which work and don't have quite serious side effects with long term usage esp nsads.

for some people a cortisone injection in the knee at 6 month / 1 yr interval works wonders

good luck

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

I had a colleague at work who was really in to 'alternative' teas - personally, I'm a 'builders tea' with 2 sugars - recommended (preferably without the sugar) by my nephrologist.
He kept trying to persuade me how good green tea was.
I suggested he looked up 'green tea and kidneys', as I only have one - (strangely named Kevin - the same name as the tea freak)
Not tooo good!
I always look up things on google - followed by the word 'problems' :-D :-D :-D

Apparently, one of the best things for kidney health (in moderation) is wine :-D

Then, this article goes on to say THE best thing is water - but too much washes out the minerals.
My nephrologist was more than happy that I never drink water, just tea, red wine (white is useless - red also combats anaemia) and the occasional instant coffee - mind you, she did say she didn't care about my liver!
I'd had 2 children (back labour with one - VERY hard on the kidney), and reached the age of 54 before anyone noticed Kevin the kidney was an only child, so I'd been doing something right :-D

When my eldest started work in a maternity ward, she called to tell me they'd had a lady with one kidney giving birth that day - surrounded by kidney consultants, and 'X', 'Y' and 'Z' precautions in place - she called me 'hard core' :-D :-D

well now, there are some vultures that I might wish would eat something fatal :-D

Also, though it is unlikely lol, do not let yourself be eaten by vultures if you are using Diclofenac, it is fatal to them. :-(

Do be careful with Voltarol (or Voltaren as it is known over here) ...............

The main ingredient is Diclofenac ...... a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)


I get a prescription for 5% Diclofenac in gel, about 3 times stronger than the over-the-counter gel ............. I am not under any period of time limit, but have to only apply it twice a day on my knees as needed (ie, only when the pain is bad and thusnot necessarily every day) and NOWHERE else in addition to that.

Diclofenac can cause stomach problems, and I am one of the people who cannot take the oral version of it ................... it is absorbed through the skin and gets into the blood stream, so one does need to be careful.

It should not be used over a large area. Absorption is greater and the risk of side-effects increased, especially if the therapy is used frequently.

It should be used with great care with other products containing diclofenac ......... including prescription oral diclofenac tablets

I was warned by the pharmacist that the area treated by my stronger version should not be covered after application .............. eg, by bandage, stockings or clothing .............. until at least 1 hour later (ie, until it has been well absorbed).

Voltarol shouldn't be used for longer than about 2 weeks at a time on a large area, eg your back ( I asked as I was already using it on my knees and hand), but I bet not many people would realise that when buying off the shelf.

There's a couple of items like that which we occasionally buy. As they aren't for long term use, we are willing to take the risk. Oddly, one we can get on prescription if we bothered to ask the GP, as he's prescribed them before.

I'd rather be refused by a pharmacist, be able to look into the risk and make my own decision than *unknowingly* take something that might do harm.

Generally, if I am in the pharmacy, it will be for me but I really don't want an inquisition so I tell them it is for somebody else.

Really can't be doing with it.

I suppose if you are doing an errand for someone else it is their responsibility to make sure that what you are buying is OK with their medication, but you do need to be careful.

I bought some herbal tablets to help with sleeping. I told the chemist what medication I was on and he said there would be no problem. When I got home I read the leaflet with them and it specifically said not to take them if you have certain prescribed medicines, one of which was mine.

I took them back to the chemist and he said he hadn't realised the tablets wouldn't mix nor did he know why. Next check up I asked the doctor. Apparently my pills and the herbal tablets both lower the blood pressure and it could drop too low in someone like me who doesn't have high blood pressure to start with.

Hopefully the magnesium oil will be fine for your OH Liz and it will ease his pain.

OH wanted some Voltarol for his back so he went into Tesco pharmacy where they wanted to know the ins and outs of well you know, and they would not let him have it. He went to Sainsbury's and bought it off the shelf.

I always buy things in pharmacy's for somebody else and I wouldn't know theirr medical history now would I?

As Liz checked with the pharmacist at the time, hopefully her OH won't have any bad side effects.

It's something we should all do before we try an 'alternative' potion or lotion, hence my cautious response ;-)

Worth checking it out Liz as, even though not taken orally it may well be absorbed into the blood stream. However, I hope you find it is ok as it is helping your OH

There are many positive reviews. We checked against o.h.'s medications at the pharmacy where we first saw it, he is diabetic, has b.p. meds and antidepressants for his panic attacks.

As it's not taken orally I am sure it's fine, certainly o.h. has had no problems. I will read the info, thanks

Lizx

Worth a read
http://www.side-effects-site.com/magnesium-side-effects.html

If people are on a number of prescribed medications, would it be wise to check if they are compatible?

As your OH is finding helpful, there might be something good about it!

Has anyone tried this?

We discovered this spray in a small chemist shop in Tideswell, it comes with or without glucosamine. It has eased o.h's painful knees (osteo-arthritis) and I am trying it now for my knees.

H & B sell it but my son got some from Amazon for us for much less money.

With many of us struggling with age related pain I thought I would pass on the info and hope it will help others.

Lizxx