What can I take to relieve arthritis pain?

Question:
I'm afraid that pain killers are next because the other arthritis meds I've had prescribed over the years haven't helped. I really don't want to start using pain killers! Any suggestions?

Answer:
I have had arthritis for over 10 years. I have been taking 800 mgs of Ibuprofen two to three times a day for more than half of those years. It doesn't help much. Is there something that might work better? My doctor said to use glucosamine with my Ibuprofen...been using for a few months...don't see a difference. I still take it for preventative reasons. I'm afraid that pain killers are next because the other arthritis meds I've had prescribed over the years haven't helped. I really don't want to start using pain killers! Any suggestions? You might try a COX-2 anti-inflammatory like Vioxx or Celebrex. They last 24 hours, are quite a bit stronger than ibuprofen, but they won't make you loopy like opiates will. You might ask your doctor if he feels it's appropriate for you to try a COX-2 AI, and if so, whether he has any samples you can try to see if it would work for you. Using chondroitin and MSM in addition to the glucosamine seems to help a lot of people. Vitamin World, a chain store, has a liquid form (Joint Maintenance??) that some people swear by. Other stores probably have an equivelent product. The NSAID's (Aspirin, Celebrex, Ibuprofen, etc) actually increase inflamation or at least allow the inflamation to continue unabated, although they can relieve pain for a while. The quantity of Ibuprofen you're taking could lead to internal bleeding. If you have bruising on your arms, it's already happening. Yes, many people have found that Gluco/con has helped with arthritis pain in their joints. I have found that Aleve helps me more than ibu but Naproxyn does a better job of pain relief. You may not be that way and ibu works best for you butttttt they both will eat a hole in your gut. So please take with food. My question for you is are you taking enough/day?