Anyone use ibuprofen on a daily basis?

[ms.yt]

OP, I don't have any advice for you except to do whatever you can to stop taking that much ibuprofen. My former boss was in need of a kidney transplant due to a genetic disorder, and his niece (on his wife's side) was tested to be a donor. When they did the medical workup on her, she was found to be in the early stages of kidney failure herself, and the doctors determined it was because she took high doses of ibuprofen for many years. She was a nurse and used it because of the pain of being on her feet every day. Luckily, they caught it in time to prevent her kidneys from getting any worse, but they told her that if she continued to use the ibuprofen, she would have also likely been on dialysis within 5 years! Please, keep trying doctors until you find someone who will help you. I've never had chronic pain, so I can't begin to understand what it's like. I know you need something to help, but the ibuprofen isn't the answer.

 

[Poohbear123]

I have been taking Advil for 10 years straight, 1200 MGs a Day, with no problems. I tried taking Tylenol but they do NOTHING for me. I also tried Aleve but it GAVE ME HEADACHES and INCREASED my Blood Pressure, so NO to that! My stomach hasn't bled yet, had a Colonoscopy/Liproscopy last year, everything is A-OK.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I use to take that amount of ibuprofen a day for headaches and I hated doing it. I even went to physical therapy for the pain and that didn't help. I do not like to take medications long term so I looked for other ways to get rid of my headache and I found that a chiropractor worked. I no longer have to take ibuprofen for headaches. I LOVE, LOVE my chiropractor.

 

[Jennasis]

I think, ultimately, if you have to live on a pain medication daily to function at the most basic level, then there is a greater problem. Pain is a symptom. Pain medication is NOT a cure, it's a band-aid...a mask. You have to find the underlying cause and fix that.

Nothing but sympathy from me OP. Those chronic daily headaches were the worst time in my life. The minute I woke up until I cried myself to sleep EVERY DAY for a year...debilitating, agonizing pain. I found help...you can too!

 

[torinsmom]

I have been taking Advil for 10 years straight, 1200 MGs a Day, with no problems. I tried taking Tylenol but they do NOTHING for me. I also tried Aleve but it GAVE ME HEADACHES and INCREASED my Blood Pressure, so NO to that! My stomach hasn't bled yet, had a Colonoscopy/Liproscopy last year, everything is A-OK.

Well, I take about THREE TIMES that much! I guess I need to ask to have my kidney function checked as well. I will def. be making an appt with a neurologist. I was remembering I had a few appts with a dr at the NC Comprehensive Headache Clinic. I really liked him and he had some great ideas. Unfortunately, my insurance changed and the new one made him out of network. Now, I have BCBS again and he is in network. I think I will give his office a call.

Marsha

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have probably had 8 MRI's before and since finding out I had the Chiari Malformation. Last one was approx. 2 years ago. Other than the Chiari, nothing showed up and since the surgery, the Chiari is showing as gone. Because there is compression of the brain stem and cerebellum when you have Chiari, nerves are compressed. I wonder if that is part of my problem sometimes.

Oh, and chiropractic care is a no-no for someone who has or has had a Chiari Malformation. The neck adjustments can trigger a recurrence, and that is something I do not need. That was a very rough surgery and recovery.

Marsha

You do not have to get neck adjustments.

You just may have some anomalies in your body contributing to these things and medicine doesn't fix those.

Have you ever tried Physical Therapy?

 

[torinsmom]

No, I haven't tried physical therapy. I'll see what this doctor has to say.

Marsha

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you tried alternatives like acupuncture, massage and chiropractic? Have you done a radical diet switch cutting out all posible trigers (dyes, sugar, caffien, tanic acid etc).

Agreed.

I drink one 12 oz. Diet Mountain Dew each day. If I don't I will get a migraine. Tried cutting it out slowly, but I really need that pick me up midday.

Marsha

Oh, aspartame is so addictive. I have a friend absolutely addicated to her diet coke. She's recently had a liver transplant (due to chronic idiopathic hepatitis she developed as a preteen) and is still addicted. It's ridiculous, b/c she should not be putting extra chemicals into her body.

She has tried so many times over the years to quit the aspartame drink and can't do it. But she should, and you should too.

You do not have to get neck adjustments.

Absolutely. And/or you can find a gentle gentle chiro who does tiny adjustments. I would recommend Atlas Orthogonal as a technique. It will help any of the tiny misalignments that create the need for adjustments, without the fear of being twisted around and pressure on your spinal canal.

There's also acupuncture, acupressure, massage, craniosacral therapy...SO many things you can explore to help with your headaches.

 

[torinsmom]

I am just absolutely not willing to do chiropractic, just because I don't want to take chances. I know it sounds strange, but I went through he** with the surgery. Actually before I found out about the chiari, someone talked me into trying a chiropractor, because I had back pain and numbness. After that adjustment, I had a headache so bad I could barely move! My neurosurgeon told me that he probably exacerbated my problem when he adjusted me. See, with a CM, part of your brain is actually descending into your spinal canal and it impedes the flow of spinal fluid, as well as compressing the brain stem. Anything that stresses that area(like whiplash or an adjustment) can make the problem worse.

Marsha

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am just absolutely not willing to do chiropractic, just because I don't want to take chances. I know it sounds strange, but I went through he** with the surgery. Actually before I found out about the chiari, someone talked me into trying a chiropractor, because I had back pain and numbness. After that adjustment, I had a headache so bad I could barely move! My neurosurgeon told me that he probably exacerbated my problem when he adjusted me. See, with a CM, part of your brain is actually descending into your spinal canal and it impedes the flow of spinal fluid, as well as compressing the brain stem. Anything that stresses that area(like whiplash or an adjustment) can make the problem worse.

Marsha

That's fine. The other treatments can be done through a physical therapist.

I am not familiar with your condition. However, I have had migraines--I have a weak core--I have a psoas muscle that goes ballistic and causes all sorts of back pain if I do not keep up with my exercises.

I have learned in the past 15 years that the body has all sorts of little nuances that if you hvae one thing out--it can cause a chain reaction.

So it isn't "weird" to suggest that you "consider" seeing someone who might be able to help with that. Since you cannot do a Chiropractor--a PT may be an option for you. PT's do not do adjustments.

However--it should be noted--that sometimes when you get something treated--it will hurt. But it shouldn't hurt when you are finished. (when I had my hand treated for my migraine--I wanted to claw the person treating that trigger point b/c it hurt.)

Have you looked at the links I provided? Those are techniques that a masseuse familiar with "medical" massages (not swedish/relaxation massages--my body laughs when I get those. They are an oxymoron in my case!).

If you want to take meds, that is your preference. We were simply trying to offer that there are some non-medicinal treatments that you may not be aware of.

FWIW--my mother refuses to see a chiropractor as well. She had two vertabrae fused together from an undiagnosed fracture. She is on so many pain pills (that don't work but she's at the limits and they do take the edge off). She cannot do Naproxin and I do not think she can do Ibuprofen either and Tylenol doesn't do anything.

I so desperately want to get her to my PT--but she lives 7 hours away. She is so "tight" and out of shape that it isn't doing her spine any favors.

I'd go into more details--but it would be TMI.

My point is--she has accepted her broken body and now lives a life just trying to camaflouge the pain. She's 53 and disabled due to all of this.

I refused to let my neck injury and sacrum injury to do that to me. But it takes work and sometimes it hurts. But in the long run, my body is doing me good as long as I treat it right.

 

[auntie]

I would advise getting a new primary care..and having some blood work done. Particulary checking on your kidney function. Long term use can effect your kidneys. Over use of motrin, norproxen, advil, alleve, and even tylenol can effect renal function.
That being said..you need to find something that helps with your pain..with as little ill effect on the rest of your body.
This may simply mean keeping a course of treatment that currently works..but under a dr.'s supervision. Routinely monitored with blood work keeping an eye on how your body is dealing with the dosage. A fresh start with a physician who is more helpful and able give a greater insight as to your specific situation.

 

[ukwildcat]

I don't usually post to these types of threads, but felt you might like to hear my advice.

I'm a chiropractor, and have two patients with chiari malformations. I agree with you, that traditional neck manipulations are contraindicated. These two patients have almost identical histories as yours. Surgery, meds (both prescriptions and OTCs), PT, OT, massage, and other chiropractors. They were both at the end of their rope so to speak. I used a technique called Active Release (activerelease.com). It's more or less a myofascial release technique with a medical patent. Long story short, their symptoms resolved within 6 treatments. I would encourage you to check out the Active Release website and see if you think it is for you.

On a side note, I see these particular patients 1 to 2 times per year for mild flare-ups. One treatment and symptoms resolve. If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to PM me. Best of luck to you, whatever path you choose.

 

[torinsmom]

So it isn't "weird" to suggest that you "consider" seeing someone who might be able to help with that. Since you cannot do a Chiropractor--a PT may be an option for you. PT's do not do adjustments.
If you want to take meds, that is your preference. We were simply trying to offer that there are some non-medicinal treatments that you may not be aware of.

Did I say somewhere in a post that anything anyone was suggesting was weird? I can't find where I did and I don't consider anything posted as a suggestion as weird. The only thing I said I was definitely against was chiro, not because it is weird, but because I don't want to risk any recurrence of my problem. I know there are techniques besides neck manipulation, but I am not willing to take a chance.

So, if I don't want to take your advice to go to a chiro, I am saying I want to keep taking meds? I want to find out what is causing the headaches and stop the meds. I am open to all suggestions and don't feel I have been rude about anyone's suggestions. If anyone else thought that, I apologize.

Marsha

 

[ukwildcat]

I should've also mentioned that Active Release is not a chiropractic technique. It is practiced by chiropractors, PTs, MDs, and some massage therapists

 

[shelly3girls]

We took DD to a migraine specialist. Although the preventative meds are not working (we need to try something different) we were able to get her off the Motrin by using Aleve along with another rescue med (although i do not remember the name but is was prescription). We have many preventative meds to still try to find one that works. One big issue DD has is allergies and asthma. As soon as we got her asthma under control the headaches reduced. Lack of sleep and dehydration are the two biggest causes of headaches and she suffered from both.

Our neurologist said that there are many meds they are now trying. Our next one might be a very low dose of anti-depressant.

 

[torinsmom]

Well, I DO have allergies to cats and dust. Found this out AFTER getting cats #3 and #4, but an air purifier, flonase and claritin seem to keep them(the allergies) at bay. I suspect I have some food sensitivities as well(no food allergies showed up on the test). I just started a gluten-free diet, and I am hoping I will see a difference.

Thanks to everyone. I appreciate the advice. I am going to start with the headache specialist and go from there. I know he has done and referred patients to others who have done more "alternative"(is that an offensive word?) treatments. I will ask him about the active release, botox and other things that fall into that category. I will update when I see him and know what he is going to try first.

Marsha