Diclofenac

[mcclos10]

Question.  I have started taking Diclofenac 75mg x's 2 a day to try and see if a non narcotic medication may give me some relief long term with my rib pain.  I have taken it for 2 weeks and at first I didn't think it was helping at all.  Now I think 1 of 2 things either A) it's starting to build up in my system and is helping better or B)  My ribs just happen to feel a bit better lately.

I already know all the technical information on how the drug works, is released, what it's used for etc. so I don't need that.  What I am looking for is if anyone else has ever tried this drug and if so did they find it took a few weeks to begin working?  Thanks!!!

[empathy323]

But you just started taking it a few days ago right?  If it has to build up in your system and takes a couple of weeks for the full effect maybe it will end up working better than you think even a 2 a day in time?  Just a thought.  I know I got much better relief after a couple of weeks taking it regularly.  2 - 75 mg a day

(btw it's mcclos10 with my new name empathy323 I needed to change it so I just started a new account.  I won't be using mcclos10 anymore)

[lee13]

Just to update - I don't think 2 will be enough for me.  Yesterday I managed, but today I am in enough pain that I should've taken the second one an hour or 2 ago (I just took it).  Of course, I was walking around a bit earlier...  However it's working great for me.

Also, my back pain has stayed at the same low level, but it's a burning pain that I also get in the groin area of my leg that is bothering more now (also managed with this med).

[ChitChatNine]

Voltaren (the name brand) of the drug you mention was my daughter's wonder drug for 2 yrs long term usage for an arthritis condition she had at the time with swelling and loss of range of motion!  Very little stomach upset, too.  I really worked for her the best in its class and the side effects are less than those of Celebrex and back then Vioxx.

I am on long term usage of Mobic and it works great for me .. it does take time to build up and likewise, when I try to stop it takes days for the pain to come back but when it does, I am in bad bad pain (a flare) ...

I recently tried the new Diclofenic patches which did 0% for me and I went back to oral meds instead.

I have a severe tibial tendonitis/arthritis issue in my ankle area with no cure at this time.

C~

[mcclos10]

Thanks for all the comments so far it sounds very incouraging!!  So far it is helping me I think, it is for sure cutting down on the number and frequency of the narcotics I need.

[missywv]

I absolutely LOVED this medication, i've had chronic headaches (i think from neck stiffness) for TWENTY years and I didn't have a single headache while on it, not a single one.  I haven't gone that long (three weeks) without a headache in ten years.  Unfortunately, it caused uncontrollable diarrhea, no matter how i took it, so I had to go to something else.  My body is weird about these types of drugs, there's only a couple that i can take.

[bev62]

My husband takes 100mg once a day. It has been a life saver for him. He has arthritis in his back and before he was put on this med he was in the hospital at least twice a year flat on his back not being able to move.  Hope it works as well for you.

[lee13]

Well, this morning I had a lot of pain, not in agony pain, but enough to make me very tired and desperately need to lie down by the time I was done in the shower.  Took me twice as long as usual to get ready for work, and ended up with BF driving me instead of taking public transportation.  I got it filled and took it around 8:30, and noticed around 11 that the pain was now just sore/achy and sooo tired, like if you'd been doing A LOT of lifting of heavy things the previous day.  When I walk I walk pretty slow, but it's not the hobbling "I'm in so much pain" walk of this morning.  Now, at noon, there is a little twing in my hip again.  I have 50 mg up to 3x a day as needed.  I'm thinking 3x today, then I'll see how 2 goes.

I do want to point out that my pain was so much less last week that I went off vicodin and while it returned Sunday after a lot of housework on Saturday, it's not quite to the level it was before.  I have absolutely no idea how or why this happened.  My issue isn't completely diagnosed yet.  I wasn't in much pain when I saw my latest new doc, which didn't help.  So for now he is just saying "low back".  The pain also wraps around my hip to the front.  I'm bringing him my MRI films tonight when I go for my first physical therapy appointment.

[mcclos10]

Yes, I would love to hear how you do with it.  The medication releases in the synovial fluid around joints etc. so it supposed to be good for everything from arthritis to Gout.  I take it for pain from a permanent rib injury.  It looks like we are about the same age do you mind me asking what you are taking it for? And you are right sometimes they are not very good about telling us that we should not expect results right away and it may take a few weeks for certain meds to work well.

Let me know how you do.  I am doing well so far but like I said it took a couple of weeks.  I have been able to decrease my other pain meds a little lately though and that's great news for me.  Good luck to you and let me know.

[lee13]

I wonder why that is never mentioned when it is a possibility?  My new dr gave me the same when I asked for something other then celebrex (after 3 days stops working and starts making me sick).  If I had known that I would've made it a priority to go pick it up the same day.

I was planning to pick it up tomorrow anyway, so I'll let you know my experience with it.

[sandee1818]

I haven't taken this medication but understand it does take awhile to build up in your system so I believe thats what is helping you.