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I'm single and sole caregiver for mom who is 91 and lives with me now. She had a stroke in 2016, moved from cane to walker, was recovering well, but was injured during therapy in 2017 causing a torn rotary cuff, ganglion cyst on shoulder that cannot be removed, and additional issues and fears developed. Since the stroke, she's on Plevix and baby aspirin. She is truly allergic to almost everything and cannot take pain meds so only lives on aspirin for pain. Recently, her arthritis pain, muscle pain have taken it's toll and she seems in constant pain. For her age, she's active and we have moved around more than most on drives, shopping, trips, but this past 3 or 4 weeks, arthritis is fierce. Thanks, Marc

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Oh poor lady. Arthritis pain is miserable.

I would do a couple things. 1st do some research on how alkalizing her system is achieved. Lemon water is a good way to cut the bodies acid. Apple cider vinegar with local honey is another really good option, I make a kind of lemonade drink with it and sip throughout the day. This will help internally to reduce the inflammation and high acidity that arthritis lives on, helping reduce her pain. Be sure and get a good quality apple cider vinegar with the mother in it.

For external relief my mom uses a patch called salonpas on her knees and her shoulder, she had a torn rotator cuff that has been repaired, she buys them by the case so she doesn't run out. You can leave them on for 8 hours and they are a gentle deep warmth. I used them on a sore muscle and I was quite impressed with the warmth and pain relief. I keep them around now. I have food and external product sensitivity and I have never had a problem with my skin.

I hope you find something that helps her, that just wears you out being in pain.
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Riverdale Sep 2019
I have tremendous pain from a torn rotator cuff along with great problems in the arm,bicep,shoulder. A shoulder replacement was even discussed. The pain can be so intense I am awoken from it despite taking medication just before bedtime. I have had an MRI which indicates alot of problems. My worry is the very long downtime after surgery and not knowing the success rates. If you are able to could you tell me the results of rotator cuff surgery?? The one person I know who had it is not overly positive. I am very careful to not do anything to further cause stress to the arm. Thanks for any advice.
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We've always gone for the nonmedical options first.  My father drank apple cider vinegar with honey for years.  Although he was diagnosed with arthritis, it never bothered him.

I bought an arnica salve once when I was having knee pain, but it's so long ago I don't remember if it helped.   It's another partially natural remedy.

Another concept to evaluate is food choice.   Some foods can intensify arthritic pain.  

https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/foods-to-avoid-limit/

https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/best-foods-for-arthritis/best-foods-for-arthritis.php

You might also check out foods with resveratrol.   

https://www.livestrong.com/article/345014-what-foods-are-high-in-resveratrol/

Scholarly articles:
https://www.google.com/search?ei=nZVmXfLAEOewtgXLu6voDg&q=resveratrol+for+arthritis+pains&oq=resveratrol+for+arthritis+pains&gs_l=psy-ab.3...3644.10525..10874...0.2..0.140.2706.26j5......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0i67j0j0i131j0i10j0i22i30j33i22i29i30.EtDnllTZLQ0&ved=0ahUKEwiyg7yD6aXkAhVnmK0KHcvdCu0Q4dUDCAs&uact=5#spf=1567004199984
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Bella7 Sep 2019
Dairy makes all my joints swell and hurt!
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The best rubbing cream I have found is called Flexall, made by Chatham Inc at Chatttanooga Tennessee. Not cheap, but heaps better than Voltaren etc. Here it’s about $35 for a 16oz bottle, and lasts a long time.

Heat is soothing, especially low-filled hot water bottles to take to bed, but cold is supposed to work better. I just don't have Sendhelp's fortitude! I've never had safety trouble with hot water bottles, but you can fill them yourself for your mother, put them into an absorbent cover or towel and then into a plastic bag if you want to take extra care. NSAIDS like Nurofen are great anti-inflammatory drugs, but about 10% of people have quite severe adverse reactions of stomach damage (including me).

Because of my NSAIDS problem, I use Turmeric (which is a respectable natural anti-inflammatory) in the morning, plus when I become uncomfortable. For maximum effect, make up a batch of powdered turmeric, black pepper, and ginger in proportions 7: 2: 1. It doesn't have to be exact - I put tablespoons of each into a large jar and then shake the jar. Then use a teaspoon-full of this, mixed in a cup with yoghurt or anything else that helps you to swallow it. It works very well unless the pain is too intense, then I go for codeine and bed. It tastes pretty dreadful, but you get used to it. There’s an expensive commercial version called Turmerix, with added snake oil, but ordinary turmeric/black pepper/ginger works just as well and is very cheap. A kilo of turmeric from the local restaurant supply place costs me $8 for the cooking version or $18 for the stuff they say is top-of -the- range (presumably harvested by virgins). The black pepper and ginger are also cheap as long as you don’t get a tiny packet in the supermarket. A few people report loose bowels with it, so it might be worth trying a little first and having some imodium in stock, but it doesn’t bother me. I hope it works for your mother, and send best wishes to you both.
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There is much "chatter" about CBD oil being helpful for pain - specifically arthritis and neuropathy pain. It has also been used to mitigate pain from cancer and cancer treatments. You might want to do some research to determine if you think it appropriate. Some doctors dismiss it immediately whenever it gets mentioned and other doctors will recommend it.
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Riverdale Sep 2019
I have used the topical CBD product as a roll on for a very bad shoulder problem. It has a strong odor similar to other over the counter products such as Biofreez. I really don't see much difference in my situation to warrant the cost. I.do get some relief from prescription lidocaine patches which are covered to a degree by my insurance. Sadly the worse the problem the unlikliness of true relief outside of surgery which also can be a long road to possible recovery.
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Mom's doctor recommended Voltaren and mom found it helpful, years ago when I broke my ankle I liked Myoflex. I think any of the OTC topical analgesics are worth a try.
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Hi Durban, you really should try essential oils mixed with eucerine cream and coconut oil or cera ve cream and coconut oil. I find all my recipes on Pinterest for arthritis creams /pain creams/nerve pain creams etc..my mother (83)has severe OA and RA everywhere in her body and my pain creams really help her! I use my mom for my true tester on everything I make because she has so much pain and she is honest with me about if they truly work or not.I use young living essential oils because I know they are 100%EO not fake! I have helped my aunt (64)going through stage 4 coloncancer with nerve pain in her feet due to chemo and a friend of hers (81)with cancer and with very intolerable pain from shingles that I haven’t even met yet ( he told my aunt I have taken his pain levels down from an 8 to a 3 with his shingles., so I’m just saying maybe to try these websites for knowledge and recipes to help naturally with pain levels on your mom and loved ones. I will pray for her🙏
1) pinterest
2)young living
3)Dr. Josh Axe (luv him)
I hope I have been some help to you!
sincererly,
Karen
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Kelkel Sep 2019
How does an oil (essential) mixed with another oil (coconut), or eucerin (a dermatologist recommended skin lotion) or cereve (same as eucerin & my spelling might be wrong on both), work to relieve pain? All of those are lotions and oils for dry skin. I just wouldn't waste someone's time that's in pain with lotions. She needs arthritis pain relief soon.
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Voltarin is a prescription pain reliever cream. She can't take meloxicam? It's a tiny prescription pill that is an anti-inflammatory arthritis pain reliever. It works for my mom better than Tylenol arthritis. Her doctor can prescribe a cream but if it doesn't work, tell him, toss it & keep trying until one does work. Good luck!
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Grandma1954 Sep 2019
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Aspircream -- but do ***NOT*** use capsicum because it can burn very delicate elderly tissues.

Aspircream works very well. So do lidocaine patches you can get those over the counter or by prescription.
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sometimer Sep 2019
Aspercreme also comes with lidocaine and is very effective on anything that hurts or itches excessively.
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Bio Freeze works for me when I have a sore back or knee.
I have not had much luck with Aspricream but that's just me.
Lidocaine worked well for a few friends of mine. If you need stronger than the over the counter one that is 5% but you can get higher you have to "look out side the box" for the higher % . Go to the section of the store that sells condoms and there is a product that will desensitize.....The lidocaine in those products is almost 10%.

By the way when you say she "seems in constant pain" what are the indications? At some point some people will complain about pain even if there is little pain. If she is active and doing day to day activities I would not worry much. If she stops those activities that would be a concern. Pay attention to facial cues. Grimace, furrowed brow are two indications.
Would she be a candidate for something like a cortisone injection that might help? Then again you do not want to cause more pain by trying to alleviate some.
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I found that Salonpas work very well for me. You can get either the patches in different sizes as well as a roll on.
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