Hello,

Though pain is not something new to me; but it has never been so severe before. Currently i am off NSAIDS (which i threw away a long time ago) or any other medicine (i was using homeopathic before this bout). Just watching my diet, exercising a bit and trying to lose the excess 35lbs that i carry. The reason why i threw NSAIDS away was that their effect on my pain was minimal at best. And while it didnt alleviate the pain, it did however, caused my ALT to rise to new heights (I have been diagnosed with NASH. Also have high uric acid and cholesterol) and upset my stomach. Fed up, i left them all and depended on exercise (building quads, hamstrings and walking a little) and alternative medicine (homeopathic and some other stuff). It did improve the situation. But through my 2 years+ history, there have been booms and slumps. Never have i fully recovered and been able to resume my full activities.

Currently in a real deep slump. Besides my knees which are aching like hell, i have also got pain in the finger joints of both hands and feet (a new phenomenon) and also in the toes. I bet my uric acid is causing all this havoc; its always been on the higher side of the normal range.

Now i want to ask what should i do? Should i take some NSAIDS? Should i change my rheumatologist (who says i have got sero negative arthropathy)? Or should i turn completely towards alternative medicine?

In the meanwhile what can i do to bring the swelling down? By the way the swelling isnt too much. But still the knee joint area is hot. I think its internal swelling. Anyway how can i relieve the pain before i go to the doc? Should i use NSAIDS by myself in the meanwhile? Or should i take some OTC like ibrufen?

Please reply soon as i am in great agony. Thanks

It's a personal choice to go alternative or traditional medication. I do traditional with various vitamins and minerals. It really boils down to what works best for you.

I do know for the knees take 1200mg of C daily, this will help, maybe not with the swelling but definately slow down any damage that is going on. There are also many other vitamins and veggies and fruit out there you can use. I think the Arthritis Association has a free pamphlet you can get on the very subject. I know that certain mushrooms can also be very healing. There's lots of options out there.

It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion, however, if that second opinion gives you the same answers or results then you have to ask yourself where are you going to go from there.

sometimes one nsaid works better than another, also sometimes a large dose of asprin works best, even though asprin is said to be an nsaid
tramal is a new med that often helps