My hand gets numb once in awhile. Mostly my pinky and ring fingers, palm of my hand. Flexing the hand for a couple minutes takes care of it.
Probably some inflammation in my elbow. pressing on a nerve. A friend warned me that tucking my arm under my head while i sleep can cause issues like this. Damn, I’ve slept that way all my life. :rolleyes: But, now I’m trying my best to keep it straight or just slightly bent when I sleep. Seems too help. This morning I woke up with my arm tucked under my head and my hand tingling. I must have done it in my sleep.
what’s the best OTC for inflammation? I wanted to try that before seeing the doc. I guess he’d give me a round of steroids? I’d like to try OTC first before going that route.
IANAD. For me, ibuprofen works well. Other OTC NSAIDs (Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) are aspirin, naproxen (Aleve) and, I believe acetaminophen (Tylenol).
In my experience, effectiveness varies from person to person. For example, I have never found acetaminophen to help at all, but know many people who report the opposite.
However, if the symptom is alleviated by flexing your hand for a couple of minutes, why bother with medicine? As you probably already know, there are side effects to every medicine. I doubt that a doctor would prescribe steroids for something that’s so easily remedied.
Well, its doing it several times a day. leaves my hand feeling a bit stiff. I thought I’d try reducing the inflammation first. If the problem persists or gets worse then I’ll see a doctor.
When I asked my dad the pharmacist the same question as the thread title he told me ibuprophen. Of course, different people differ and your mileage may vary.
Whether you find it effective or not you really should mention this problem to your regular doctor, assuming you have one.
I’m an age 50-something overweight person with one knee that has very little meniscus left and who has tried pretty much everything: another vote for ibuprofen.
Otherwise efficacy is probably similar for all OTC preparations. Naprosyn is twice daily dosing while ibuprofen is three times a day. You may find longer lasting relief with the former.
First, try a brace on your elbow - play with them until you find one that is comfty enough for sleep and still keeps your elbow(s) straight.
Then we can talk about pills.
NSAIDs are wonder drugs - and dangerous in their own insidious ways - kidney and liver damage.
I programmed for a living - and my elbows paid the price. I have never been sensitive to pain killers, so I ended up on acetaminophen (Tylenol) - popping 600 - 800 mg every evening.
Now have kidney failure. The nephrologist messgae: under no circumstances take another NSAID.
Just to clarify, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not an NSAID. Usual safe dosing is <4gm/day if you have no existing liver problems, but safer just to keep it under 2 grams. NSAIDs can cause both kidney and liver damage, but acetaminophen does not cause kidney disease. Not that I’m doubting what you’ve said, and you probably have discussed this with your nephrologist already, but it’s likely that the Tylenol was not the etiology of the kidney disease.
Definitely recommend seeing your primary care provider though. Numbness can be caused from any number of things and it’s probably a good idea to get a check up and rule out other causes that may be reversible.
If the recurring numbness persists than I’ll definitely see a doctor. I have no desire to stay on medication for very long. I’ll watch my dosage on the NSAID very closely. Thanks
Remember, folks! For NSAIDs to actually reduce inflammation, they need to be taken in higher doses and with greater frequency for at least 1 to 3 weeks (or more) to significantly reduce inflammation. To reduce inflammation with naproxen, one generally needs 500 mg twice a day for at least two weeks. To do the same with ibuprofen, one needs 800 mg 3 times a day for the same amount of time.
A dose or two here and there will reduce pain, but not inflammation.
And as has been pointed out, regular NSAID use is NOT without risks. People die every day in this country from GI bleeds due to NSAIDs.
The people who really need the anti-inflammatory effect of the drug are people with chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and similar, not osteoarthritis , not a twisted ankle or jammed thumb which generally get better on their own (as far as inflammation goes) quicker than NSAIDs can reduce said inflammation.
There’s no evidence that any NSAID is better than any other NSAID (or better than tylenol) for pain relief. Individuals may find that one works better for them than another, but such findings do not apply to the general public (at least that’s what current evidence shows.)
these are 220mg NSAID They indicate on the box, no more three within a 24 hour period. So it is possible to boot the dosage from one every 12 hours and still not exceed the recommended max.
The go to one here is Diclofenac. Is that OTC where you live? I’m on the prescription strength stuff right now as inflammation in my back caused complications from a previous surgery. The Doctor initially thought I had a herniated disc, so I’m pretty happy that the fix is just a few weeks on a drug rather than physiotherapy and possibly surgery.