I was recently prescribed Celebrex, but I am reluctant to take it because I have a history of gastro problems, and for that reason my doctor was reluctant to prescribe it to me. But I am desperate. The pain is fairly constant in my neck and radiates through my shoulders and gives me a headache. I just feel generally UNWELL. Sometimes I feel like everything from my neck up is burning. Anyway, if anyone else here has this condition, what worked for you? Was Celebrex effective, and did it cause stomach upset? We also tried steroids and I got no relief from that. And I want to no parts of narcotic painkillers. Thanks
Celebrex - Arthritic neck relief?
- Posted:
- 20 Dec 2011 by jakkie50
- Topics:
- celebrex, osteoarthritis, pain
Details:
Answers (4)
DzooBaby20 Dec 2011
Celebrex works VERY well for arthritis pain. It is one of the NSAIDS with the lower incidence of stomach irritation compared to drugs like ibuprofen, naprosyn, relafen etc. Take it ALWAYS with food in your stomach and NEVER on an empty stomach and you shouldnt have too much trouble with stomach problems but be alert for them. Celebrex could greatly improve your quality of life. I thought it worked quite well for me but my insurance stopped paying for it. My mother in law used to take it and she had gastric reflux and a hiatal hernia but as long as she took it with food, it didnt aggravate her stomach. She had to stop taking it when she was put on Coumadin and she really missed the relief she got with Celebrex.
Mary63200921 Dec 2011
I have GERD very badly & havd to get special permission from my insurance to pay for omprazole & then celebrex on top of that. After all the hassle I couldn't tolerate the celebrex at all. Made my GERD worse. The few days I did take the celebrex it did a wonderful job for the arthritis pain I will say that. All you can do is to try it & see how you react. It may not bother you at all. I have had a 35 year history of stomach problems. Everyone is different, & will react differently to each med. If it turns out you can't tolerate the celbrex, have you tried a chiroprator? They can do wonders. I used to go to one for physical therapy 3 times a week. Only got adjusted once or twice a week as needed. With my advanced osteoporosis, they will no longer work on me plus I understand Medicare will not pay for it anymore & neither does my secondary insurance. I wish yoou luck... Mary632009
Anonymous 21 Dec 2011
Hi Jakkie50, I broke my wrist/thumb and elbow falling off a bicycle about 12 years ago , was in 3 different length casts for about 3-4 months. That was the year Celebrex and Vioxx came out as the new wonder drugs for "pain" and inflammation. Long story short, I was on them for about a year ( I needed surgery after the casts came off.) They didn't help with the pain which was bad. It was After I went off that I started having really bad GERD and got an esopheal ulcer. I never had stomach issues before. I now have to take meds for this hole in my gut every day. ... You didn't mention your age, maybe you can handle Celebrex short term, but I believe they do a number on your gastrointestinal system. Like Mary, I have a curvature and neck problem, and I had a great chiropractor who I saw often when I had insurance. She kept me meds free for years. Ask around for recommendations from your friends etc. and try it once.
Mary632009
21 Dec 2011
Just another thought, ask your doctor if they have any samples you can try first before paying out for a whole months supply... Mary
cetteferge21 Dec 2011
Hi jakkie - Like Mary & minda, I too had history of stomach problems after taking Excedrin for headaches for years (only thing that worked). You may be one of the lucky ones, but problems I've had with stomach have been so bad for many yrs, I'd really research it, talk to Pharmacist, etc. Nsaids gave me duodenal ulcer, diverticulitis, resulting in chronic constip. (sorry so explicit!), and a bezoar (gelatinous mass in stomach), which hospitalized me. Luckily, it dissolved in hospital, but never again! I would follow your gut (LOL!) with this one. If I had it to do again, I never would've jeopardized my digestive tract. Ulcer's healed, but digestive sytem/metabolism so slow, takes days to go through system; I often get nauseous, despite Aciphex. I recently had to have endoscopy to stretch pyloric stricture (opening into duodenum), looking for answers to slow digestion, etc.
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Thank you DzooBaby, Mary, Mindy and Ferge. I appreciate all the thoughtful responses. I haven't picked up the Celebrex prescription from the drug store yet, but it looks like I will have to try it. I'm in pain pretty much all the time, but I try to ignore it. I have to work every day, and I'm trying to have a social life. I will use reflux meds with the Celebrex and definitely take it with food. I pray it works and it doesn't tear my stomach out, like Indomythacin did some time ago. ( I also have arthritis in my hands, back and feet, but they don't hurt anywhere near as bad as the neck)
Also, I have already had an x-ray of my neck. It showed degenerative disc disease with degenerative spondylosis particularly at the C5-C6 and C6-C7 areas.