Medical News
Well as you might remember, a few weeks ago I switched to using voice input instead of typing, because I have been experiencing a lot of pain in my wrists. Originally, I thought it was a carpal tunnel problem, or at least some kind of repetitive stress injury. That’s why I changed over to doing voice recognition instead of input by keyboard. When I first made that change the pain did dissipate a bit, but for the last week or so, it has gotten very bad. Lately, I can’t even open a door with my right hand. Today, I had to have Feyma put my socks on for me and take them off also. I simply couldn’t do it myself. Actually, I became convinced that I had broken a bone in my hand. Anyway, the pain was so severe that I decided I really had to go to the doctor. So, I went to an orthopedic surgeon who came highly recommended.
Right now, I wish I had a broken bone. At least that can be healed. I had x-rays and everything, but there was nothing broken. It was evident, however, to the doctor that I had calcification in my wrist joint. It could be clearly seen in the x-ray. I asked the doctor what he recommended for treatment, and the news was not good. He told me that most likely there was nothing I could do, I’d have to live in this condition for the rest of my life. With the severity of the pain that I’m in, I can’t imagine even living for a month like this. The doctor did have a few suggestions, but he didn’t hold out much hope. He said that most people with this type of calcification are unable to get relief with any kind of treatment. He said, the most severe treatment is to have surgery, at which point they will break up the calcification and remove it. However, most people don’t get relief by doing that. For now, he did give me two things that may be helpful. Firstly, I have a topical gel that I can put on my wrist, it’s called Fastum Gel. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory gel, manufactured in Italy. I put some on for the first time about a half an hour ago, and it did work wonders. It didn’t remove all the pain but within about one minute I would say that about 80% of the pain was gone, and that’s something I can live with. The other thing he gave me is a capsule that is supposedly for joint health. However, he told me that most people don’t get relief from that, it’s kind of an herbal type treatment. He said, it’s worth a try, won’t hurt anything, and I agree with that. So I’ll be trying it.
I have to say, I’m a little bit disappointed — scratch that — I’m highly disappointed in this diagnosis. I guess that if I can make the pain at least manageable, I’ll be quite happy. For the last three nights, though, I sat here in pain with ice on my wrist, alternating with heat, both of which did almost nothing. Anyway with the results I got with this gel it is a little bit promising.
So, without a doubt I’ll be sticking with the microphone for some time to come, probably for the rest of my life I guess. I’m also going to look for some other solution for my mouse, because I notice that when I use my mouse I get pain in my wrist. Having this kind of problem certainly isn’t conducive to the type of work that I do. I suppose one thing I might try to look into is hiring somebody to write code and such. I had a programmer last year and he did a decent job, but he quit and I decided not to replace him. The more I can outsource to people, and just supervise the better it will be for my wrist I guess.
Anyway, I just wanted to mention this on the site, becuase I know that a number of you have been following my wrist problem. If anybody has any experience with this calcification in joints, I would be happy to hear your recommendations on treatment. I will be seeking a second medical opinion soon, it never hurts to have a second doctor look at such a problem.
kamusta bob
oh no thats not so good news from the doctor huh.i would look into the internet for some advise on your wrist condition im sure there must be websites to help you bob. hope you can find some cure to help with the pain.
salamat bob
Hi Bob - Anything’s worth a try when it comes to severe pain. Perhaps some relief can be found in the “miracle tree” malunggay. Coincidental article in today’s _Manila_Bulletin_Online:
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080715129828.html
Might help.
Hi Bob. Dreadful news there. Very sorry to hear that. I guess it will affect you driving too. Is it only one wrist…is the other one okay? My first thought, with no offence intended to the Filipino doctors or anyone else, is to research the thing thoroughly which I am sure you will be doing.
I know someone who three years ago was diagnosed with severe rheumatic arthiritis, and was assured that within six months, she would be a wheelchair bound cripple! Three years on, she is still working at her job as a gymnastic teacher, and still demonstrating all the moves as perfectly as ever. You’d simply never know that she had anything wrong with her. The medics are confounded, and keep telling her that there is no scientific basis for her current fitness. How did she stave it off…well, she researched it heavily using the internet and any source she could find, and adapted her diet very strictly and unvaryingly. She drinks only green tea, takes honey for sweetner, and lots of other dietary changes too. The moral is…..never give up! Whether or not she prayed, I have no idea, but she certainly never mentioned it if she did.
Bob
Very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. You are too good of a person to have this happen to you. You may have heard of this but you might want to try Glucosamine + Chondroitin + MSM. I have used this with good results for my back and have heard of many other people have good results with this. It helps by building up the cartilage between your joint and helping to lubricate them.
Hi Ron W - indeed, I have been researching the Internet a lot since last Friday, when I went to the hospital. I learned a few things, but most of what I found on the Internet confirms what the doctor already told me.
Hi Paul - thanks for that tip Paul. I’ll be sure to check it out.
Hi Jim Hannah - I can still drive, but if my wrist is in pain, it makes shifting difficult. As a matter of fact, the other day, i had to reach across and shift with my left hand. Thank you to the inspiring story about the person that you know with arthritis.
Hi Larry - thank you for the information. I am actually taking a capsule with glucosamine, well have to check to see if it contains those other ingredients as well. It sounds like it would be maybe just the perfect thing.
You mentioned an X-ray but did the doctor check your blood for an imbalance of Calcium? It may help determine if the cause is from any medicine you may be taking or something in your diet.
I hope you find some answers soon! Good luck?
Mark C.
Hi Mark C. - yes, I also have a blood test as well. The doctor believes that this problem was caused by one of two things. Firstly, I broke my right arm rather severely around 25 years ago, and required to plate and 12 screws to hold it together, this happened in a place they near to that wrist joint, and the stress from that on the bone may have caused this calcification. Secondly, because I used my wrist heavily in my work, for keyboarding and using my mouse, that also may have contributed to the problem.
Thanks your concern.
Bob,
Obviously I’m no doctor, but are you absolutely sure you don’t have a severe case of the gout? If calcification can clearly be seen in the X-ray, then it probably isn’t, but I am glad you are getting a second opinion.
Bob,
Do you thinka touch pad may be easier on your wrist than a mouse?
Bob… Really sorry to hear about the wrist. I had this in my left wrist when I was a kid. The calcium built up into a lump right in the joint about the size of a golf ball and I couldn’t move it without severe pain.I had surgery and they removed it.Have you thought about going to the States or Singapore for a second opinion since the equipment and training is better there? When my surgery was done it was from a sports medicine specialist even though it was not sports related because it was related to a joint.Normally I would say that the doctors in RP would suffice, but in that type of specialty???? Not so sure.
In any event, I hope you feel better…try and take care.
Hi Joe Parisi - I did have a blood test, and it did not indicate gout.
Yes, a touchpad is something that I’m considering. I plan to go out today and do some shopping for new pointing device, I’ll see what kind of things I can find available. Another thing I’m considering is some kind of a pad to rest my wrist on while I use my mouse, I feel that may be useful as well. Thank you very much for your suggestions, Joe.
Hi John Miele - the calcification that I’m experiencing is nowhere near the size that you had, in fact its very tiny, but it still aggravates the joint. I think the doctor is good here, but traveling abroad is certainly something to consider.
Actually, in the last few days, I’ve made lifestyle changes as far as the use of my keyboard and mouse and other things, I’ve also used the gel that I was given, and have been taking some Advil is an anti-inflammatory. I did all that over the weekend, and also really didn’t touch my computer over the weekend. On Monday morning, my wrist felt like normal again, no pain at all. However, yesterday morning I was using my keyboard and mouse for a few hours, and could feel the pain started coming back. This was a good indicator for me as to what was causing the problem. I found this helpful, because it assists me in knowing what changes I need to make in my life.
Thanks for your suggestions, John.
Hi Bob,
Sorry to hear that, I myself is suffering from the same pain and i could only imagine the pain you are experiencing, I’ve been suffering from CTS for nearly 4 years now and my 3 digits the thumb, index, middle finger and some part of my hand are totally numb, I could not feel anything, as a matter of fact i could get blade cuts and not feel it, all i notice is blood flowing, having a numb finger is very dangerous.
the doctor told me that i have a nerve that is squeezed by the muscle surrounding it due to swelling of the muscle, the choice i have is a surgery or wait until the swelling subsides which will take more than a year or so, no medication can cure this problem except surgery, anyways, a few months back, one of my friend’s friend suggested that i should take a pinch of cinammon and a teaspoonfull of honey for 3x a day daily, i took his advice and guess what?? i started to feel some sensation with my fingers, i’ve been taking the cinammon and honey for nearly 2 months now and i tell you, it seems to be effective, i feel less pain now and i can feel if i pinch myself.
nothing to lose if you will try the cinnamon and honey combination.
Hi Bob - I don’t have any suggestions, but it appears you are getting plenty. Just wanted to say that I hope you find a solution, or at least some relief. It’s no fun living with constant pain.
Bob
I was going to ask you the difficult question, of …will this condition spread, but hopefully you covered this one by explaining about the bad break you had in that joint many years ago, so, hopefully this won’t appear elsewhere for you.
While that is great news, if you are in pain, then pain is not great news and so sorry to hear about this Bob, good luck with the treatment
Hi rick b - just to be clear, the break that I had in my arm near that joint may or may not be the cause of the calcification, but the doctor suspects that it is, or at least it may be. Thanks for your concern Rick.
Hi Bob,
Sorry to here about your wrists, the is a good website and I often use it myself for my injuries, mayoclinic.com. It has all the information you need and if you sign up they send you a weekly enews.
Also type into google the medical turm for your wrist.
I understand what you are going through as I have bone structure problems in my back,shoulders and feet, in fact if forced me into early retirement.
I bit of advice get a CT Scan of your back and shoulders for your own peace of mind.
Steven
Hi Steven - thanks for the tip, I will check out the Mayo Clinic website, I hadn’t thought of them. They do tend to be a good source for medical information, though. Thank you for the tip Steven.
Hi dans - thank you for the tip about the cinema and honey, I never would’ve thought of that! I hope that your condition continues to improve.
Hi Randy C - thanks for your concern.
Hi Bob - like others here in the board, I’m also sorry to hear about your wrist pain.
I too am no expert but since you are open for any idea, I have a slightly offbeat one that may not even help, but i’ll give it o you anyway.
You know that I use my wrist & hand a lot becuase of my line of work. I occasionally get soreness & pain in my left hand (I’m a southpaw) because of over using it. I try to keep my hand fresh because it is my money maker so to speak. In fact, there are times when I have trouble holding things because of the soreness.
I’ve found the wacom tablet & pen as a great substitute for a mouse. It’s pricey & most people have trouble using it as first. But what I mainly do is just rest my hand on the 9×12 tablet & just sway it wherever I please, softly tapping the pen instead of clicking a mouse.
You’re probably familiar with this & it might not work. But I thought i’d throw it out there with the rest of the ideas & advices.
Take good care, Bob.
Hi macky - thank you very much for the tip Macky. It’s funny, because I was just looking at Wacom tablets on the Internet, and considering trying one of those as an alternate input device. I wanted a Wacom tablet for years for graphics use, and I feel that one of those may be an excellent replacement for a mouse. I’ve been doing some surfing on websites about ergonomics, and I’m considering three different devices: the Wacom tablet, a trackball, or a touchpad. It seems any of these three are more ergonomical that a mouse, so each deserves some consideration. Right now, the tablet is at the front of my mind. Another factor though is which of these I can find here. I think I saw some cheap graphics tablets at one store here a while back, but I don’t recall ever seeing a Wacom here. I don’t want to go cheap, I don’t do that when I’m buying equipment for use in my business. But, I’m thinking that’s all I’m going to be able to find. I wouldn’t mind buying a cheap one and then ordering a Wacom from abroad. I would like to find something today though. Thanks again Macky.
Sorry to hear about your wrist pain. Try a pen tablet. I got one last year and it works real nice. It’s like holding a pencil and you use a different set of muscles to point and click. Maybe that and the voice recognition will help.
I feel for you Bob and I know what you are going through. I have had such horrible pains in my life in my joints when at those times I wish I was dead. Before I was diagnosed with Lupus, I was inflicted with the gout and I would have episodes whereby my wrists and big toe felt like they had been beaten with a hammer and would cut them off to only make the pain go away. I now take a ton of meds but have no pain and have a very normal life enjoying most everything. But, I probably have no liver either LOL but, no pain.
Sorry to read of your unfortunate problem Bob, I hope a second or third opinion will reveal something more cureable for you. Best of luck with this.
Hi Kevin - thanks for your advice, Kevin. It seems that the graphic tablets are starting to you a little bit of support here. I value your opinion and also Mackey’s, so I’m really leaning towards that.
Hi Richard Wicky - I’m sorry also to hear about your problem Richard, like you said, I can also understand yours since our pain seems to be quite similar. When the doctor told me that I would just have to live with this pain for the rest of my life, like you, I wondered how long I would even want to live with that. Thankfully, because of rest over the weekend I find that I’m able to manage the pain a bit. I’ve been at my computer about 2 1/2 hours this morning, and I’m starting to feel a little bit of pain in the wrist, so I know that it’s time to rest soon.
Hi Bob New York - thank you for your concern.
Hi Bob - Glad to see my tablet tip actually makes a little sense to you. If you do go for a tablet (wacom or not), make sure that the tablet is of a good size. This way your hand is not constricted to a limited space. It’s best that the tablet is comparable to the screen size (especially with a large size hand).
All I do is swivel my elbow & rest my wrist & arm onto the table/tablet.
I hold the pen similar to a regular writing pen BUT with less pressure.
Almost as if the pen is just resting in that space in between my thumb & index finger. tapping the pen takes very little effort.
I would not know if other brands available there are adequate. But I use wacom because I need the best brand for my digital paintings on photoshop. You may be ok with the those brands depending on how you plan to use it.
If you do plan on going ahead on wacom & want to purchase here. I’d be glad to use my address for mailing & then I’ll ship it to you.
hi bob, i am sad to hear that. Paul #2 is very right. I know this tree. if you believe in herbals, you should try it. No side effects… I can’t say: Get well soon, because you wrote you have to live with it, All the best my friend…
Hi macky - thanks for all the advice. If at all possible, I want to buy Wacom, because I believe it’s the best available. I’m a heavy user, and some of the things I do are quite graphic intensive, and I just believe that’s the way to go. Thank you for your offer of using your address, but actually I have something all set up for that already. I have a mail forwarding service in Florida that can do that for me, but I really appreciate your effort.
Hi Klaus - thank you for your concern. I was feeling down about this over the weekend, but now I’m feeling there are things I can do to alleviate the problem. At least that’s what I’m hoping.
Hi Bob! Oh, that’s really sad news. I hope the pain eases up with the medications. Take care1
Oh dear that’s awful
I don’t really know what to say…
Hi Bob. Sorry to hear about your wrist. I know there is voice software to replace the mouse. I don’t know what it is called but one of my phone agents had a call from a customer last week who had no use of his arms. He would tell his mouse to wake up, and direct it around the screen. “Up 2, left 3,” like that. Probably a grid overlay I would think. Once the pointer was where he wanted it he would tell it to click or double click and tell it to sleep. I hope the pain goes away. But there are ways for you to continue your work.
Oh and of course you should do the Pilipino thing and go see your local faith healer! Mine does wonders for the whole family.
A thought: Get a second opinion. There is more than one expert out there. I would hate for you to go through all this pain and there be a way to cure it. I am sure that your doctor is highly-competent, but it’s hard to keep up with new medicine. You may want to consider someone in Manila. At the very least, find out who the other expert in Davao might be.
It couldn’t hurt.
Geez Bob , sorry to hear the news , joint pain can be the worst. My brother has a business where he works on teh computer all day (audio editing) and quite a bit ago he switched to the track ball..which he swears by for comfort..I know I have had wrist irritation from the PC in past and have even mounted the track ball to the side of my chair where my hands naturally fall…seems to help…no bend in wrist doing it this way.Keep in mind asprin and sodium Naproxen reduce pain AND swelling…great for joint pain, tylenol (ibuporfen) does NOT reduce swelling..but helps with the pain. S. Naproxen works wonders for me.
Hope you get some relief..btw whirlpool therepy your wrist…one of natures best remedys.
Sorry Bob,
About your present condition. Would you consider a trip to the states? My parents have an unoccupied house in the Phoenix area that is easy driving distance to the world famous Mayo Clinic. Every doctor there is among the top in their field in the world. I am sure I could arrange for you to stay there for free while you tried to get things figured out. There is even a car there that they would probably let you use. The following web page might be of interest to you.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000421.htm
It says the calcification is usually caused by either uric acid deposits (gout) or salt crystal deposits (psuedo-gout), and that it can be tricky to determine which one is which. Some of the calcium crystals have to be removed and then analyzed to determine what kind they are to ensure you get the correct treatment.
I’m sure your doctor there is great, but 2nd opinions can’t hurt. My parents make use of doctors in Guam and the Philippines, but they go to the mayo clinic also a couple times per year.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/scottsdale/
In my prayers,
Kevin K.
Hi Cathy - thank you for your concern. Based on my experiences the last few days, I think that is something I can manage.
Hi Cheryll Ann - there’s not much that can be said, really. Hopefully I can keep the pain manageable. Thanks for your comment.
Hi George - I’ve been using the voice software for a few weeks now, George. I’m very happy with the. Oh, but I’m talking about for text input. Use it to control the mouse! I’ll have to check into that and see what I can find, thank you very much.
Hi Mike K. - yes, I am thinking of seeing a hilot to see if that offers any relief. Thanks for the suggestion, and I’m glad to see you back online again!
Hi Tom N - yes, I am planning to get a second opinion, no question on that. But, as I did say earlier, I will make some lifestyle changes that will help alleviate the problem, and seek a second opinion and sometime in the future as well. Thanks for your concern Tom.
Hi Brian - I just got back from shopping around at the computer stores in Davao. I was surprised I couldn’t find a single track ball anywhere in town. I did find some other possible replacement devices, though, and I will be studying them on the Internet before and make my final decision.
Hi Kevin K. - wow! What a generous offer, I thank you very much for your thoughtfulness. Actually, I’m quite surprised, because in addition to your offer I’ve received e-mails from others with similar offers. Places to stay and such in the states, even in Canada, if I choose to go for treatment there. I can’t believe the generosity as some of you guys here on the site. Kevin, I will keep your offer in mind. I appreciate it greatly. Thank you for your tips.
Hi Bob, After an accident that damaged my shoulder and broke my arm near the wrist, I have had continuous pain in the wrist, especially like you, when using a mouse. The carpal tunnel release worked to an extent, but I can no longer write properly with pen or pencil. One of the things that helped me was a cortisone injection. From the injury I had arthritis (calcium formation) in the shoulder joint. The cortisone acted like a lubricant, and lasted about a month before I needed another injection. Good luck in your search for a solution.
Hi John in Austria - and I didn’t realize you had such problems, I’m sorry to hear that, although it’s a cliché, I’ll use the phrase — I feel your pain!
I’ve been told that cortisone injections will actually make the calcification worse, so that’s probably something to be avoided in my case.
Hello Bob, certainly its a sad news. I pray that there will be another alternative to ease the pain. Dont worry Bob, just don’t lose hope & continue to pray that there will other options to cure that..
I myself is having a problem with my right ankle..had xrays, and just waiting for the result, and might go for MRI as well…
Kumusta Bob, As for the pain management,have you considered acupuncture as an option? There are probably quite a few competent acapunture specialist in the Davao area. Figure its worth a try if nothing else works.Good luck and hope you get well soon.
Hi Maryg - I’m sorry to hear about your ankle. A number of years ago I used to have ankle problems myself, but thankfully that has passed, and it’s not a problem anymore for me. Good luck to you, I hope it is healed quickly.
Hi Julius - thank you very much for your suggestion. Honestly, acupuncture is not something that I thought of, but I do feel it’s worth a try. I know in acupuncturist here in Davao, I think I’ll give him a call. It couldn’t hurt! Well, maybe it could, having those needles sticking in you and all!
Hi Bob-So sorry to hear about your wrist problem.I guess its a form of arthritis that you have and thats never good news.Maybe a trip to the local old lady who practices massage and herbal medicine is whats called for now.
Incidentally will this effect your ability to drive in time?
Take care and hope you can get some permenant relief soon.
Regards.
Jim.
Hi Bob: Very sorry to hear about this. It can’t be fun to go through all that pain. I do hope that you’ll find a more effective remedy ASAP. And good luck with whatever treatment you’re undergoing right now.
Take care always, my friend. There’s light at the end of the (Carpal) tunnel.
Bob right in your backyard is one of the most talked about natural remedies. It is called Mangosteen and there are tens of thousands of positive testimonies back in the USA where people sell it in the network marketing Direct Sales business. Whatever you might think about that business there are companies doing I kid you not 800 million dollars in sales. Xango is one of popular marketed Mangosteen products sold as a beerage. It is very expensive there at over $30 a bottle and the concentration is nothing to write home about. However, you live in the Philippines where you can buy a kilo of the stuff for $1.00 which might be the equivilent of ten bottles?.Anyway, So think about getting some. What if the stuff actually works on you. Problem solved. Pulverize the entire kilo of fruit including the pulp (not the pit) in a blender with some fruit juice and you will get a highly concentrated paste. then start drinking the stuff religiously. If you get a postive result great and if not you have lost nothing.
Hi Bob. It looks like you’ve got plenty of treatment with the above already.
My two cents is to look for a good OLD hand surgeon. St. Luke’s and the Philippine General Hospital should provide some names.
Of course the best move is to visit the good old U.S. of A. Any big orthopedic group practice should have four or more hand surgeons.
Any form of calcification just tells that you have chronic inflammtion in the area. I agree that previous surgery could have initiated it. I will not rest on a diagnosis of osteoarthritis or degenerative osteoarthritis though. It sounds like your symtomps are acute.
If I have to guess I think you have tendinitis.
Any antiinflammatory medications will help but will not be good for your overall health.
Cortisone shots will be dramatic in alleviating symptoms but will destroy tendons eventually. Also even how little, steroid shots will shoot your blood sugar up. (This is even true with topicals).
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) like Naproxen, Ibuprofen (Advil, Alleve, Motrin) etc… will help a lot but will not be good for you. As a diabetic you should not be taking them. They will destroy your kidneys and hasten eventual dialysis.
If it’s tendinitis, the best nonsurgical treatment would be splinting and eventual physical therapy (strengthening the muscles around the area).
Surgery on the tendon will be the last resort.
(Example of Tendinitis is “DeQuervain’s Tendinitis” it’s worth the read).
Best of luck.
Hi Bob, I had a bit of problem with my wrist too, not as bad as yours but still painful, now I keep my mouse on my knee, and its ok.
Hi jim - yes a trip to the hilot is on my agenda. Yes, if I don’t control the pain this does affect my ability to drive, it’s very hard to shift gears. Thank you for your encouragement.
Hi Migs - thanks for your kind words. My condition is not carpal tunnel, but rather calcification and my wrist joint. Thanks for your kindness.
Hi Richard Wicky - I enjoy mangosteen a lot, and I eat it regularly, if eating more will help, I’ll certainly do it!
Hi Dr. Sponk Long - thank you very much for all the information, I appreciated greatly.
Hi Markus - I’m glad you’re able to find some relief. That gives me some hope too.
Hi Bob, You have so much advise already anything I could say would be redundant. I do feel strongly though that a trip to the U.S. is in order. The expertise and technology is far superior to what is available there-you owe it to yourself to have the best options available. Good luck. ron
Basic Information
Ketoprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor. It is a potent analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory. Ketoprofen is most commonly prescribed for musculoskeletal pain from soft tissue injury, osteoarthritis or other bone and joint problems. It may be used to reduce or control fevers due to viral or bacterial infections.
NSAID’s work by inhibiting the body’s production of prostaglandins, thromboxane and other inflammatory mediators. Some of these actions are dose dependent. Ketoprofen may be given by injection or orally. Following oral administration, pain relief and fever reduction usually start within one to two hours.
Dogs and Cats
Ketoprofen is used in dogs and cats for the short-term management of post surgical pain. On occasion it may be used for the longer-term management of chronic pain particularly due to osteoarthritis. About 20% of adult dogs are affected with osteoarthritis, which makes management of musculoskeletal pain a major component of companion animal practice. There is a very narrow margin of safety for all NSAIDs in the dog and there are other NSAIDs that are more commonly used (Etodolac, and Rimadyl). GI protectant drugs such as Misprostal, Cimetidine, Omeprazole, Ranitidine, or Sucralfate are frequently included as a part of treatment with any NSAID.
Horses
Ketoprofen is commonly used for the management of musculoskeletal pain due to soft tissue injury, synovitis, and osteoarthritis in horses. It is also used as an antipyretic. Ketoprofen may also be used in the management of colic for protection from bacterial toxins (endotoxemia), however, flunixin meglumine is more commonly used for this purpose.
Injectable ketoprofen is only labeled for short-term use. The package insert recommends a maximum of 5 days. Although ketoprofen is labeled for intra-venous use, it has been used in the muscle with occasional injection site reactions.
Side Effects
• The most common side effects include ulceration of the GI tract and a drop in the red blood cell count due to GI bleeding.
• Rare side effects include kidney damage, bleeding disorders, and protein loss.
• Injection site reactions can occur if blood or the drug leaks back at the injection site.
• Ketoprofen is less likely to cause side effects in the horse than either flunixin or phenylbutazone.
Precautions
• NSAIDS should be avoided or very carefully monitored in animals with liver disease, kidney disease, or GI problems.
• Studies in laboratory animal species showed no harmful effects in pregnant animals when used at normal doses. These studies have not been repeated in dogs, cats or horses, and the manufacturer cautions against ketoprofen’s use in breeding animals. Ketoprofen is found in canine milk. No adverse effects on sperm production were found in male rats. Ketoprofen should be used in breeding animals with caution, when the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.
• Ketoprofen may be used in foals, but it should be used with particular caution to avoid GI ulceration and maintain kidney function. Premature foals, septicemic foals, foals with questionable kidney or liver function and foals with diarrhea require careful monitoring. Drugs to protect the GI tract such as omeprazole, cimetidine, and sucralfate are frequently used with NSAIDs particularly with foals.
• Pony breeds may be more susceptible to side effects from NSAIDs than horses. When NSAIDs are used in ponies, they should be used with caution and at the lowest effective dose.
• When ketoprofen is used in older horses it should be used carefully and at the lowest effective dose.
• Some veterinarians and many horse owners, particularly those involved in showing, use more than one NSAID in combination, for example, ketoprofen and phenylbutazone given together. Although there is little experimental evidence to support this practice, the theory is that different NSAIDs may act differently on different body systems. Particular care needs to be taken in this situation to avoid additive toxicity.
Drug Interactions
• Avoid combining with other anti-inflammatory drugs that tend to cause GI ulcers, such as corticosteroids and other NSAIDs.
• Avoid combining with anticoagulant drugs, particularly coumarin derivatives such as warfarin.
• Do not use in animals known to be allergic to aspirin.
Overdose
Overdoses of ketoprofen can cause GI ulcers, protein loss, and kidney and liver damage. Early signs of toxicity include loss of appetite, and depression.
Hi Bob, here in the U.S. there is a new pain relief treatment that uses laser , especially here in the Phoenix metro area there is a place call the LaserTech Pain Relief Center that utilize a Computer Guided Laser Theraphy ( CGLT) I’m sure that there are similar treatment centers just like this one across the USA .It is a new breakthrough and FDA approved. The procedure consist of a computer-guided laser that penetrates deep into inflammed joints to relieve pain and accelerates healing. Good thing is the process is non -surgical and from what I have gathered so far, it is also safe. Mag hinay-hinay ka lang diha ok? Take Care
Hi Bob,Sorry to hear about your ailment,unfortunately i have no answers.However as we in the Uk live in a cold,damp atmosphere for 6 mths of the year,a very popular way for protecting and oiling our joints especially as we get older is 1 a day Cod Liver Oil capsules.I take them as a supplement to prevent all the joint aches and pains in cold damp weather.Perfectly safe ,no side effects and worth taking as a general protector of joints,regards Chas
Hi Ron LaFleur - personally, I feel that medical care in the Philippines is nearly on par with the US. I know a lot of others don’t feel that way, but that’s how I feel. Basically, the things that I have done since I found out the news last week had nearly eliminated the pain, and I feel that I’m still just learning how to manage this. And they came to the point where I could not manage the pain at all, at that point I would definitely consider traveling somewhere, whether it be the USA or some other country to get treatment. For now though, I think it’s not necessary. Thanks for your concern, Ron.
Hi Richard Morse - wow, you certainly have a bunch of information there! Thank you for sharing that.
Hi Julius - thank you very much for that information, that’s new to me. I haven’t heard about it. It does sound promising. Nindot kaayo sa akong hunahuna!
Hi chas - hmm, cod liver oil. I hadn’t thought about that! Thanks for passing along the suggestion.
Hi Bob, I love your loyalty to the Philippines. I will agree to disagree. My example or source of proof would be Marlou. She worked as an ER nurse at Davao Doctors for many years. She now works as an ER nurse here in the U.S.. I have asked her how different it is here compared to there. She said there is absolutely no comparison. She also told me that the patients that would die in the ER there go home the next morning here. Her son has now joined us. He has only one vocal cord and obviously it effects speech. In the Philippines they told him there was nothing there that they could do. They did tell him that he might be able to get it taken care of here in the US.. Well he has his surgery schedule for tomorrow afternoon. He will be home tomorrow night. The Docs here say not a problem-very easy fix. I also want to say that Marlou comes from a family of Doctors that practice right there in Davao. So she comes with some experience. She read your symptoms and her first words were that you need to come here and get if fixed. Its not that the Docs are not good-they are, its the technology that is here-its just not there. Bob your a good guy, we all care about you - I know you are aware of that. My wish as I am sure is the wish of many is that you do all that you can to take care of yourself-completely. I have written way too much-sorry. Take care of yourself. Ron
Hi Ron LaFleur - I do appreciate your thoughts and your comment, Ron. I’m not sure if you read through all the comments on this particular post or not. I do understand that there are a lot of comments, and most people probably don’t have the time to read all of them. However, I’ve stated several times in the comments that through making some lifestyle changes and changes in my work setup, I have practically been able to eliminate the pain. As a matter of fact, each day as I make small changes, I’m finding that it has a huge impact on my wrist. I made several important changes yesterday, the biggest impact of which was to get a graphic pad to replace my mouse, and today I have virtually no pain in my wrist. So, what I’m saying is, yes there are some medical cases where travel abroad is necessary to get the best treatment, but, in a case like mine where I can make changes to eliminate stress, that’s the most economical and sensible thing to do. If you can make changes and avoid surgery, that’s always the best way to go. Surgery should always be the last resort in my opinion.
So, we don’t necessarily disagree that every procedure can’t be done in the Philippines. My point is simply that in this case, I do not believe it is medically necessary to travel. In only a few days time I’ve been able to make some huge leaps, which eliminate pain, and improve my health. I think it’s been the right way to go.
I understand-glad the pain is better. Keep writing-I like to keep reading. (-:
Hi Ron LaFleur - Don’t worry, I don’t intend to stop writing! It’s a part of my routine now, and it would be hard for me to give it up!
Hi Bob . sorry to here that you have calcification in my wrist joint . i have it in both of my shoulder jionts , i had to have the opp .i had my left shoulder done first in april and its a lot better now . next week my right is getting done and hope all will be ok then . but bob you must rest the more you use your wrists the more pain you will get . its stoped me working for a year now. but i can now see light at the end of the tunnel . when i get a bit better after my op and can travel i am coming to davao for a rest for two mouths if think beginning of october if all goes well . If it help bob i have to take anti-inflammatory drugs and strong pain killers to keep the pain at bay just to get about each day hope this helps . wil have to meet up bob in october
True. I expect that, no matter what you discover, some lifestyle changes will be needed. And that’s okay. You live in the Philippines; you can hire people to do so many things for you!
Hi andy - thank you for sharing your information, it sounds like you and I are in the same boat! When you come to doubt I’ll, be sure and let me know, I would certainly enjoy meeting you. I hope you get a lot of rest and relaxation during your visit!
Hi Tom N - that’s very true Tom, and I’m very thankful for the fact that I live here, and can hire with whatever help I need. Thanks for stopping by.
http://tts.imtranslator.net/190d
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Strange - couldn’t post before. Let’s try again.
http://tts.imtranslator.net/190d
Ellen
Hi Ellen - got your message. Are you experiencing some trouble with the site?
test=http://tts.imtranslator.net/190d
couldnt’ send this link before - try again.
Yes - I am trying to send a link. But couldn’t get it in. Tried all sorts of ways - even a character in front of the http:
That’s ok - will see if I can send it by email. Hope you are fine.
Ellen
Hi Ellen - when you try to send a comment with a link and it, that is generally flagged for my approval. This is to keep things like spam from being posted in the comments, which links would often indicate. So if you post a comment like that, and it doesn’t show up immediately, just wait, and as soon as I have a chance to review it, i will approve it and it will be posted to the site.
there they are - what happened? did you fix it?
Hi Ellen - yes, the comments were waiting for my approval, whenever there’s a comment with links in it like that, it has to be held until I approve it.