Really missing my NSAIDs right now

With surgery only 5 days away, I've had to stop taking my Naprozen.  I take them for my early carpal tunnel syndrome as well as my sciatic.  My carpal hasn't been bother me too much, but my hip is killing me!  The more I try to do in advance of surgery, the more pain I'm in by night time.  And because I am so close to surgery, I can't even take Tylenol.  The best I can do is use the numbing spray that my chiropractor gave me and have my DH do what we call "pressure points" on my hip.  (He uses his thumb and presses hard on the knot.  Hurts like hell but helps relieve the pain a bit.)

I know the last time I lost 40 lbs., my sciatic stopped hurting, so I'm hoping that repeats itself.

 Hoping that this short period of pain is quickly replaced by a permanent reduction in pain post-op!  I love my celebrex for the arthritis in my hip, so I'm afraid of going NSAID free, too.  I heard that there is NSAID that can be applied topically, so no risk to the stomach.  Can't remember the name, but it starts with a V...may voltran?  It comes in some emugel format or something that is called similar.  maybe this is an option for you?

I think you mean Voltaren Emulgel.  I'd forgotten all about that.  I even think I have some ... somewhere.  I'll have to dig it out and see if it will work.  Thanks for reminding me.

 OOps...Sorry didn't see this post.  Should have read all of your replies first.   Sorry    Sharri   

you should check for sure if you can take that or not.... i do believe that NSAIDS still affect the stomach, even if you don't take them orally.

 yes, that's what I mean.  let me know if it works well for you.   I've never tried it, but someone just told me about it the other day.  It sounds promising for all of us who won't be able to take NSAIDS after surgery.  
Good luck with your surgery?  Hope it goes great and you heal quickly!

My husband has used that cream for various sports injuries and he says it works really well.

 Hi Beth...You poor thing!  I feel for you!  I was just wondering who was it that told you that you can't take Tylenol?  I just had my Pre Op on Wednesday and no one told me anything about Tylenol?  I sure do miss my Advil though as I have Chronic Back pain due to a work injury.  Just a suggestion but have you tried Voltaren (it's a gel that is now available in Canada) or BioFreeze (that I got from my Chiropractor's office.  You might have to check to see if you can use any of these though.  Take care and I hope all goes well with your surgery.   Sharri    

I misread the instruction booklet.  I thought I couldn't take any pain relievers for the week prior to surgery.  It's just the NSAIDs they want to you to stop.

But that being said, Tylenol doesn't really do much for my sciatica.  Wrong type of med.

Beth,

Voltaren is an NSAID as well.  The generic name is Diclofenac.  It is absorbed into the skin to work.  Just to be safe, I would contact the clinic and get their opinion because I don't know if they are banning NSAIDS specifically due to possible gastric bleeding or also because they make platelets less sticky (therefore more risk of bleeding generally).

I would be safe and avoid it.  Sorry.