Which pain meds to use?

I have a chronic hip problem caused by a fall when I was pregnant. I was hoping that the weight loss would help but it hasn't. So I have been trying to just deal with the pain via exercise. Well now I have torn my rotator cuff (I think) old volleyball injury. The walk in clinic prescribed me muscle relaxers as anti inflamatories are a no. My arm aches constantly and wakes me from my sleep. I am addicted to working out and have been barrelling through regardles but I can't any longer.
I have an xray and ultrasound booked for Monday.
Are muscle relaxers ok to take? It is something like Clyo or cyclo something. I cant remember.
As soon as she said meds...I tuned her out. Why is it always meds instead of being advised no to use my arm or rest?

No nsaids; [anti-inflammatories] due to stomach irritation...muscle relaxants are okay.  Acetaminophen is also okay...[tylenol].  Pain sucks, but keep working with your Dr. to find something that works that won't irritate your stomach.

Cyclobenzaprine? It isn't an NSAID so it is safe for a RNYer. It is effective for muscle pain, especially muscle spasms and it also is believed to block pain sensations, but how it does this is not fully understood. It has been found equally effective as NSAIDs in some studies for muscle pain. It can cause drowsiness though, especially in doses over 5mg, so be careful if you plan to drive.

As for why they don't tell you just to rest it - you will tense it when you feel pain, even if you try not to. Your ability to do this is reduced by the drug, which gives the muscles more opportunity to heal. Though, obviously, not working it out heavily while you're healing is a good idea.

If your hip pain is sciatic related, the pain clinics prescribe elavil ( amytriptiline ) to treat nerve related pain, which also helps with sleep in pt's with chronic nerve pain.  Flexerol ( Cyclobenzaprine )is a great muscle relaxer, but is pretty ineffective for nerve related pain, other than as a sleep aid and leaves hang over effects typically.  Hope you feel better.

Tramacet is an acetaminophen based medication that you might need if plain acetaminophen is not doing the job. You need a prescription for this. Or if you ask at the pharmacy you can buy Tylenol #1 over the counter. Barrelling through pain I'm sorry is about the worst thing you can do. Pain is your body's way of saying that something is wrong, you need to stop and find out what is going on. Rest your arm, ice it if that helps, take pain meds as needed. If you take tylenol regularly, like 2 plain tylenol twice a day you might find that it helps with the pain and inflammation. You can still walk but I wouldn't do anything more strenuous until you know what is going on with your shoulder.

Yes Pat that is it and it as given more to help me sleep. Tylenol doesn't
touch the pain and traumacet I'm allergic to. I had been through a list of meds
prior to surgery and only took advil because of my job (police) I can't take
anything that makes me foggy. That and 3 kids I need to be on the ball for!
That's why I have been ducking it up but with s 2nd injury I'm at a loss!
I'm afraid to stop working out as it is my new outlet! I don't want to get depressed about mug injury and then take away my release! Not a good combo!
Damn head games...
Thank you all for the great info, I love having an educated sounding board.
This dr told me nears are no big deal for rny'ers , yeah ok!

i take the amitriptiline, i was prescibed for my migraines, but dr. explained it is used to block nerve pain, and also helps to keep you alseep. You may ant to giv it a try.  It could hlp with the hip, and maybe even the shoulder.  Good luck with finding the right med  for you.

Barbie

The problem with chronic pain is that people want immediate results from their pain medication and it doesn't work that way especially with chronic pain. You have to take medication consistently for it to work properly. So taking plain tylenol may not work immediately for pain relief but if you took 2 plain or extra strength 2 or 3 times a day for several days you would notice a difference. You have to get the medication up to a theraputic level and then maintain it then gradually wean down after a certain amount of time. I think for your shoulder this would be appropriate if you don't want to take stronger medication but if you have a torn rotator cuff are you working anyway? None of my business but just curious.

I only use Tylenol for any type of pain or headache.