Question
Hi Karen,
Thanks for volunteering your expertise.  I've had mild arthritis in the knees for several years.  I've been on Mobic, but I don't think it did much.  
Then, a week ago...KABOOM!...joints (felt like bones too) in my hands, wrists, knees, ankles and feet became stiff, sore and swollen.  My DO said it was arthralgia and prescribed 7 days of Prednisone.  I felt great, but 24 hrs after the last Pred, the symptoms were back.  He took me off Mobic and prescribed Bextra.  A day and a half into treatment, the symptoms have subsided a bit.
My questions:  1)Do you think Bextra is safe?  I don't have a history of heart problems.  There's so much hoopla over Vioxx, etc, that I guess everyone's scared.  My DO said it's safe if properly prescribed.  2)My attack was preceeded by a very long spell of hot, humid weather.  Do you think this could have precipitated it?  3) How do you control your pain?


Answer
Dear Juanita,   I control my pain with Tylenol Extra Strength, Arprin and Darvocet N-100.....  I have never taken anything else because everything my doctor prescribed did nothint for me, so I chose not to take pills that did not work....  The humidity may have had something to do with your flare-up, but normally HOT weather has no bearing...  Cold weather on the other hand can cause more pain and swelling...  As for the Bextra, I can't say much since I never took it and never will because I do have heart problems....

thank you,   karen