Celebrex, Advil, Naproxen

[red-beard]

About 2 weeks ago, I damaged my middle finger while bicycling...

I reached down to adjust the sensor on the front fork, and my hand went into the spoke. Yes I was moving at about 20 mph...

OK, enough with the laughing.

The finger was pretty well swollen up, and MOST of the swelling has gone down, but middle joint is still swelled on one side. I was taking Naproxen last week. I forgot to take it with me to Mexico, so I was dipping into my emergency Celebrex stash. The swelling pretty much went down, almost away.

I've been back in the US now for 4 days and back on taking the Naproxen. The swelling seems to be returning. I can't bend the find fully.

Is there something better about the Celebrex vs. the Naproxen? Is one better for joints than the other? Are these questions getting annoying? Will our hero survive until one of the doctors takes pity on him and answers his questions?

Tune in next time for:

Bigger middle fingers or he's a Swell guy...

[Tobra]

They are all about the same, some work better for some people or some problems, that's all. You should be icing it, maybe blew out the ligaments on the medial(pinky)side. I would buddy splint the ring finger and fat finger together, above and below swelling, perhaps with a pad between them.

Hope you did not bend a spoke.

[Rikao4]

your going to grow a fingernail in your tummy young man..
quit nibbling..

Rika

[Tobra]

that is pretty funny, did not even notice

[red-beard]

Actually, I trim pretty close, so I can get the dirt/grease out. It also prevents me from doing with Rika says...

[RWebb]

Celebrex is newer & has the advantage of not making you drowsy IIRC.

I used to get the best relief with naproxin, but am told I'm allergic to it.

[scottmandue]

Duct tape!

I was going to suggest ice but figured I let a doc chime in.

Now I feel all smart and stuff.

Hey, fill a ice chest with beer, soak your hand in the ice... multitasking!

[Noah930]

Celebrex and Naprosyn are both anti-inflammatories, but work through different mechanisms. Celebrex is in the COX-2 inhibitor class, and Naprosyn (and Advil/Motrin/Aleve) is an NSAID. No perticular rhyme or reason--sometimes one just works better than the other. Sometimes some meds in the same class work better than other meds in the same class.

All meds have potential side effects. If you're older and have a heart condition, a couple other COX-2 drugs got pulled from the marketplace because of increased cardiac risk (i.e. death from heart attacks). Just one thing to keep in mind. Maybe not a problem if you're only taking this stuff for a few weeks, but you should keep it in mind if you're using if for long periods.

Looks like you sprained the PIP joint. Which side hurts more, the swollen side? Or the other side next to the index finger? Is the joint stable (or can you wiggle it significantly side-to-side like how it's NOT supposed to go)? If you have to, buddy tape it--I'd advise to the ring finger as it looks like the ulnar collateral ligament is the one that's injured. You don't want to open book the injury by taping it to the index finger. And move the joint. Don't splint it in a static position.

It may stay swollen for a couple weeks...or several months. Soft tissue injuries take their own sweet time to heal. But by keeping it supple and moving, you're minimizing the amount of scar tissue that develops that leads to stiffness. Scar tissue is simultaneously your friend (that's how the ligament will heal) but also your enemy (too much scar tissue leads to permanent joint stiffness). A little stiffness takes a LOT of therapy to work away. Don't get stiff to begin with.

As long as the joint is stable, you don't need surgery.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Noah930

All meds have potential side effects. If you're older and have a heart condition, a couple other COX-2 drugs got pulled from the marketplace because of increased cardiac risk (i.e. death from heart attacks). Just one thing to keep in mind. Maybe not a problem if you're only taking this stuff for a few weeks, but you should keep it in mind if you're using if for long periods.

I was on Bextra for some time for my knee. I've been using Celebrex on and off for it and some neck issue (as needed) since then. The Naproxen is much cheaper, as is Ibuprofen.

Originally Posted by Noah930

Looks like you sprained the PIP joint. Which side hurts more, the swollen side? Or the other side next to the index finger? Is the joint stable (or can you wiggle it significantly side-to-side like how it's NOT supposed to go)? If you have to, buddy tape it--I'd advise to the ring finger as it looks like the ulnar collateral ligament is the one that's injured. You don't want to open book the injury by taping it to the index finger. And move the joint. Don't splint it in a static position.

Seems stable. Hurts more on the top middle of the joint and the left side, a little below the joint (about even with the middle joint of the ring finger), when I press on it. It hurts really only when I try to curl the finger completely, which I can't do, from the swelling.

Originally Posted by Noah930

It may stay swollen for a couple weeks...or several months. Soft tissue injuries take their own sweet time to heal. But by keeping it supple and moving, you're minimizing the amount of scar tissue that develops that leads to stiffness. Scar tissue is simultaneously your friend (that's how the ligament will heal) but also your enemy (too much scar tissue leads to permanent joint stiffness). A little stiffness takes a LOT of therapy to work away. Don't get stiff to begin with.

As long as the joint is stable, you don't need surgery.

What had me concerned is that the swelling was less, now it's more...

I'll tape it to the ring finger and try some heating and cooling.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by red-beard

What had me concerned is that the swelling was less, now it's more...

Swelling may come and go with use of the finger. Or it may be reflective of your change in medications. It's less likely that it's a sign of worsening damage to the joint (assuming you're using common sense).

The joint may never be as svelte as it was prior to injury. The swelling will definitely improve from what it looks like now, but may take months to get there. You may be a 1/4 of a ring size bigger from here on out on that digit, though.

[red-beard]

Common Sense is very Uncommon...

Ring size, not an issue, as I only wear rings on ring fingers.

I've taped the ring finger to it, makes typing kinda of *****, since I'm a 4 fingered typist and that means the middle's and the pointers. Well, I do use the thumbs a bit too. I'm glad that I'm not a touch typist, like my wife, as I'd be fuched...

Pinot Noir and Carbernet are helping...Hopefully I won't post like Hardrive...

[Tobra]

My pinky is still jacked up from injury in college. Taping reduces chance of reinjury but allows function. Circumferential compression will help, but keeps you from moving it. You right or left handed Red?

Injured joint will tend to swell after you go flying, seen it many times.

Noah, I am still not convinced that the COX 2 drugs make that much difference on cardiac stuff. All the studies I have read, they took them off the ASA when they started on the Vioxx or whatever and lost the therapeutic effect of the aspirin. I have not looked at it in a while, but if I am thinking of starting anyone on them, I run it by the Cardiologist first. If they don't have a Cardiologist, the heck with it.

[red-beard]

Right handed. I hope you can tell which hand I injured...

[azasadny]

I take Aleve 220mg (Naproxen) for my gout pain and it really helps without causing my liver enzymes to increase...

[Tobra]

Most of the NSAIDs are processed through your kidneys Art, you need to watch the tylenol if you have liver concerns.

[azasadny]

Tobra,
Yep! No Tylenol or any other OTC pain meds for me! I strictly use Aleve, and only in limited dosage for gout pain. I'm very disciplined with my diet and lifestyle due to liver disease/gout and so far, so good. The Allopurinol is working, too!

[Joeaksa]

Remember that 1. Celebrex is supposed to be not good for your heart, and 2. Celebrex also puts on weight.

I took it for years and still pop one from time to time when the neck is acting up but otherwise have stopped it all together.