Here’s a little background-
I have MS and was taking Ibuprofen (800 mg) when I took my Rebif shot every 2 days to prevent flu-like symptoms. I also took Ibuprofen b/c I get major migraines from the MS. The 800 mg of Ibuprofen really helped my migraines…they usually went away within 20 minutes.
Well then a few months ago, I started getting really bad cramps (from female issues). The Gyno prescribed me some Naproxen. Well, at the time I didn’t know I couldn’t take Ibuprofen AND Naproxen (since they are in the same family of NSAID’s), but on some days I was taking both.
Well, about 2 months ago, I started having really bad knee pain and went to my regular doctor. He told me that I have really bad arthritis in my knee cap. At the time, I had been on steroids prescribed by my neuro for my problems with my MS. So, at the time I was taking steroids, Ibuprofen AND Naproxen.
My regular doctor told me that Naproxen/Ibuprofen should be helping my knee pain b/c it is designed to help arthritis.Since it wasn’t helping, he gave me Vicodin (without me asking for it). It helped, but when I ran out, he refused to refill it and gave me Diclofenac Sodium.
Well now, this diclofenac sodium is not only NOT helping my knee pain, it is also causing me to get headaches. If diclofenac and ibuprofen/naproxen are in the same family, then why would Ibuprofen help my headaches and diclofenac cause a headache? I don’t know what to do now b/c Ibuprofen was the only thing that helped my headaches, but I can’t take Ibuprofen if I am on diclofenac.