I have discovered that my partial hearing loss and tinnitus were probably caused by taking diclofenac for nine years. Fortunately, I then became computer savvy and looked up the side effects. I decided a bit of arthritis was preferable to losing any more hearing (I have 'cured' the arthritis by walking).
If you really need anti-inflammatories, it is worth finding out which have the least harmful side effects, such as Naproxen.

I can't take Ibuprofen, not even the rub on one.

Didn't know that Greatnan. I have partial hearing loss & tinnitus and also took diclofenac for 9/10 years.

I agree that anti-inflammatories cause side effects but I am not sure you can walk off arthritis. Can you explain Greatnan ?

When I first came to live in the Alps, I had some arthritis in my hip and knees. After two years of very long, very steep walks I seem to have strengthened the ligaments, etc which support the joints and I can now walk for many, many miles without pain. The only medication I take now is 2.5 mg Ramipril for high blood pressure, and that is now down to normal levels.
It may be that losing two stones has helped with the knee problem - whatever it is, I love my walks in the gorgeous Alpine scenery, it is free and I know it is doing me good. What more could you ask of any activity?

I know our doctors are loathe to use diclofenac [except for the cream which I think is brilliant] but didn't know that was a side effect. It's really important to keep joints moving when they're arthritic; I think it stops more bony bits developping. I've felt very acidy since I took codeine and ibuprofen when I had that touch of sciatica.

I took diclofenac for years before having a hip replacement.
I have an appointment with ENT clinic in November for an assessment for an hearing aid. I would never have made the connection.

What about the liver damage that can be caused by long term use of Naproxan. My doctor has suggested that I stop taking it and try to manage with just a couple of co-dydramol in the morning and maybe a couple before I go to bed. Seems to be OK at the moment.

I also took diclofenec for a number of years, but was changed to Naproxan a few years ago.

Pain killers seem to go in and out of fashion.

I am not sure it is fashion - more about side effects becoming more obvious with the system of recording them.

That's kind of what I meant. One minute last years taboo painkiller is the painkiller of choice..until they find another side effect that they hadn't noticed before.

My poor mum suffered with her stomach due to anti-inflammatories- but to be fair, she never followed the advice to take them with food. She was a black coffee and fags person.

Greatnan, there is arthritis and ... arthritis. Clear that carrying extra weight and doing little exercise will make it worse. But for many, either due to genetics or previous serious injuries- no walking or losing weight will 'cure' it, sadly. I have arthritis in my knee, due to a terrible injury when I was young- and losing weight will help, but not cure. The terrible pain in my left thumb will not go away with weight loss nor exercise - unfortunately.

I only take anti-inflammatories when it is really bad, and use paracetamol when it is just bad - or local ipobrufen gel.

Of course I wasn't suggesting that what worked for me would work for everybody - my arthritis was fairly mild anyway. I just wish I had not simply accepted the diclofenac without question. The tinnitus is really annoying once I turn the TV off.

Granjura I do sympathise with you that thumb pain is a killer , I take anti-inflammatories every day because they need to be taken regularly to build up the effect my GP told me that taking them now and then is no good they have to be taken for 2/3 weeks at least before you will notice the difference. I would prefer to stop taking them but I've tried and can't function without them, although I am cutting down the dose gradually , I want to take half what I'm taking now . I haven't noticed any side-effects so far , I can only imagine how annoying tinnitus must be..

I meant to add that I am taking Naproxen not diclofenic..

I take paracetamol and codeine every day, plus naproxen sometimes, or aspirin. I have been taking painkillers pretty much daily since my late teens for arthritis. As far as I'm concerned, the 'side effects' of constant pain (depression and losing the will to live) are FAR worse than anything the drugs might do to me. Haven't noticed any drug side effects anyway so far.

Not overweight and never have been. Very active lifestyle thrown in too.

Any opinions on the effectiveness or otherwise of glucosamine+chondroitin ?

proven to be clinically useless according to latest research. might as well spray WD40 ON IT!

There's another thread just started up about arthritis, where similar issues are being discussed.

Both my doctor and chemist were concerned about liver damage associated with Naproxen.

Aspirin and anti-biotics can cause tinnitus, and sadly, so can advanced years.

My sister swears by glucosamine+chondroitin and trued to convince me I needed to take the supplement. I don't have a problem and wouldn't take them she does religiously and has problems with back, knees, shoulder and neck, I don't think they work at all.

Aspirin, and no doubt other drugs, can cause all sorts of things. That doesn't mean it will. In the majority of cases, it doesn't cause problems, and it has proved itself a very useful drug over a long period of time. Sometimes I think we worry too much.

Agreed - very few effective drugs have no side-effect, and it is a constant 'balancing act' to decide if the positive effects are more or less than the possible side-effects. My dad would read the leaflet and immediately experience the side-effects he'd read about.

I developed tinnitus in my 50's - hardly an advanced age. I don't think I am going to start accepting 'It's just your age' when things start to go wrong.

The supplement industry is worth billions and I don't believe most people need anything other than a good, balanced diet, unless they have some specific nutritional deficiency. As they are not classed as drugs, they don't have to meet the same criteria of safety.
I did some research on glucosamine/chondroitin - most of the 'favourable' studies were funded by the manufacturers.

My daughter's MIL and SIL went to a 'nutritionist' - probably got his qualification at the same college as that Gillian quack - and they both turned out to be allergic to practically everything - wheat, meat, dairy - so they were left with an extremely restricted diet. What a load of bovine excrement!