General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: FDA Panel Votes To Place Tighter Controls On Narcotics Like Vicodin [View all]godai
(2,902 posts)Sorry to hear about your husband's difficulties. I would think Vicodin throughout the day would cause a lot of drowsiness. Ibuprofen (an NSAID) can be rough on the stomach but maybe worth a try, to see if it relieves some pain. Relief only lasts 4 hours. Might be an alternative to Vicodin only dosing.
Will Obamacare hopefully get you insurance?
Seems like opioids are not recommended for AS...
http://www.spondylitis.org/about/as_treat.aspx
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are still the cornerstone of treatment and the first stage of medication in treating the pain and stiffness associated with AS. However, NSAIDs can cause significant side effects, in particular, damage to the gastrointestinal tract.
When NSAIDs are not enough, the next stage of medications, (also known as second line medications), are sometimes called disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. This group of medications include: Sulfasalazine, Methotrexate and Corticosteroids.
The most recent and most promising medications for treating ankylosing spondylitis are the biologics, or TNF Blockers. These drugs have been shown to be highly effective in treating not only the arthritis of the joints, but also the spinal arthritis. Included in this group are Enbrel, Remicade and Humira.