Relafen Treatment for Tendoniitis [posted 10/6/98]
Question: I am a 18 yr old female that was diagnosed with tendonitis or overuse in my hands. My doctor instructed me to take Relafen 500mg twice daily for thirty days. I happen to work at my physicians office and yet i am not quite sure what this drug is supposed to do for my hands. Could possibly explain to me exactly what relafen does to my hands, and if it is just a tempory relief thing or if it will hopefully end the pain i keep having.

Answer; Relafen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It should be taken for sufficient time to decrease your tendonitis, probably work related by the way. It can be increased to 750 or 1000 mg if necessary. Side effects are mainly GI, nausea, gastritis, diarrhea etc.

Side Effects
Question: I had tendonitis in my elbow about 3 months ago. I went to the doctor and was given a Cortisone shot in the tendon. First question, the area lost its pigment, will it come back? Second I did not resume weight lifting for three months and changed my routine to lighter weights the pain is returning. What should I do?

Answer: The pigment will probably not return -but, this is a unusual reaction to cortisone. I would consult a physical therapist or sports medicine specialist to change your lifting style or to try different exercises to prevent the tendonitis. The weight/reps are the cause and you may be able to develop this muscle by a different technique or style.

Index Finger Flexor Tendon
Question: I am a 32 year old caucasian female with primary ovarian failure, hypothyroidism, and osteoporosis. Since early August, 1996 (over a year ago), I have experienced pain in my left hand/wrist/arm. It is probably some sort of repetitive motion disorder or overuse disorder associated with typing, although I have it on good authority that it is not deQuervains or Carpel tunnel syndrome. I have undergone conventional and unconventional treatment without remission. My internist diagnosed the problem as chronic tendonitis (probably the index finger flexor tendon because it hurts to apply any pressure with my forefinger, the pain is mostly in the wrist area on the underside). I am currently taking 1000 mg of Relafen a day to take the edge off the pain. My internist is in the process of setting up an appointment with an Orthopedic surgeon, who, she says, will probably want to give me a cortisone injection into the tendon. I am willing to do anything to get rid of the pain -- after a year I am quite worn out with it. But, I'm concerned that the injection will not cure the problem and that the pain will return. What, exactly, does the cortisone do and will it cure the tendonitis? Are there any special risks because of my hypothyroidism and osteoporosis? Is there something my doctor could do to find the cause of the problem?

Answer: Cortisone is a strong anti-inflammatory and will fix the problem about 50% of the time. However, you are probably correct about the repetitive activity causing the problem. That is, if you continue the activity you will have a return of the tendonitis-shot or no shot. I am assuming that your thyroid disease is correctly treated-there should be no systemic risks(the osteoporosis is not a factor here).
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