in the fall, my compounding pharmacist recommended a NSAID gel/creme better he said than the voltaren gel i was using. since the voltaren gel wasn't doing much for me, decided to try the compounding pharmacist's suggestion, something he made for a number of orthopedist's patients in town.

KIP: 10% Ketoprofen, 10% Ibuprofen, 2% Piroxicam

until this week, the part of my cervical spine that has some damage to it, as seen by MRI, would only hurt if i sat and worked for too long, or watched tv for too long, things like that. but last few days, its really been bad, constantly. getting up and taking breaks wasn't helping at all.

last night we did ultrasound and ice. the ice helped while i had it on the area, but didn't last. today pulled out the KIP gel. and it really makes a difference.

so, flector patch on the SI and KIP gel on the neck.
both topical NSAIDs.

so for anyone who can't tolerate oral NSAIDs as i can't. if some very specific spots worse than others. seems that for now, there are ways of addressing those areas. for now. sure beats icing all day long. a lot more practical to use the gels and patches.

What is the KIP called? Is there a generic name or brand? Is this a prescription? I am very interested due to my not being able to take the NSAID's due to my gastritis as well. Any relief from the neck, shoulders, end of ribs, etc., etc., pain would be greatly appreciated.

Peace

hi,

this is a special NSAID topical gel / cream that was recommended to me by the compounding pharmacy. they gave me the "recipe", had my GP write a script for it, and i get it from the compounding pharmacy.

its kind of pricey: can't remember if it was close to $100 or $200, though insurance has been paying for all but the $25 copay. and for me, it lasts forever. i use such a tiny amount at a time, really don't need much at all.

10% ketoprofen, 10% ibuprofen, 2% piroxicam "KIP gel" transdermal. 30 grams total. apply to inflamed area up to three times a day. massage in very well.

i'm assuming any good compounding pharmacy should know about it. my compounding pharmacy said a lot of the local orthopedics prescribe it.

i'm surprised how well it works. before this, used voltaren gel (1% dicholfenac). don't think its the difference in the type of topical NSAID, as the dichlofenac in the flector patches that i wear over my SI work very well, rather i think its the strength of the KIP over the Voltaren that makes the difference for me.

i still use the voltaren gel with the ultrasound (louise (inkyfingers) one of our resident PTs here suggested this to me) as i'm afraid the KIP gel might be too powerful for this application as the US drives the NSAID into the skin (or at least that is my understanding). besides, i use the smallest amount of KIP gel and that wouldn't be enough for US, though i could mix it with an inactive US gel, but still, afraid the KIP is too strong for that application.

good luck, i hope you can get the KIP gel, and if you do, that it helps.

thanks for the info! I will talk to my Rheumy next tuesday! Sounds like something that might help.

Peace

hope it does! let us know.

Good to hear about something that works!

Please be careful with the NSAIDs though, no matter how it enters your body. From my understanding, this can still have adverse reactions on GI tract, so take normal precautions (make sure you have eaten, aciphex or other to protect your GI).

Good luck!! Jessica

thanks jessica,

yeh, i entered into all of this topical nsaid stuff very warily. from all i had read, and having gastritis that i've been controlling for the last near 20 years.

i really don't use the KIP gel very often, kind of an emergency thing. so that's not the one i worry about as much.

but also been wearing a flector patch over my SI 24/7 for over 3 months now, changing it religiously every ~12 hours. and am amazed that thus far i've had no edema (another one of my big problems with nsaids and statins) or gastritis issues. i'm actually really amazed, and i'd know it if i had these symptoms because i get gastritis pain even with the littlest amount of stomach inflammation (as determined by scoping) and with the edema, can feel my shoes get tight as the first sign of the edema. maybe its the really slow delivery that helps? maybe it gets into the lymphatic system more than the blood stream? (read that that was true of topical progesterone)

but you are so right to be careful with the topical stuff. but so far for me, so good, fingers (and toes) crossed.

and thanks for the good thoughts as well!

Green with ENVY! Enjoy & be careful!