Hi, I don't have arthritis per se, but due to my search, perhaps this is the
best group to ask due to the numbers of people here using Bextra or
Naproxyn.

I was in a bad car accident four and a half years ago, and suffered a broken
left femur, and now have a titanium rod there. Also had a broken right tibia
which healed, and a torn meniscus on my right knee which the hospital never
repaired, and which I don't have the money to take care of. I'm not sure
which part of the right knee meniscus is torn, as I hear there's more than
one meniscus, or parts thereof.

In my work, and daily activities, I often get pain around the torn meniscus
area and sometimes around where my femur was broke. I believe I can
generally put just so much stress a day on this, as it's usually fine until
a certain point of use/stress. Then the areas get tender and some pain. Not
excruciating, but just enough that I take as a warning sign to slow down any
activities using my legs and let them recuperate. I don't feel like putting
more stress, not only the pain, but I fear I may injure the stressed areas
more.

I expressed this to my doctor, as my job has gotten harder and tougher, more
on my legs, and therefore more stress. A couple weeks ago she gave me a 14
day sample supply of Bextra 10 mg tabs, and told me to take one a day, every
day, no matter if my legs bother me or not.

The next day it was all over the news of the reports on how Vioxx and it's
relatives, including Bextra are causing heart attacks and strokes. I waited
until last week until I started taking them, knowing I had another doctors
appointment this week, and I figured give it a try, and I shouldn't drop
dead in a week. The Bextra seem to work pretty good so far. I still feel a
little pain in my legs at times, but I think the frequency is much reduced.

At my appointment Monday, I brought up the reports linking Vioxx/Bextra with
heart attacks, etc. My doctor said I could try something else if I'm that
concerned, so she prescribed me Naproxyn 375 mg twice a day. I got if
filled, and when I got home, went online and read to pretty much expect
ulcers and other gastric troubles if taking Naproxyn. In fact one website
claims a 72% rate of users who use Naproxyn to get ulcers. I really don't
know in what kind of time frame, but I will probably be on whatever I have
to take indefinitely, so I don't want to deal with ulcers.

I'm a reasonably healthy 51 year old white male with average blood pressure,
usually around 110/80. I don't smoke and never have, I'll occasionally drink
socially. I just had stress tests done for my heart last May, and they said
my heart was fine, and I have had no heart disease or any symptoms in that
area to worry about getting checked out. I am taking Gemfibrozil (Lopid) to
lower my triglyceride count, or else it would be sky high. It's still a
little high, but nothing compared to what it would be without the Lopid. My
cholesterol can be a little high also, with good cholesterol low, and bad
cholesterol on the high side. She may give me something else in the future
to help this. My digestive health seems OK, but I do believe I get
occasional acid reflux. I believe my kidneys are OK, but have had some past
liver problems, but tests are OK last few years.

I know if I stay with Naproxyn, I will probably eventually get ulcers. I
would be tempted to stick with the Bextra, as my heart seems healthy right
now. Anybody in the medical profession want to offer a "non-legally biding
for advice only" second opinion? And why can't I just take whatever I get
prescribed just when I need it, or think I'll need it, say I know I'll have
a long work day and take it before hand? Instead of every day. Sorry so
long, thanks much,

Dan

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