Do not give an opioid, tramadol, benzodiazepine, or sedating muscle relaxant to someone who has consumed alcohol because of additive respiratory and CNS depression.
With RBS 300 mg/dL, the person needs urgent clinical assessment today, especially if they have vomiting, abdominal pain, deep/rapid breathing, drowsiness, confusion, dehydration, fever, or cannot keep fluids down. Check ketones, electrolytes, renal function, and look for infection or diabetic ketoacidosis/hyperosmolar state. A tendon injury also needs examination and often splinting to exclude rupture.
For pain while awaiting assessment:
- Best low-systemic-risk option: diclofenac gel 1% topical, applied to intact skin only over the painful area, typically 2 g for upper limb or 4 g for lower limb, four times daily (follow the specific product label). Do not use on an open wound, broken skin, or near a planned surgical site. Topical NSAIDs are effective for acute non-low-back musculoskeletal pain with fewer systemic adverse effects than oral NSAIDs. Evidence summary
- Use rest/protection, ice 15-20 minutes at a time, elevation, and immobilization/splinting. This reduces pain and can prevent additional tendon damage.
Avoid giving oral ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, ketorolac, or aspirin until a clinician checks hydration and kidney function, because glucose of 300 can accompany dehydration or renal impairment. Alcohol also raises GI bleeding risk with NSAIDs.
Avoid paracetamol/acetaminophen if the person is heavily intoxicated, drinks heavily or chronically, has liver disease, is malnourished, or may have taken another acetaminophen-containing product. Do not combine it with alcohol without clinician advice.
If there is deformity, inability to actively move the involved joint/digit, a cut over the tendon, numbness, a pale/cold limb, or severe escalating pain, go to the emergency department immediately.