Getting off painkillers.

Several years ago I took Glucosamine - sometimes with Chondroitin for painful knees. I also had Dupuytrens Contracture ( a finger curls in towards the palm and stays there). I read that although NOT caused by Glucosamine it can make the DUpuytrens worse and I mentioned this to the consultant.  I stopped the Gluscosamine for 3 months then had an op. for Dupuytrens. The surgeon was amazed that the lumps in my palm had softend and halved in size. Apparently  the G & C can cause tissue to build up in a place where it is not wanted.

Good to mention that Glucosamine is often used with Chondroitin for painful joints.  While it seems that there needs to be more conclusive studies done, many have had positive results from taking both.

Thanks Kimberley. I'll try to get off the codeine by 12 weeks which makes sense and keep paracetamol for the 'as and when ' needed, plus I'm thinking about giving the glucosamine a go after I've checked with my GP.

Beth, you say that Glucosamine doesn't do anything for pain relief - it is reported to be one of a number of natural treatments that can build and strengthen cartilage tissues, but wouldn't you expect less pain as it builds and strenghtens cartilage tissues?  My orthopedic surgeon told me that there was no scientific evidence that it helps the joints, but he also admitted that many of his patients swear by it.  It sounds as if there needs to be more studies done.

 

Thanks for your advice Beth. I usually check with my GP first but I've now got a new one(my old one who I'd had since she started at the practice emigrated to Australia) who seems a bit vague and I have to suggest things to him like how to wean myself of the pain meds. I suggest and he agrees!!!

That isn't the relief of pain though. It might improve cartilage and that might reduce the issue that is causing pain, but that isn't the same thing as relieving pain. When you take a pain killer, it does nothing to the underlying issue - it simply changes the way your brain receives messages. Even if it works ( and I think it may for some people) that doesn't mean they feel less pain. We all interpret pain in different ways. My doctors would like to know how the hell I managed to walk around on a broken ankle for over four weeks. Someone else with the same injury would be flat on their back screaming with passion (apparently this is the normal reaction!). It doesn't mean my ankle is less broken than someone else's. The same is true of the cartilage. Bottom line is that no amount of glucosamine will fix it, so a little bit of deterioration may cause someone to be in lords of pain, and someone else in the same position in none. Like my hips. Left hip replaced because of pain for years. Right hip is every bit as bad medically - doesn't hurt a bit. Yet. That's a massive difference in just one body!

There have actually been many, many studies done, and none of them have evidenced it works. I'm not prepared to say it doesn't, but I can't say it does either. I took it myself ages ago. Did it work? No idea, because I don't know how I would have been without it! The other factor that cannot be eliminated is brain power. If you believe something will work, that in itself may make you better. The power of the brain to effect healing or other activities is totally ununderstood. Why does my brain not experience pain in the same way most people's do? Nobody knows. "Faith", in whatever form it comes in, works for some people. 

I moved to the unsapionfiables on the recommendation of a specialist. Did they work? For a time I think they helped, but not enough - it was probably too late for me anyway. But after a lot of research I gave them to my elderly dog who was on pain relief for arthritis. Within six months he was off painkillers and never touched one again for the remaining two years of his life. And although he still had arthritis and was slow, the difference was observable - he could play and manage stairs again. Now I know border collies are smart, but I am fairly positive that he wasn't smart enough to know what the tablet was supposed to do, so faith doesn't account for his improvement. And clinically they are proven to help. But that does not mean they help everyone. And it doesn't tell us how they do it. 

Hmm - ok. Now I can't guarantee anything here. But if toy really want to try alternatives, here's some starters. You can do all of these - nothing clashes with each other or with your meds. DO NOT just stop your meds!. If this appears to be helping, and it will take time, then ease them down. In tablet form, take avocado soy unsaponifiables; take vitamin d3 at 5000iu; and try boswellia capsules for the pain relief. Don't believe the claims made for turmeric - you would need it in impossible quantities to help with this type of pain. And in your diet, add as much pineapple, blueberries, red/ black grapes and beets, broccali, carrots, kale as you can manage  - there are others, and the test to supply is dark and bright. So anything that is darker and brighter than plain green. Oranges, reds, blacks etc are great. Ginger, cinnamon and garlic. Olive oil. 

If toy see no improvement in six months, then it probably isn't going to work. It may be that it simply doesn't work for some people. It may be that it had never worked. Or it may be that got are too far gone to turn the tide. Nobody will ever be able to tell you.

Hope that helps (and yes, I do have a lot of experience with alternative therapies of this sort  and have been a herbalist for a long time- taught by my dad, who learned from his mum - somewhere way back one of my ancestors was probably burned at the stake). I've double checked everything based on what pain meds you are taking, and they are  all safe for you. Obviously, if you have any allergies I haven't checked those! 

Thank you for all that info Beth. I'll certainly look into it.

The only thing I'm allergic to is raw apple. However I can eat organic raw apples which must say something about the chemicals used in fruit farming these days.

I have the same problem with some Californian wines - so I drink none to be on the safe side. No other wine does it, and the doctor said it had to be chemicals or pesticides somewhere along the process.

Hi Julie, I think with me the codeine is like a safety blanket as I've been on them for years due to a back problem. I'm hoping that now I've got my new hip, my back may be better. So yes I'm going to try and get off them gradually and only take when needed.

I can relate.  I've previously had sciatica and ended up having surgery to fix the herniated disc.  I've babied my back every since.  Then when my hip finally went out, I was put back on the pain meds.   After the FHR I used as much pain medicine as the doctor would allow.  He had already told me that he'd be weaning me off slowly over the 12 week (post op) period, which he did.  There is nothing to gain by coming off the pain relief too soon unless you enjoy pain and discomfort. 

Thanks herse, that's good to know its possible and you're about 2 months ahead of me.

I'm also doing lots of exercise, mainly walking, to help build up my muscles and keep my weight down for the benefit of my new hip. I've lost nearly a stone since the op.😊

Hi, I was on the same as you, codeine and paracetamol. I started cutting down a bit at 2 weeks, and then stopped at a month. I was very lucky, didn't really have major pain, just a bit achy at times. So I'm not on anything now, but I should say that apart from the hip I was healthy and reasonably fit.

Oh well done losing a stone ! Wow ! Exercise is great - like you i want to try to look after my new hip !

I think what kick started the weight loss was the fasting before the op and losing my appetite after the op. Now with the necessary exercise to build muscle it's been easy to continue.

Hi Judith, you've done really well to cut down do quickly.

Like you I've had no real pain in my hip. Only round the wound initially, and I try to keep fit and active. So in theory I could probably cut down more.

I'm aiming to be off by 12 weeks.

Well you sound like you're doing really well, and I was the same as you, not much of an appetite afterwards. Makes it easier not to eat so much. (And I'm feeling better for it!) Wishing you all the best.