Osteoarthritis and fibro - two different types of medication ?

If you find something I would be interested because had fibro for 11 years and now arthritis and now have 2 different types of pain to contend with and also have your hip problem.

Hi I have inflammatory osteoarthritis in shoulder facet joints collar bone hips pelvis knees and both feet and hands I'm currently on brutran patches these have been the most effected pain relief for me but I did have to try main other medications such as gabapentin etc before being referred to the pain clinic they prescribe the pain patches don't think GPs can prescribe them to you until they have ok it the draw back with this drug is your body gets used to the dosage and for me can only go up one more amount also you can't just stop taking them you have to be weened off. Physio has also been a life saver it costs £30 a week but has to this point been effective it can be a really long process to find what suits you some have awful side effects .

Hi...

I was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and With the tablets I take I get constipation too. My doctor sent me to see a dietitian and she suggested I eat Lots of fruit and veg and stuff that was high in fibre and it has helped me loads. Also Orange juice is helpful. 

I am on 3 Tablets, Gabapentin, Dihydrocodeine and amitriptyline. They help with the pain but I am extremly addicted to them. The worse thing I ever did was go on these tablets. I would rather suffer with the pain than the withdrawral syptoms. There awful. 

I suggest you don't get any higher with your tablets that what you are.. I started off on 30mg codeine with 500 paracetamol. I wish I never went any higher than that. Your body builds up a tollerance so they end up not working, so you tend to increase the medication. I wish I took a break from then tablets but I can't even go 5 hours without mine before the hot and cold sweats start. If I continue to not have my tablets I end up having Flu like syptoms and it makes me ill and depressed. 

I wish I had someone to tell me not to go any high on the medication and to take breaks with the medication as it begins to control you. Even when your not in that much pain you still have to take them because of the withdrawals. Your whole life literally revolves around them. 

Aswell as fibromyalgia, I have problems with my nerves, I had a go kart accident on holiday and damaged some of the nerves in my legs. I've been for so many tests but they still can't tell me what is wrong. when I walk I get shocks of pain in my legs like im being stabbed but its as quick as an electric shock. I also have 90% of the syptoms for fibromyalgia. 

Please be careful with the tablets, they can ruin your life. I know you may be in pain but I do know a few other things that can help you other than tablets if you like the advice.. Letme know please and i Will give them too you. 

Hope you feel better soon. 

Kayleigh 

Hi Countrylover

I have osteo and fibro. Sometimes it's difficult to tell which pain belongs to which problem!   I haven't gone down the drug route as everything prescribed seemed to have awful side effects.  I manage on diet, gentle exercise, supplements, hypnotherapy and chiropractor and of course epsom salt/dead sea salt baths and positive mental attitude. Won't say it's easy but I am still in employment and some days may be better than others.   I occasionally have to resort to elbow crutches on really bad days but would rather do that than have to rely on medication. I wish sometimes I could take the drugs but my body seems to reject them. My regime won't suit everyone but then everyone's fibro is different.

I've had fibr for the last 13 years, polymyagia for the last two years and osteoarthritis in my knees, hips, hands and I think my neck has now joined the party! I saw an orthopaedic surgeon privately last week about my knees as my gp refused to refer me as I'm too young.. I'm 56. He wants to do further xrays and possibly an mri scan (he will transfer me to his nhs list). I take amitriptyline, prednisolone and various things including insulin for my diabetes. I used to to dihydrcodeine but after almost falling asleep whilst driving I only take it now at bed time to help me sleep. If I'm desperate I take 2x30mg codeine with 2x500mg paracetamol. To be honest it doesn't really make any difference. My knee and hip pain is best treated with heat patches or hot water bottles. I've been prescribed pregabalin and gabapentin in the past and again I didn't think much of them either. My sister is addicted to codeine and takes them every 4 hours but I don't honestly think they'reworking as a painkiller any more, she's just dependant on them.

Thank you Tina, Maggers and Deborah.  You've certainly made me think about whether medication/drugs is the way to go with this.  I admire you for the way you manage the pain.

I'm definitely going to have a long, hard think about medication and also look into the possibility of  alternatives.  The rheumatologist I saw last week also mentioned the possibility of the pain clinic, so that will be something to discuss with my GP.

Thank again and take care.

HI Countrylover:

Since I found your post in my email, through patients forum, I thought I would get in touch with you.  I have fibro, arthritis and spinal stenosis to name a few, the only thing I take is oxicodone at 10mg 4 times a day (if needed)  That part I don't understand if needed.  I thought that you would have to take pain meds regularly in order to control pain.  My wife being a RN, now retired has always mentioned this to me.  She finds all this by speaking to doctors and reading many nursing publications.  I know by taking these meds, you can become addicted.  It  happened to me when I was taking dilaudid but it was only 2mg.  A very low dose, also prescribed 4x/day. and as needed.  When I tried to wean off it as I wanted to try medical marijuana, I did have withdawl symptoms but not too bad.  I started shivering, feeling hot, agitated and the prescribed a medication to counteract that.  It helped.  In your case, bursitis and osteoarthritis can be 2 different things.  What medicine is prescribed for each, I couldn't say.  Interestingly, finding that you are taking Nortriptyline to help you sleep and ease restless legs, then feeling better about that is good.  But, what about long term?  To increase it, you have to consult with your doctor about that.  There may be a limit of how much to take.  You say you have a lovely doctor, and asked you what you want.  The best thing is to sit down and share what you are taking now and if he feels that he can up the dose. Many doctors today are not like that.  Many don't want to deal with heavier pain meds.  Most GP's will send you to a pain specialist or neurologist or both.  For one thing they don't want to get involved with drugs that can be dangerous and secondly, they are not certain what will work.  And of course they don't want to be charged for malpractice if they give the wrong kind of medication.  I never had that problem with specialists.  It goes on and on and you are the person who has to search out things, sometimes bringing it to the attention of the doctor who will listen and not think you are doing your own diagnosis.  That, they don't like.  More and more people today are taking the upper hand and becoming their own advocate.  It seems that we have to do it.  It's hard enough to find a doctor that we like and open to suggestions.  Sometimes it takes several doctors to find a real good one.  In my case since Iam on medicare, many doctors do not want to take it.  It's basically for older people who retired and on social security.  This leave just a handfull of doctors which are not always the best.  I can assure you that.  Anyway, thats it and I can't elaborate any mor.  So take care and talk to you later.

mel