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Advice on pain relief

Posted , 5 users are following.

andrea52102
andrea52102

I have been off work now for 8 weeks with Sciatica and am waiting for a MRI before being referred to Pain Management. I have worked my way through the usual drugs Tramadol, Co codamol, Gabapentin,Naproxen etc and none have helped at all. The GP has now agreed to trying a 25mg Morphin based patch. It has only been 2 days but don't feel as if this is helping. Do I need to allow more time or should I be getting some relief by now? I also suffer with depression and the lack of sleep and constant pain is effecting this. 

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • marshall71
    marshall71 andrea52102

    Posted

    Well I've had mine a year last month over the months it has been really bad started on codeine then co codamol 30/50 mg 6-8 day now I'm on tramadol 6/8 day I also take amtriplyine for sleeping 30 mg and it works wonders a good night sleep with out any pain only side effects are putting on weight and a Hanover the next day 

    I asked for patches and my Gp said no dunno why had a mri scan my disc is bulge out I have pain in both legs same as sciatica its only goes at night when the drugs work.

    • andrea52102
      andrea52102 marshall71

      Posted

      I have tried Diazepam and Amtriplyne and neither of these help. You can cope during the day if you have sleep but I'm not getting that, 2 hours last night.
  • MegSmythe
    MegSmythe andrea52102

    Posted

    Have you tried acupuncture or chiropractor?  They have helped me trmendously with a number of pain issues - inlcuding back.
  • john6517
    john6517 andrea52102

    Posted

    hi Andrea, I feel for you as I've been struggling with similar pain, used to have injections from the Pain management Team, but on August 22nd underwent spinal surgery on L4 and L5 discs to reduce pressure on spinal nerve cords, I was prescribed Pregabalin which helps but has side effects like balance problems, but if you can allow them to kick in, you may find some benefit, have a word with your doctor and I hope you get sorted. have a good Christmas
    • andrea52102
      andrea52102 john6517

      Posted

      Hi John, Thanks for your kind words the patches do seem to have kicked in now but am still getting some pain maybe I'm just soft . How long did you wait to see the Pain team? 
  • Manda651
    Manda651 andrea52102

    Posted

    when I spoke to pain management experts in hospital after being carted to a and e by ambulance on Christmas eve who pumped me full of morphine intraveneously and gassed me to the max I was told morphine is the incorrect drug for Ddd or sciatica. GP's are general practitioners and are by no means specialists in this field-you need to be referred to a back specialist/physio or like me a spinal surgeon. Sorry but this is my best advice. God help you if you pain is anything like mine you poor thing. :-( good look.
    • andrea52102
      andrea52102 Manda651

      Posted

      Thank you for the advice, both my GP and a doctor at the hospital have agreed that this type of pain is ok for me at present. I have since had my MRI and it has been confirmed that I have a protrusion of the L5/S1 vertebrae and I am now waiting for a referral to see the spine surgeon. I just hope the wait is not too long.

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