How many painkillers have you all taken ?!
Posted , 14 users are following.
Since my back pain journey started 6 months ago I ve lost count of the amount of tablets Ive put into my previously fit body !
Initially when the pain was horrendous I had codeine,,naproxen and Gabapentin which I didnt give a fig about taking as the alternative was worse, but as time went by I self medicated with OTC paracetamol and ibuprofen.
I would love to go a full day without having to take anything - a dream for most of you I know.
When Ive asked the GP about whether its ok to keep taking OTC stuff she wasnt concerned.
If you read the back of most packs of ibuprofen it advises not to !
Apart from these painkillers I take no other medication.
Just wondered if it bothered anyone else ,or maybe I analyse too much,as I know most of you dont have a choice. 😕
0 likes, 45 replies
amkoffee alison96523
Posted
I've had back pain for 15 years . My first year of back pain I took naproxen twice a day (as prescribed). It absolutely ripped my stomach apart . I now have gerds and gastritis and I have to medicate so that I can keep food down . I really regret taking Naproxen for that long. You might consider looking into seeing a pain management doctor. They can do epidural injections which may help your pain. It doesn't help everyone and some of them work while others will not. For example in 15 years, I've had multiple injections done in my back and hips. One-time early on it took all of my pain away for about 9 months. Since that time I've had shots take as much as 50% of the pain away. But these shots are not forever they only last so long. they inject steroids which reduces the swelling that's causing your back pain. BTW if you have not already please start taking calcium.
mjcg amkoffee
Posted
I have had two epidural injections this year. The first helped somewhat, the second not so much. I'd like to try a third but I've read you have to limit the injections to only three times per year. And that getting these frequently can weekend the surrounding muscles supporting the spine. So I'm hesitant to do another one, though I seem perfectly fine with imagining myself taking a knife and stabbing the pain out of my back and leg (haha).
I'm not taking a calcium supplement, but if you think it will help I'll start. I have increased B12 and Vitamin D, hoping these would help.
alison96523
Posted
Its been really interesting to read all the replies to my original question 5 months ago !! You could say I touched a nerve !!
Im coming up to a year now and my pain still persists,although not as bad as it initially was. The NHS care I recieved was very poor and my appointment to see a pain consultant is now at the end of this month - some 6 months after I was referred -frustrating /pathetic. I may get a steroid injection out of this who knows.
I paid to see an osteopath privately but found it aggravated rather than helped.His diagnosis was Sacro Iliac Joint Dysfunction .
Either way I still have pain - everyday. I now take OTC ibuprofen/paracetamol as required and have started using Cannabis oil.
The oil seems to be making a difference -it blurs the pain a bit and cant be more harmful than anti inflammation drugs.
My personality has changed living with chronic pain ,Im quieter and easily irritated. If I get out of this I ll never take being pain free for granted again.
Good luck to us all in our individual journey s to be pain free.
amkoffee alison96523
Posted
I read your story and I really feel for you. I have had chronic pain for 15 years but it was only since a fall I had about a year-and-a-half ago that it got really bad. I've attempted suicide twice because of my pain. And now I've promised my family I'll never do it again . I cannot get any kind of pain relievers now so I rely on Excedrin . over the years I've had multiple injections and I'm done with that. I also now suffer from severe osteoporosis. I fractured five vertebrae in my back and my sacrum in the last 13 months . I live in the US and of course you know we have to pay for medical care but we're able to get in to see most doctors sooner than the 6 months you've had to wait. I think the longest I've had to wait for a specialist was 3 months . I don't know which would be worse, having to pay for it or waiting 6 months. with my insurance it only cost me $45 which would be a little over 36 pence in your country. I have exhausted every possibility of getting my back fixed. next week I'm going in for a pain pump trial. It is my hope that it will work. if you are not opposed to taking opiates you might ask the pain management doctor about a pain pump. The benefit of a pain pump is that although you are getting opiates through it, it is about 300% less opiate than you would take by pill. so we're talking the difference between milligrams that you Take by mouth and micrograms you get from a pain pump. And a pain pump constantly delivers the medicine where a pill you're constantly having to take another pill one after another. I did the pill route from 10 years. I'm glad to be done with it but I'm not liking this pain at all.
I am curious because you said you use cannabis oil . Does your cannabis oil have any THC in it? I tried what we call CBD oil. I don't know what those initials stand for but I think the first word is cannabinoid. In our country marijuana is illegal but 15 states have made it legal to use in their state. Technically speaking they can't do that but they did. So we have some states where it is only legal by a prescription and other states where it's legal to use even for recreational use. I live in a state where it's not legal in any way shape or form.
Good luck to you. I hope you find some relief.
JohnAk alison96523
Posted
HI allison96
I Have posted a few letters regarding gabapentin over the last 6 months on how it can affect you and how it can affect people in different ways, not everyone can cope with taking gabapentin because of some of the horrid side effects, just recently my GP called me in for a review of my meds. I Was taking 3600 mg of gabs plus cocodomol alongside my heart failure meds as well.She said that she would like me too cut down on the gabs which i have been on for about 8 years.She reminded me that they are a class A drug .I Was taking them over 4x a day She has now cut me down to 2700mg from 3600mg which i was not very happy with but i am just managing to cope with as it has only been about 3 weeks.I Am very much like yourself regarding the pains and how to cope with it.Could you please explain how the Cannabis oil is working for you many thanks
alison96523 JohnAk
Posted
Hi have left answer ref cannabis oil in reply to amkoffee. you have nothing to lose trying it.
alison96523
Posted
Ok so it would seem my reply hasnt come onto forum !
The oil is CBD oil which is supposed to dampen down pain receptors on nerves. The oil does not contain THC which is the element of Cannabis that gives a high.
I take 3 drops under my tongue morning and sometimes before bed. It definitely helps me.
JohnAk alison96523
Posted
alison96
thanks for your post regarding CBD oil . I was called into my doctors last week for a review of my meds . She the GP has cut me down from 3600 mg of gabapentin down to 2700 mg .Instead of 4x aday its now 3x aday 900 mg each time along with cocodamol ,
I am also on heart medication .
I am just coping with coming down on the gabapentin and my pains are just under the thresh hold .
amkoffee alison96523
Posted
CBD oil can give a positive for marijuana on a UA. This would matter to anyone that is also taking a prescribed opioid for pain.
Jack0331 alison96523
Posted
one every six hours as directed, no problems and pain free, going on 5 years now this way. Good luck with your pain.
alison96523 Jack0331
Posted
Hey, thanks for reccomendation. I sometimes use the Asprin version for joint pain.it works but I worry about the long term use of Ibuprofen as a Pharmacist told me it can increase the risk of heart issues in the over 50s. Have you ever been made aware of this ?
lis10127 alison96523
Posted
i had no idea that ibuprofen could cause heart issues in over 50's. I thought it was just internal bleeding with stomach issues we had to worry about. There is no free ride is there, everything has consequences but when you're in pain you just want it to stop. It does change uour personality, i completely get where you're coming from as it's with you all the time. Sometimes its so hard not to feel despairing. I do find myself just wanting to be on my own much more when i am in pain. Good luck and i hope it eases up for you soon.
Vimes alison96523
Posted
I know that this is an old thread but it bothers me a lot having to take regular pain meds due to my back issues. No real detail needed, several surgical procedures on L4 and L5 and S1 but also lots of issues in other areas due to decades worth of weight training etc.
Balancing taking tramadol, Co-codomol (not together and quite apart) along with other pain and nerve medications is difficult. Not only fun a psychological point of view but dealing with the side effects and understanding the needs against that of mobility and quality of life.
It isn't easy.
Mindfulness, hot water bottle and my tens machine and heated pad do help. Pain relief clinics etc have helped albeit a little.
I try and not over think too far ahead in my situation.
Best wishes to all.
deep87533 alison96523
Posted
i have suffered from backpain and Sciatica over 3 years. initially i have taken painkillers almost one year. funny part is that when i stopped doing then my pain knocking my door.
then i visited to a chiropractor it was fine and after sometime I stop . i have adopted to exercise and i am doing it every day now i am not feeling pain.
i would suggest my mates do proper exercise that can realign your spine.you will be fine always.