I've got 'Chronic back ache' and have been prescribed amitriptyline..

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So I've been suffering with back ache for quite some time. I'm 18 years of age and work for a bank as a processor so I basically sit at a desk most of the time. This doesn't help my pain whatsoever and is the main reason due to lack of correct posture. I have had physiotherapy for this. Along with physio, I am now attending back classes at the hospital to help ease this and to work my way towards managing this. Anyway, in the meantime I felt like I needed some pain relief as on a day to day basis the only time I'm comfortable is in bed. The doctors prescribed me 10mg of amitriptyline. I have been taking these for maybe 3-4 weeks now, start3d off taking one tablet, now I take two so 20mg per day. My pain has slightly, and I mean slightly decreased but I keep getting recurring headaches pretty much daily, is this because I'm taking too much hassle or what? I read up online and all other said was amitriptyline is sometimes prescribed for headaches and migrants but it didn't day anything about getting headaches from it? Please help.

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7 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Chloem96 you are very young to have chronic back pain Amitrytilline is usually prescribed for nerve pain as a last resort. You say you work at a desk job,have you had your workstation assessed for suitability for your use? Your occupational health person or health and safety department can check your set up they will check that your chair is suitable etc . Your employer has a duty of care to make sure that your work is not causing you any problems. If you go on the Health and safety executive website and look up ergonomics it will give you advice on setting up your workstation correctly . Hope this help s x
    • Posted

      Hi there, yes I've had a work assessment, and I'm on my 6th chair since starting work but I'm never comfortable, the thing is I'm only temp and it costs the company about £750 each time for someone to come out and a new chair and I feel like I'm being a burden. The guy from health and safety said there not really much more that he can do for me tbh, but it's a bloody pain! My physio said correct posture will help but I am sat in a correct posture. The reacon why I'm having the pain is apparently down to having weak and tight core muscles so ally other ones are knackered. I try my best to get up as much as possible but I have to hit a target each hour so depending on the work load to how many times I do get up. But yes, I've had an assessment, I have a split keyboard and vertical mouse{I have weak muscles in my arms too} a special chair and foot rest. Like I said I'm never comfortable except in bed, it's work that ages it worse
  • Posted

    Only drug that works for me and I've been on a few been on it since last April and its a good drug for nerve pain takes around 4-5 weeks to get the full benefit the side effects are a hang over the next morning I still get this I staeyes on 30 mg now I'm on 40mg I can sleep over 12 -14 hours a day take mine the same time every night around 8.30 it's a good drug for pain I also take tramadol also but I recommend amitriptyline
    • Posted

      Hey, yeah I could sleep for ages, it really is good on that side but it not helping a big deal, my doctor advised me to take it for a bit longer so I've more tablets now, but it's the headaches that are really a pain. Is this something I should be worried about? Again, I work on a computer pretty much 7 hours of the day. Thanks
    • Posted

      Could be the side effects of amitriptyline or your strained eyes sat at pc all day have you had your eyes tested? Stress or anxiety can cause headaches there's all types of headaches concentrating at a desk on a pc for hours can cause headaches little breaks away Google

      Computer vision syndome (CVS) for tips on sat at a pc

    • Posted

      Hi, yeah I've had my eyes tested and have glasses but very rarely use them and don't really need them a lot to be honest. I think it's the side effects as I get the headaches on days off. Do you know if there's anything I can do to help this rather than taking headache tablets every single time I have a headache (I don't always do this as don't really wanna become immune to them so only take headache tablets if it'd really bad) thanks.
    • Posted

      I still get Blurred vision taking them and that's since last May

      Make appointment with your Gp again and say your getting headaches everyday could be the side effects of amitriptyline or maybe something else but getting headaches everyday is something that needs attention

      Are you on anything else such as painkillers for your back ?

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