what painkillers are people on long-term?

evabuk
evabuk Member Posts: 108
edited 15. Aug 2009, 15:10 in Living with Arthritis archive
hope no-one minds me asking...I'm new to all this, and want to inform myself as best I can of what is available.

Obviously, many people are taking some sort of analgesics on a long term basis, and I'm wondering what your experiences are?

At the moment, I'm on slow release MST morphine (which is NOT a long term option, clearly) while I wait - with fingers crossed - for my facet joint injections to kick in.

In the longer term, I may well have to switch to something else, and what worries me the most is the possibility of addiction and the analgesic effect decreasing in time.

Before I had the injections I tried co-codamol (strongest one) tramadol, and dihydrocodeine...none of which were much help.

Am also on diclofenac 3 times a day plus paracetamol. The sheer quantities of drugs horrifies me....

I've also tried lidocaine patches (useless).

Any and all input gratefully received.

Comments

  • kathbee
    kathbee Member Posts: 934
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi and welcome,

    Do you have Rheumatoid Arthritis or is it Osteo?
    Perhaps you have been newly diagnosed.?

    I have RA and OA and 11 yrs ago I was given diclofenac and co-codamol but they werent doing the trick so have taken
    Meloxicam, thats the anti-inflammatory and
    co-dydromol the painkiller, along with the disease modifying
    drugs of Methotrexate and Leflunomide.

    I also have Tramadol for the pain as well but
    I find it makes me sometimes feel a bit sickly.

    Also along the way I have at various stages been on
    Prednisolone, (steroids).

    Hope you do ok on the meds you have been given and
    you feel much better soon.

    Kath
  • kathbee
    kathbee Member Posts: 934
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Oops, just seen your other thread, so see
    that you have OA.

    Kath
  • dachshund
    dachshund Member Posts: 9,240
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Evabuk.
    I'm on naproxen i've only been on it since the 12 aug it's the 3'rd time i've been on it because it stops working after a while.
    joan xx
    take care
    joan xx
  • evabuk
    evabuk Member Posts: 108
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    thanks, guys. Yes, it's OA I have been tested (bloods) for RA and apparently everything came back negative, also had a bone scan for anything more sinister...

    but OA is bad enough, isn't it?

    keep the info coming, please, folks, I'm one of those people who believe info is everything :)
  • englishrose
    englishrose Member Posts: 99
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    kathbee wrote:
    Hi and welcome,

    Do you have Rheumatoid Arthritis or is it Osteo?
    Perhaps you have been newly diagnosed.?

    I have RA and OA and 11 yrs ago I was given diclofenac and co-codamol but they werent doing the trick so have taken
    Meloxicam, thats the anti-inflammatory and
    co-dydromol the painkiller, along with the disease modifying
    drugs of Methotrexate and Leflunomide.

    I also have Tramadol for the pain as well but
    I find it makes me sometimes feel a bit sickly.

    Also along the way I have at various stages been on
    Prednisolone, (steroids).

    Hope you do ok on the meds you have been given and
    you feel much better soon.

    Kath

    Kath - I do not wish to alarm you but I took meloxicam for 7 yrs and in Jan this year had a stomach ulcer caused by this drug. Do you take a tummy protector, I was never prescribed one but I do wonder. I am now in the position that they will not prescribe any antiinflam. and it is causing many problems. I would suggest you talk to your Dr, but do not go getting all worried.
    Jane

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