Desperately seeking help for my 84yo mum with OA in her back
weebag
Member Posts: 6
Hi All.. I am writing on behalf of my 84 yo mum who has been suffering with OA in the lower left hand side of her rib cage for the past 4 years which is gradually getting worse making her more frail. Here we are almost into 2011, 30 + years since we put a man on the moon yet there doesn't seem to be a solution to easing her pain. Perhaps there are people here that are sadly going through the same thing that may have found some way of eleviating some of it. I am living in hope.... So far she has been on a variety of pain killers as in paracetemol + co codomol based products of varying strength but these are also causing her terrific stomach pains due to the constipation. This she then has to resolve by taking Movicol which then makes her sick. Despite repeated visits to the doctor, pain clinic, consultants, trying alternative medicines (glucosamine, tens etc - all totally useless) all I see is a gradual deterioration in the health of my elderly mum who rarely complains but quietly suffers this excruciating pain in her back. I'd really appreciate learning from others experiences...
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Hi Weebag, so sorry that your Mum is suffering this way, it must be terrible for her.. I know first hand how pain can be..
I know that she suffers with constipation with the codiene type meds, as I have in the past, for quite a number of years, I wouldn't take any of the vile stuff available...
Now I use Ben3fibre (not advertising... Change 3 to an e) and it is brilliant for me, you can mix it in food, drink, even in water you can't taste it.. I really hope this is helpful, maybe if it works for your Mum she will then be able to get on top of her pain..
Wishing you and your Mum all the best..
Keep us posted
Tony )Me-Tony
Ra-1996 -2013 RIP...
Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP0 -
Hi weebag
I am so sorry your mum is suffering like she is, it is awful for you having to watch her suffer, I know I have been there.
I do hope you can get more help off your GP, some med cause constipation more then others, has you mum been offered anti inflammatories, they can be a big help, but you have to take stomach protectors with them.
Quite a few people have had relief from acupuncture, I do hope your mum can get some help very soon.
Please let us know how you get on, and we are always here for you, so just come on whenever you feel like it.
Love
Barbara x
Ps dont forget the help line at the top of the page, they are very good.Love
Barbara0 -
Hi Weebag,
I kinda agree the anti-inflammatories might help. What ever this group of tablets don't seem to be so maybe a chat with her gp or specialist would get a different set of pain and inflammation control drugs?
I got a duff spine and neck and its gone to the ribs and sternum as well and sadly the ribs seem more impervious to the tablets than the rest of it. Its horrible cus they are used so much even just for breathing.....
I think a chat with her medial team is the only thing you can do. Stress her pain, her frailness and make them give her some other concoction and hopefully it will work for her. Fingers crossed and nice to meet you. Cris x0 -
Oh Weebag x:(
Welcome to the forum from me too.
Your poor poor Mum and how lovely a son/daughter are you x:D She is lucky to have one so caring.
Pain pain pain - it Is a pain.
I too suffer with my back a fair ammount and yes a lot of opiate-type meds do make you constipated - I always drink some prune juice if I take the stuff. I am now on butrans pain patches which is constant pain releif through the patch so I KNOW how much prune juice to drink!
Thing with pain like that is you make it worse by tensing up to 'protect' yourself. This makes it worse though. So i do use a wheatbag which I warm in the microwave. This just does a little - not much - to ease the pain and make me more relaxed so the msucles don't go into spasm.
Does she take an anti-inflmamtory like ibuprofen? I cant take that one as it gives me a bad belly, but i do take arcoxia. This also helps with the pain.
I probably have told you laods of stuff you know already, but I hope not - I hope one of us has had an idea any idea she hasn't tried which might just give her SOME releif from it all.
Love
toni xx0 -
Thanks so much for your kind words and advice...
Tony... I've never heard of Benefibre but have looked it up and will give it a go.
Barbara... My mum did try acupuncture but again this was one of many dead ends we have explored. As for the anti inflammatories she did take Ibruprofin but her doctor took her off it as it was affecting her kidneys.
Cris... During the past 4 years the poor woman also suffered a mild heart attack so over the years her medication became so complex that it was only a month ago that I went with her to see her doctor and have her medication reviewed. Although now simplified and I have to say the doctor, was extremely sympathetic, he could only offer my mum relief from back pain by taking codine based pain killers but this gives her extreme stomach cramps from constipation sometimes lasting up to a week between bowel movements or give her standard pain killers (paracetemol etc.) which has very little effect on her back but at least stops the stomach cramps. He was clear he couldn't offer both.
Toni... I'd not heard of acoxia but looking it up I have an idea her doctor will say no as she has a decreased liver function in which case this is not advised. The wheatbag is an excellent idea so I will certainly get one of those immediately. The patches she did try and they did work to a degree but again due to the mild liver problem the doctor had to take her off them.
I can not thank you all enough for taking the time and trouble to repond to my plea for help
Rory0 -
You are more than welcome Rory, really hope that your Mum gets some relief and soon.. Please do try the benef1bre, you can get it in supermarkets, it is quite costly, I buy the big tubs as it works out more economical... It's just a fine powder, quite tasteless..
Sounds strange but we even give it to our cat when he gets constipated, and you know what cats are like when you put something in their food, he hasn't got a clue, and it works very well on him too.. :shock:
Best wishes to you and your Mum
Tony )
Me-Tony
Ra-1996 -2013 RIP...
Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP0
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