Advice please.

woodbine

Hello,

Can anyone help me with this please?

I have OA all over the place – my spine, knees, hands and now possibly my neck. I’ve been in a huge amount of pain recently, particularly at night. I’ve also been waking up because my right little finger, and the one next to it, have gone numb. The co-dydramol my GP has prescribed causes the usual side effects – constipation in particular.

I've just been to my GPs - but saw a not very sympathetic locum. She's suggested I take Ibuprofen regularly for a month, and has given me something to reduce the stomach upset this usually causes, plus a low dose of paracetamol to add to the painkilling effect. She asked if I’ve seen anyone at the hospital, but when I said not, wouldn’t refer me to anyone there.

However, when I went to collect the prescription, the pharmacist told me that I should only take them when absolutely necessary, not every day - I told him what the GP said, but he was adamant! Now I'm even more confused – do any of you know if this is a common combination when people have OA, or can suggest if I should follow what the GP or the pharmacist said?

I’m absolutely exhausted at the moment, having slept badly the last few nights, and aching everywhere, and keep bursting into tears. All I want is some decent painkillers and some consistent advice (and a good night’s sleep!), but am just feeling totally confused – any suggestions would be very gratefully received, please.

Naomi

traluvie

Hi Naomi..

Sorry to hear your going through a tough time at the moment..
I do not have a diagnosis yet, but i suffer pain and swelling in every joint now..
My GP prescribed me diclofenac 50 mg(inflammatory) and only recent lansoprazole 30mg(which is supposed to line teh stomach)
I take the lansoprazole in the morning half hour before i eat to take my diclofenac..
I also take Tramadol(painkiller) 2 four times a day.. and if need be paracetamol too...
I would ring your doctors explaining what the pharmacist said and they should then check with your doc and ring you back to tell you what the right advice is.. i would do that as soon as before you take ypour meds..
If after taking your prescribed tablets for a while you feel no benefit then i would mak another appointment with your GP to discuss this...it may help doing a pain/symptom diary so you can show your gp when you next see them..
Wish you well and keep us posted on how you are getting on..

lindalegs

Hi Naomi,

I'd take on board what the pharmacist says but I'd also add that the GP has given you a months supply only to take along with your low dose paracetamol, therefore you're not going to be taking it for months on end. It's just to see if it can help you over this hurdle of pain and sleepless nights.

If you do this and find it works you could discuss with your GP what the pharmacist has said and get his/her view.

I am a great believer in allowing medication to build up in your system by taking it regularly especially with all forms of arthritis. You just need some relief at the moment as pain is so very wearing.

Let us know how you go on.

tjt6768

Hi hun.... I have OA in my spine and knees and the pain can be severe eh? To be honest the doc has not really helped you at all have they?
I would make an appointment to see a different doctor, you have to tell them all of your concerns, be honest with them about how it is making you feel, you probably feel ill with the pain as I do a lot of the time too??
I would do as Del advised till you go back though as the pharmacists do know their stuff.
I take Benefibre every other day for the blockage probs :roll: it is tasteless and works well.. I am sure that you will find something that works for you though.. I am sorry that you are suffering this way hun, I truly sympathise with you, I have been in constant pain with it for many many years, nothing takes it away for me now, just every now and then makes it bareable :roll:

I wish you all the best, please let us know how you go on, and do try to see a different doctor..

woodbine

Hi - and thanks for the quick relplies and sympathy

I've just rung the surgery and spoken to the GP again, as suggested - thanks. She said much what you said, lindalegs, that it is only for a month and should do no harm in that time, and that I should go back to the surgery after that time and discuss what to do/take in the longer term then. She also said that she can't understand why the pharmacist said what he did.

I think that I'll give this a try for a week or two, and if it doesn't help make an appointment with my own GP. Does anyone know if it's possible to insist on being referred to the pain clinic?

Thanks again,

Naomi

tjt6768

I know with our GP it wasn't an issue when I asked to be refered to the pain clinic.. The waiting lists can sometimes be quite long though..
They are the best people to be seeing though hun.

All the best, hope that the painkillers help you.

julie47

Hi naomi
Well what confusion eh?
But I am glad that I have read that you are now sorted after ringing back the gp.
I hope this help ease your pain
Take care & keep your chin up
juliepf x

dreamdaisy

The pharmacist has a duty of care I suppose, but should not really question what the GP said - it's obviously for the short-term and hopefully it will help.

I too get occasionally 'blocked', thanks to the cocos - my GP has given me Docusate capsules on repeat, I just swallow two or three per day as required and they help wonderfully well. Let's hope you can get through this 'blip' - I think you can ask to be referred to a pain clinic, it is something I would like to do, but places round here are on a very short supply. If you can get to one, then do. I wish you well. DD

Lauren.-321

Hi, I've not been diagnosed with anything but I have a lot of pain in my knees and sometimes hips. The GP prescribed me with ibuprofen and I take 1, sometimes 2 a day but yesterday I took 3 and ended up being sick all last night and today I've had a horribly sore stomach. I'm not sure if its because of the ibuprofen but I'm not going to take as much now. They do make a difference though because I'm in a lot of pain today and I think this is as I haven't take any today. I don't know if this is much help to you but I hope you start to feel better soon.

Lauren xx

Rictina

I have taken both in the past for a good few months with no ill effects. I agree with the others that its always best to double check with your G.P.

Oh locums are they useless at times hey.

I hope you get a good nights sleep tonight, its so important to sleep. I get so ratty if I dont get a decent nights sleep.

Take care.

woodbine

Hi,

Just waqnted to say thanks for all your suggestions. I am now taking ibuprofen twice a day, and a full dose of paracetamol before I go to bed. It seems to be helping - I'm certainly sleeping better anyway.

I'll carry on doing this for bit longer, and then go back to my GP to double check if I can do so long term.

Thanks again

coco67

hi woodbine,
ive been on ibrufen, codydromol and stomach protectors for months now and they dont cause me any probs. i hope you get sorted soon, im glad the meds are helping you.

ailsamary

just wanted to add on this, a paracetamol based medication, ie codydramol/cocodamol is safe to take with a non steriodal medication (nsids) ie diclofenic/brufen/naproxen (neither list is endless), they work on the system different ways what you cant do is take 2 different meds from the same group,

lansoprazole/omeprazole may be added to protect the tummy, as the nsaid group can cause irritation

you can get given other pain killers on top of the above, morphine/tramadol or the opiod patches, again can be mixed with either or all of the above groups but be wary with the mixed paracetamol ones and they initally made me a wee bit daft but everyone's reaction is different

other additional groups include those that react on the brain such as gapabentin/pregabilin/amytryptyline agan may be taken in combination

at the mo i take from ALL of these groups as well as a steriod in an attempt to manage my pain, needless to say constipation is an issue at the mo :x

though i do take the cocodamol/tramadol seperatly - 2 hours apart to minimise what they were doing to me brain