Need your help again please

angilee

Hi Everyone.
I have not been to the forum for a while.....struggling a lot with hip,knee,fingers and I suspect arthritis in the lower back.
I have got to the point where I am struggling to cope and keep doing a full time job...as well as try to keep my house under control.
I wondered if anyone could give me any advice on pain clinics...is it worth asking my GP for a referal.....he has never offered to send me to see a consultant or anything.
He gave me naproxen......but being a pill phobic I am afraid to take it....anyone had any problems with this medication?
Sorry it is such a lot to ask,but I know you are all going through the same thing......and might be able to help or point me in the right direction.
Thank you so much

Angilee

dreamdaisy

What medications are you currently taking to help the arthritis (OA? RA? I am sorry, I cannot remember what sort you have. :oops: ) I have had Naproxen in the past, it did very little for me but others swear by it. We are all different in how we react to the medications but the biggest problem is they only help if they are taken - it cannot be easy being pill-phobic as most meds seem to come in that form. I find distraction and visualisation techniques help me to lessen my perception of pain, running the house is now a very haphazard affair and I care not: I can only do what I can do. I cook, iron and clean sitting down and if stuff isn't done, it isn't done. We do walk a tricky tightrope at times, don't we? DD

bubbles

Hi Angilee
It would do no harm for your GP to refer you to a Consultant, and or pain clinic, for a proper review of medication and a working diagnosis, always better to know what the underlying problem is

Pill phobic? Does it worry you taking medication, or problems with side effects? They do help and there is a wide range of treatment that can help. I don't say they are miracle workers, but there are benefits. I have never taken Naproxen, but others will help you with that one.

Would your employer help you with a change in hours maybe, or do you have a personnel department that you can talk to? Juggling one thing and another, without letting someone know, is not good for you.

I was Hyacinth Bouquet in the house proud stakes, but now I can only do what I can and even then my OH tells me off, as I hobble about. I never seem to learn, but taking a bit of DD's advice about not worrying too much is good advice indeed.

I think getting a full diagnosis and getting the pain under control, is a priority for you.

Keep us posted and take lots of care, XX Bubbles

hileena111

Hi
Yes pill phobil??? is it the side effects or the taking them???
I'm on naproxen and as far as I know they do a patch so what about a patch instead of a tablet?
As for the house ....well like everyone else her......wht gets done gets done We can only do our best.
Do you have anoyone at work that could help with hourss/various things to make your life easier???
Love
Hileena

frogmorton

Hi Angilee

l think a referral to a pain clinic would be a fabulous idea.

I too wonder if you are worried about side effects like Hileena. You can always stop taking anything if it does cause intolerable side effects :???:

If it is a swallowing issue then some meds can be crushed in something dissolved or even prescribed as a liquid (Pharmacist will tell you which can be crushed as some must NOT).

There are non-meds things the pain clinic may have access to such as hydro, acupuncture etc etc so, in your place l woudl def ask for a referral.

Love

Toni xx

Colin1

Hi Angilee
Go talk to the GP he will give you the best advice on this subject. Try telling him what you would like to do and explain how much your suffering.
Colin

barbara12

Hi Angilee
When I was referred to a pain clinic, first off I was offered meds, I wasn't on many at the time, after that they can offer steroid injection and acupuncture, so it is worth a go.
Wishing you well with everything xxx

julie47

Hi Angilee

Just wanted to pop in and wish you well.

I hope you get a referal to a pain clinic as I am sure it would help you.
(I must admit that I have never been but others on here have and with pleasing results)

Housework....leave it and do only the bear essentials.

Love Juliepf x

angilee

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to say thank you very much for all your kind replies........I will plan on visiting my GP and have a chat with him (although I always feel rushed when I go there.

Regarding the Naproxen,I am afraid to take it because of the side effects...and I have read it can cause heart attacks,Maybe I am being a bit silly but it really worries me.

Angilee :sad:

dreamdaisy

Have you previously had heart trouble? If you have I can understand your fear but just because a side-effect is listed does not guarantee it will happen. As I said, it's a tricky tightrope. DD

ruthross

Hi Angilee
Sorry to hear that you are struggling. I have asked for a referral to a pain clinic and finally managed to get one! (it's taken a while!). I've been told that there is a six month waiting list for it, but as my PR is not going anywhere, at least I know I'll get there eventually. So, although I haven't been yet, I'd still say that it's worth asking for a referral - you never know what will turn out to be useful.

I'm also about to start an Expert Pain progamme which includes a session on pain relief and pain management - and is also designed to help you live better with a chronic illness. It's free on the NHS and I did not have too long to wait to get on one. I'll be sharing what I learned on it on my blog.

I have also found meditation and mindfulness to be very helpful ways of helping with my pain and just generally helping with coping too. If you want to just try a meditation for yourself, the headspace website (google it) has a free 10 minute meditation.

Re: Naproxen itself. I have only just been prescribed it myself. So far, I haven't had any side effects but it hasn't been that effective either! Remember that nearly ALL drugs have side effects, but most people don't experience them.

Good luck. I hope that you find some peace and some respite.

Ruth

stickywicket

I think meds have to list any potential side effects. Potential means virtually anything that anyone has ever experienced while taking them. Remember that many of these reported 'side effects' will come from people who are extremely ill in many ways to start off with.

I took naproxen for years and it helped me. The one thing to remember about it - OK, two - is to also take a stomach protector and to always take it with food.

Sometimes the choices we make are not between good and bad but between two not particularly desirable things ie definite arthritic pain or potential side effects.

hileena111

Hi
I was on diclofenic and my GP changed me to Naproxen because diclofenic was harder on your heart....her words !!!!
Yes a stomach protector and taken with food are the 2 important things
Love
Hileena

ruthross

I'm a little worried now about my Naproxen as I haven't been prescribed a stomach protector. What is it? Should I ask for it?! I've been taking it after meals when I do take it but do I need to take something else as well?

hileena111

Hi
A stomach protector is normally Omneprozol or Lansoprozol {not sure about the sp opf the 2nd one}
My previous GP didnt give it to me....it was on this forum that I heard about it and asked hime about it and that was it.
Love
Hileena

tjt6768

I'm on lanzoprazole, it's worked well for me. Definitely worth asking your GP about something just to help the stomach. I wouldn't stress too much about the side effects though. Personally I never read them now but that's just me..
Hope things ease..