morphine tablets and arthritis

karlo5

Hi, today is Father's Day. I have joined this forum looking for advice for my father. I am very worried about him.

My father has been diagnosed with arthritis in the knee. Suffering the last 3 years and has not worked. He is a carpenter. My dad is finding the pain unbearable, especially in the last year. His doctor has now added morphine tablets and liquid to his prescription. My father is currently waiting to see a consultant about a possible knee operation or replacement.

My concern is the high usage of taking morphine. Even though his knee has eased up on the medication. He seems depressed, moody, feels cold or chills.

Obviously he is feeling down about the last 3 years and not be able to work.
However I am worried about his dependency on the pain killers and what side effects he may be having.

Does anyone have any experience or advice on this matter.

Look forward to any advice you may have - Thank you

hileena111

Hi
Sorry I've got no medical experience.
Morphine should be well monitored by your GP I would think.
I have OA in various places but when I fractured my SI Joint and Pelvis they put me on it.....it was fantastic stuff for the time i needed it. My GP kep a close note on it and gradually decreased it.
What about talking to his GP on behalf of your dad [is that poss?} or could you get him to see her again to discuss it?
Sorry....not much help...I know there are other people on morphine here so no doubt they will be along soon
Love
Hileena

stickywicket

Hello Karlo5. That's a good, kind thought for Fathers Day.

I've no experience of morphine tablets other than pre and post op so I don't know anything first hand about dependency though many of the paindulling tablets prescribed have a morphine base and should be well-monitored.

I don't know whether or not the meds would be causing his depression. The relentless pain of arthritis can be enough to cause depression in many people.

Is your father a good 'talker'? Many men do the strong, silent thing and try to tough it out rather than feel they are moaning on all the time about pain. That can make one feel very isolated with the pain and any kind of stress just makes it worse.

If possible can you get him to talk about it all? He may need a course of anti-depressants. To be honest, if he's on a lot of morphine, he may need some good laxatives. That's another thing people often don't talk about.

If they offer him a replacement joint, tell him to go for it. I have several and all have been great.

mouseymousey

I've been taking Morphine (& a shed load of other stuff) for about a year now. Sometimes it touches the pain, sometimes it doesn't. But, once it has been prescribed its very important to follow the doses as recommended.
Arthritis is a horrible old thing. I wonder also if your dad is getting depressed re the illness - you say he's not a talker - but would he chat to another chap about it? You could show him the helpline?
Its easy to blame everything on this, or the medication and it does get a bit of a spiral. There are a lot of things dad could be doing to help himself. Pain clinics are a great source of information and help - they can't 'cure' this - but they can put you back in the driving seat.
Yip morphine bungs you up - so do a lot of things. 5 fruit and veg a day help; one can always be a glass of fruit juice with breakfast. Its not difficult but its a matter of taking back control?
I hope this helps a bit. I'm managing with Morphine; its not managing me!
Oh before I go, a few good books you can get (library) about Chronic Pain and one called the Chronic Pain diet (its not weight loss) although managing weight is terribly important.
Mx
PS - Get dad moving as much as possible, it'll be the last thing he wants to do (I know) but its so good to keep moving. Here you can use the pool 'free' in the daytime. Whatever dad enjoys try and encourage him back into it. Hope I haven't wobbled on too much- best wishes.

hileena111

Also have a look at the leaflets Arthritis Care do....there is one on pain and its specific to arthritis...not just any chronic pain. You'll get them on the front page of the site

Love
Hileena

dreamdaisy

Hello, what a sensible lad, you are worried about your dad and you have taken a practical step to try and get some help and information for him. I take it he has osteo-arthritis, I have that in both knees and both ankles and yes, it's a pretty miserable pain. It grinds on and on, it is unrelenting, demoralising and distressing but layering pain relief on pain relief is not always the answer. I think the body adjusts to the doses it receives and as a result more has to be taken to gain relief. I get by (and it is only that) on cocodamol but I have tramadol and oromorph to hand for the really bad days - that way I do feel the benefit of them.

It is important to stay as mobile as possible, the leg muscles have to be kept active and fit as they help to support the joint and when one reaches the stage of joint replacement that helps with the recovery. Does your dad have a stick? That can ease a deal of strain on the poorly knee and the other joints on that side, hip and ankle, as they can be thrown out of kilter by walking awkwardly. The stick should be held in the opposite hand to the affected side. As the others have mentioned AC do a range of leaflets which are reliably informative.

Depression can also be a factor when living with chronic pain. I am currently on anti-depressants, I needed them last year when I discovered the extent of my OA and wanted to come off them, but my theumatologist disagreed (I have an auto-immune arthritis too) saying that they too can help with pain - I guess if you are feeling better mentally you can cope better with the hurting. As I have to wait at least another two years before I will be considered for a replacement I guess I'll be on those for some time yet! I wish your dad, and you, well. DD

bubbadog

Hi Karlo, I have Osteoporosis and have been taking M.S.T for around 8yrs now, starting at a very low amount upto now I'm taking 70mg. I also up the amount with Oro-morph which is the liquid when I have flare up's or when the pain gets to much. I add another 15mls of Oro-morph ever 4hrs. And I stop when the pain eases. I have never over the years of taking it felt an addiction to it, As a good example a year or so ago I was taken into hospital with a seperate issue to the Osteoporosis and was in for several weeks and the doctor's increased my dose of M.S.T considerably to 90mg of M.S.T and still I could top up with the Oro-morph by 15mls every 4hrs. I felt like a zombie and couldn't speak because I slurred my words like a drunk! I begged my G.P to get the level down, so as I said on here I went through cold turkey for a week to get my levels down by 20mg and I did it! So that show's as long as you have a good relationship with your G.P and see them regularly you can be on Morphine for a long period and not get addicted. As I'm living proof!