sudden pain increase

sarah1942

Hi I've just joined this forum. I'm 70 and had osteoarthritis in my lower back for the past 15 years. The pain has been on and off and manageable but now, suddenly, it's down my legs -- mainly the left -- in my groin, feet and fingers. It's come on and stayed on suddenly. This morning was the first morning I have cried. I'm scared. I've always been able to manage my pain but now I'm finding it hard to walk. One knee has started to hurt really badly every time I bend it to sit and I suddenly can't walk very far without pain.

The iboprufen I was taking is no longer working and my GP has told me to take codeine phosphate three times a day and 2 at night. I did this and this morning I feel spaced out and a bit nauseous.

Please can anyone on here advise me what exercises I can do to help my back pain? I honestly couldn't walk when I got out of bed this morning. I stretched and did things like that but it's taking ages to get moving and with yet another codeine phosphate I feel ready to go back to sleep!

Sorry for the long moan -- I'm not normally a moany person!

maria09

Hi Sarah
I'm sorry you are having such a bad time pain wise
I can't really advise you on exercises for your back as don't want to suggest anything incase it aggregates your back any further
It may be time to go back to your GP to see if there is anything else pain wise you can take maybe a stronger anti inflammatory drug or something to relax your muscles around your back
I've had long standing back pain for 25 yrs I'm just 50 I also have OA And spondylo arthropathy which affects all my joints you name it I got it!
I know how debilitating pain can be and how upsetting it can be
Try not to worry to much and go see your GP he may also refer you to see a specialist such as a rheumatologist
I'm afraid there is no quick fix with arthritis and it can take time to find the best treatment for you
Just remember you are not alone and we can empathise with you
So if you want to have a rant a cry or a laugh this is the place to come
Hope things improve for you
Maria

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's nice to meet you and I hope we can help with information and support. From what I have read on here I gather that hip trouble can be the cause of groin pain - my right hip has 'gone' after years of psoriatic and then osteo in my knees. If one joint is affected it then throws others out of kilter - life ain't easy at times.

With regards to the pain relief, is what your GP has suggested a big step up strength-wise from what you usually took? If so ease back a little - doctor's orders do not have to be followed to the letter, maybe a period of adjustment is needed so you can get used to the stronger stuff. All pain relief is temporary (some of us prefer the term 'pain dullers' because that is all they do) and the stronger the relief the more you are taken away from the pain, not vice versa. I wish you well. DD

stickywicket

Hello Sarah and welcome from me, too.

Pain can be very debilitating and very scary when it suddenly ups a notch without warning. If other joints are starting to kick in it might be arthritis in them, too, or it might simply be that you are walking awkwardly, due to pain, and that it causing pain elsewhere.

Can you ask your GP to refer you to a physiotherapist? He/she would be the best person to give you exercises as they would be tailored to your own specific needs. Arthritis Care does have a booklet on 'Exercise' (see Publications and Resources' at the top of the page) but some personal physio or, even better, hydrotherapy, would be more suitable.

Pain relief is a personal thing and usually boils down to a balance between bearable pain and feeling spaced out. I go for the pain any day. However, codeine isn't the only option. If it doesn't work for you, go back to the GP and try something else.

You could also ask to be referred to a Pain Clinic where they teach ways of dealing with chronic pain.

And, you can talk to us. We can't take it away but we can empathise.

Numptydumpty

Hello Sarah, I just want to add my "welcome to the forum".
Maria, DD and Sticky have given you some good advice. I hope you find a solution soon.
This is a great forum, with lovely people, very helpful and supportive.
Take care,
Numpty

sarah1942

Thank you for all those replies. I took just one codeine phosphate at 10 am and was okish until 2pm when I started my ironing. Wow!! So much pain on standing! I had to leave it -- the pain after just 20 minutes of standing there got so bad I honestly coulld have cried. I took another codeine phosphate but thjs time it didn't really "work". Maybe the pain level was too great for just one?? So I took a paracetamol and I'm sitting here so spaced out it's unreal. I'm finding it so upsetting. My back pain HAS been getting much worse over the last 6 months but I never imagined it would so suddenly become unbearable like this. Years ago I had a kidney stone become lodged and the pain was so horrendous I actually vomited. That's almost like my back pain is now. I only saw my GP yesterday so he would expect me to give the codeine phosphate a fair crack of the whip before going back again. I hate being this spaced out and I can't take the pain level either. Again sorry for the long moan. I'm just so scared of the pain level.

maria09

Sarah
You can moan as much as you like we don't mind if you can't on here where can you
It might have been a little ambitious doing the ironing when only just started your new pain relief It does take time to build up in your system before they start to help
I've learnt when the pain is bad to take each days as it comes and pretend its a chill out day
I have 6 shirts to iron but I know I have to rest so leaving them for now
I've also tried ironing sat down difficult but managed
Try taking it slow and steady if your pain is bad its your body telling you to slow down and rest
Maria

dreamdaisy

Pain is, believe it or not, a useful tool. It tells us that something is amiss and that we need to be careful and perhaps cossett ourselves. Over the years I have had to change the way I do many things, including ironing. That is now done in a seated position, I changed my board for a 'banana' shaped one and bought myself a light, cheapy iron from a supermarket. I also only iron his stuff - I no longer care what I look like on a day-to-day basis, I save my stuff for special occasions.

Codeine is strong stuff, it's on the opoid spectrum and it doesn't suit everyone. I have the combined codeine and paracetamol and I am lucky in that it doesn't affect me in that way but tramadol do (they are my 'go-to' dullers when things are tough). I have to save them for bed-time so I can zonk out in comfort.

Arthritis is a progressive and degenerative disease but the rate of progression and degeneration varies from person to person. I began mine seventeen years ago with one affected joint, now I'm up to thirty-nine and at least five of those have both sorts in them. We know how tough this is, sarah1942, so come and talk to us, we will do our best to help you through this nasty time. DD

sarah1942

Thank you. I don't think codeine phosphate and I are going to get along very well. It takes the edge off the bad pain but only the edge and the drug zonks me out. I'ts like I've had too much to drink and all I want to do is lie down and go to sleep! As for Tramodol, well I was given that a few years ago and it was just awful! I felt like a zombie for hours after just one. I'm sitting here with a wheat bag on my groin and a hot water bottle on my back. I might go onto paracetamols when the bad pain comes back. I say "when" now and not "if" because I really can't see this being a sudden flare up that will totally go. Everywhere's starting to twinge and yes, it's scary stuff. But I really can't take these tablets. I think I'm very sensitive to them so I'll try just a couple of paracetamol and see.....By the way, doesn't codeine make you constipated?? Oh dear -- yet another hiccough!! :shock:

dreamdaisy

They are related to morphine which is well-known for making people 'spacey' - and yes, it's not a pleasant feeling, is it? I get the occasional bout of 'blocked drains' with my co-codamol but my GP gave me Docusate capsules to help out with that. I rarely need to use them.

All pain relief only dulls and they all come with their own 'risks' as most are processed by the liver so yes, care is needed. Heat is a good source of comfort, rest too, and I understand how debilitating chronic pain can be. I am struggling with it myself at the moment but it's no big deal. My husband and me have had a rough time since September (two bereavements and an operation each) so it's not that surprsing.

Be kind to yourself, spoil yourself as much as possible and I hope you have people around to help you at the moment. DD