Pain meds damaging liver

Sandfire
Sandfire Member Posts: 3
edited 1. Mar 2014, 05:58 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi, I'm new to this forum and just need some guidance or maybe just a shoulder to cry on!

I developed a bone infection in my early 20's which led to osteoarthritis in my sternoclavicular joint. I am in my mid 30's now and been told that my liver is showing damage probably caused by the anti-inflammatory and paracetamol, so been taken off them. I am now miserable, wake through the night from the pain, day to day tasks are a real problem and I have a 10 month of baby to look after. I drove to work this morning and the pain became so unbearable I had tears in my eyes, my whole arm and neck were effected.

Just don't know what to do?! I am only working 2 days a week and even that's becoming impossible. What options do have?

Comments

  • DebbieT
    DebbieT Member Posts: 1,033
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,

    I think you need to go back & see ure GP.
    Tell them you're in too much pain to cope without some form of pain medication & you need help with it urgently.

    I'm so sorry ure struggling & I really hope they help you asap!!

    (((Hugs)))

    Xx xX
    Healing Hugs
    Debbie.x
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    Yes
    You need to go back and see the GP and say you cant cope.....don't hold back :? tell them everything. People have burst into tears {not suggesting that you do} and that has made the GP realise how bad you are.
    Also ask about a stomach protector....omneprozol or lansoprozol {sp?} I had to ask for it after reading on this forum about it. He just looked at me and said OK if that's what you want and scribbled out a prescription. One of these GPs who would rather refer you or write out a prescription than talk and find out what's wrong :shock:
    Needless to say I changed GPs :lol:

    Love
    Hileena
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    This is one of the dangers of paracetamol but the good news is that the liver is very good at regenerating itself so hopefully the damage will not be permanent. I gave up with paracetamol years ago due to its lack of effect, I now take co-codamol 30/500, i.e. 30g of codeine and 500 of paracetamol. I am allowed no more than eight per day but keep it to four. Cocodamol comes in a range of strength so this may be an option for you but this is something for you to talk over with your GP.

    Who told you that your liver is showing signs of damage? Mine went horribly wrong thanks to a drug I took for my psoriatic arthritis - this was highlighted by blood tests but I felt fine! :lol: They may also be worth speaking to about changing your pain meds and when this could be done. I wish you well and I hope things improve soon. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Sorry to hi jack your post but to DD.....whats the difference between co codamol and paracetamol and codeine? both contain paracetamol surely?
    Love
    Hileena
  • Sandfire
    Sandfire Member Posts: 3
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks everyone. I have been discribed Dihydrocodeine and allowed me to have the first full night sleep in months, BUT can't take it first thing in the morning as makes me to sleepy to work or look after a baby. Not a perfect solution but better than nothing.
    The liver problems came to light after I started getting backache and it turned out to be my liver! Had been taking Diclofenac and co-codamol for last 15 years, doctors were convinced it was not the pain meds but when I went cold turkey liver results got better with each test and backach has gone now.
    Specialist said I have a particularly badly arthritic joint, I worry if I am this bad in my 30's how bad is it gonna get in another 15 years? Surgery is not a option anymore they did what they could (and made it worse) so anything else is considered too dangerous. The joint is already several times larger than normal. Can anyone else who developed Arthritis young shed some light on having it very long term?
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm glad you've found a solution that helps. I took those for a while though I only very rarely took more than 4 per day as I found the more I took the more I seemed to need to take to get the same results.

    As for disease progression, we are all different. There's no set pattern or timeline. We don't have crystal balls, alas. My situation is different from yours in that my OA is a result of RA and, although I have both in my shoulders, I don't think that particular joint is involved though I'm not good on shoulder joints so it might be :roll:

    I got RA at 15 and it was tough when my sons were little. By then it was in my hands, elbows, shoulders, neck, knees, ankles and feet. I always took the view that my most important task was the job in hand ie raising them and, if I could do that, what happened later didn't matter much. However, I got lucky. New joints for old and disease modifying meds for my RA made a big difference. Things get worse but sometimes they get better too. I hope that's the case for you. Just focus on the present and let the future take care of itself.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Sandfire
    The meds have damaged my kidneys, so like you I cant take the antiinflams..some days I am in agony with these joints, my GP has just prescribed me Brutan patches..I have had something similar before but I came off them...but this time think it might be for good...they don't take all the pain away ..I wish...have you been to a pain clinic at all maybe they could help..I do hope you can get some relief very soon.
    Love
    Barbara
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Hileena, yes indeed they both contain paracetamol but it may be tempting to take more of the 'pure' paracetamol to try to get on top of pain compared to the added 'oomph' of the varied amounts of codeine - that's my flawed reasoning, anyway! :)

    Hello Sandfire, thank you for the further clarification about how you discovered your liver troubles. Alas none of us can say how things will turn out for you, everyone's arthritis is different in the what, the when and the how it attacks. Seventeen years ago I had one affected knee and thought that an outrage, now I long to return to those halcyon days! :lol: No matter, it is what it is and it will do what it will do. You will find ways around dealing with every-day life, us arthritics can be remarkably creative and inventive when needed. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben