osteoarthritis

ginat1973

Hi Cris thankyou very much for your message and advice i have had a mri scan thats when they diagnosed me with osteoarhtritis of the cervical spine i also feel it in my wrists and fingers aswell and also my feet sometimes i have been referred to a consultant but they were useless aswell. The medication i am on are tramadol,diclofenac,gabapentin,amitriptyline plus 500mg paracetmols and every two weeks my dr changes to either co-codamol or bu-trans patches which are similar to morphine but my body are used to them all now so i dont see the point really in taking them but they said there are nothing else they can give me thankyou once again for your message take care Gina

skezier

Hi Gina,
I have the Gabapentins next generation, they are called pregabalin and for me they are very good. I know a few people who found the gabapentin didn't work and also I found both co-codamol and the morphine patches useless, they just made me feel sick. I think someone could help you but I am not sure who that would be. Did the pain clinic do the jabs into your neck? Or have they discussed further things like the nerve blocks etc and do they know exactly what it is thats causing your pain, sorry its all questions eh? Take care, Cris

mash65

hi gina,i too have o/a & have been on cocodomol 30/500 since aug08.i was also put on the butrans patches at the same time by the rhymy.i found the combination of butrans & coco too much & i was so sick the dr finally took me off them in jan this yr.
have you tried zomorph with oramorph as back up? i take these with ibuprofen & 40mg amptripyline.
i have now only suffered 1 migriane with sickness since the change of meds.& have put the weight back on that i lost,ive also got my appetite back.
it sometimes takes a long time to get the cocktail of drugs right as were all so different.im not painfree but a lot more comfortable than i was,& thats makes a big difference to my life. debsx

eckstardeluxe

Hi Gina, welcome to the Forum, I hope you get the answers you are hoping for. My OA is in my lumbar spine & like you I have to take meds as there is nothing they can do. I seem to be on a similar cocktail to you. I take my Tramadol and diclofenac but i also have diazepam for the muscle spasms as I get very bad sciatica due to my spinal stenosis and this helps with that. I had to stop the Amitryptiline as felt too tired on the days I had to work but do take it now and again when I don't have to be up at the crack of dawn.

I've been referred to our Pain clinic, I'm in for a long wait but can't wait to go. I have heard some wonderful things about them and the services they offer so that might be something worth discussing with your GP. My best advice is to listen to your body and don't try and do too much on the good days. You think about getting everything done only to suffer for it the next day. Try and stay positive, coming on here helps a great deal. It does get better with time, the days where I would get upset are getting gradually less now.

Good luck

Eck

ginat1973

Hi Cris no the pain clinic have not talked to me about the jabs in my neck or the nerve blocks she just said sorry Gina we can no longer do anymore for you just carry on with all the medication and that was that which was not helpful she knew i was not very happy they are also not sure what it is thats causing the pain i honestly think as long as its not them i do not think they are to bothered speak soon take care Gina.

skezier

Hi Gina,

I am sure someone could do more for you, I just don't know who. I wonder if it would help you to phone the helpline? They will have a far better idea as to what can be done and what you could ask for. I hope that the fact you have found the site helps as well. Take care Cris

frogmorton

Ah yes!
Cris is right! Maybe there are artritiscare courses on taking control of pain?? Then you could take control yourself?
I was reading this thread and feeling more and more sad, but this HAS to be worth a try?
Take care
Toni x