I am having physio for really painful neck arm and back everyone keeps saying take painkillers but on warfarin you cant every day any

[spongebob]

suggestions please what painkiller can i take every day as am in agony thanks from geraldine

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

Hi Spongebob,

It really is frustrating to have a chronic pain issue, and especially so while on anticoagulants. You are on the right path getting physical therapy but it sounds like that is not relieving your pain as yet. You should be able to take any of the drugs containing Tylenol (acetaminophen), like Percocet, and you can take opiate derivatives on a very, very cautious basis, being followed by your dr., as that can be a slippery slope. It is best to avoid the NSAID's (the typical anti-inflammatory drugs), though depending on your individual situation some short term use may be permitted. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN. Remember, ibuprofen is also included in this category. Also avoid aspirin. What I would absolutely do is get some acupuncture as that type of pain has a great success rate for being helped with acupuncture. Hoping your pain starts to go away quickly.

[spongebob in reply to SRMGrandma]

thank you i am on warfarin and i also have a blood clotting deficiency factor eleven so i cannot take anti inflammatories or aspirin anyway it is difficult but no one listens they just say take painkillers, they gave me amytriptyline anti depressants to help me sleep but i take prozac and i wont take any more, thanks for your advice rang boots chemists pharmacy told me to take paracetemol but that would upset my inr.

[spongebob in reply to SRMGrandma]

thank you so much pharmacist reccomended panadol on regular basis which is not to be taken on warfarin cant have acupuncture as got a blood clotting deficiency as well

[Offcut]

I am on co codamol 30mgand it does ease it for a short time but they are not keen on me going higher. Keep well away from any anti inflam and asprin.

I did try Acupuncture and it worked but now I am out of work cannot afford it. Explain that you are on warfarin if the acupuncture person is different person as I did leak it was quickly put under control.

[spongebob in reply to Offcut]

thank you have a clotting deficiency as well factor eleven so cant have acupuncture it is really difficult isnt it

[Marion62]

Hi Spongebob

My GP advised taking paracetamol - but when I said that I would need something stronger he prescribed co-codamol. - a mixture of codeine and paracetamol . I am on warfarin . Hope you will soon be feeling better.

Marion

[spongebob in reply to Marion62]

read on a website you should not take ccodamol with warfarin nor paracetemol etc for more than a couple of days because of inr levels i am in constant pain and climbing the walls we have to read up on these things as physios and gps seem to not know as much as we do about warfain

[MarkS in reply to spongebob]

I have taken paracetamol and it hasn't affected my INR according to my Coaguchek. I have also taken Ibuprofen without affect, though I believe that is more likely to impact INR.

Mark

[Julia76 in reply to Marion62]

my doctor prescribed co-codamol 8mg/500 which i take occasionally to help my back pain, i am also on insulin and suffer with fragile bones and on alendronic acid to help build my bones hopefully! also I am on warfarin so why was I not told not to take co-codamol?

[Offcut]

I try to ride it out but even when I have not taken any pain tabs my INR does not seem to change a great deal.

[Marion62]

Hi Spongebob,

My anti coag booklet says paracetamol and codeine based painkillers are acceptable and the nurse at the warfarin clinic at the hospital gave co- codamol a tick on my list of medications . Naproxin , diclofenac and aspirin got a big no.

Fortunately I have not needed strong painkillers recently but I can really sympathise with you - have suffered with back pain on and off for many years.

Perhaps you could phone your coag clinic at the hospital - explain your situation and ask for advice on which painkiller you can safely take and how long you can take it for.

My local pharmacy is also very good at checking my combination of meds so I would ask them.

Marion

[poppystorey]

Hi ,I also take co codomol without any probs with my warfarin,they do ease the pain short term ,popptstorey

[Froggy]

Hello Mark - sorry to hear about your pain. I have been taking Warfarin for AF since 2005. Last January I was diagnosed with Gall bladder problems which give me excruciating pains. I was prescribed 60mg 4 times per day when necessary. They certainly do the trick but leave me feeling really drowsy if I take the full dosage so I only use them at night time. Initially I was given Oromorphine too but stopped that after my stone was removed.

My gall bladder comes out next week in an 'open' procedure so I presume I will need the heavy stuff once more :-(. My INR levels have not been affected by any of the above painkillers so, maybe this is trial and error for individuals? Good luck x

[Vivante]

I have been on Warfarin since 2004, I was advised not to take any other pain killer except Paracetamol. I had the same problems, extreme pain in my shoulders, my neck and going up through my head. I had an MRI scan, it seems I had cervical spondylosis. I had physiotherapy a few times, I was told to take paracetamol. When I first complained about the pains in my back, I was advised to take codrydamol, it caused extreme constipation. I stopped taking them and my pharmacist provided my with something to ease the constipation. I will not take any other painkiller and only take that when I am desperate.

I have also recently had scans on my stomach because of the extreme pain in my back and stomach, plus the nausea. A few weeks ago I was told I had gallstones. I am waiting to see what is planned for me in August. I know I will need to stop the warfarin for a day or two if I have to have surgery. I am not really afraid of that, slightly anxious, yes. I had to stop taking the warfarin in 2006 when I had the open heart surgery.

Are you still continuing with the exercises? I am, although the pain eases for a short while, I find it bearable

You can do it, don't give up. The smallest movement helps,