Very painful back what can I use - dr has prescribed condene but after reading side effects don't want to take it

[gemsmum]

Have had a very bad back from Saturday after trying to lift my 5 year old grandson as he was upset. I had a phone consultation with Dr this morning and she has given me condene. Haven't taken any yet, husband has just gone to get prescription and I have been reading side effects, one of them being slowing breathin down. I have a slow heartbeat around 47 - 52 when not in AF so a bit frightened to take them, there also seem to be other bad side effects. I am on Apixaban so can't use the usual gels. Has other forum members used condene or could recommend any thing else I could do. Wouldn't usually fuss over a sore back but this one is terrible, can't sit, lie down or walk, just moving between the three. Thanks in advance for any help.

[gemsmum]

Sorry I meant codene but spellcheck changed it.

[davythom in reply to gemsmum]

I was told by a physo to use cold packs to start which helps to bring the inflammation down and then use heat for relief . So I use the Deep heat back patches. I asked the pharmacist and she said they would be fine.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to gemsmum]

Try codeine and the spell checker won't try to correct it.

[gemsmum in reply to BobD]

Now I know how to spell codeine!!

[Finvola]

My sympathies gemsmum - backache like that is awful. I can't help with codeine and slowing the heart as my resting rate is usually around 65 but I have used Ibugel and similar gels in small amounts when the pain has been bad. My doc prescribed Co-codamol and I found some relief in alternating hot/cold compresses, especially when it was a pulled muscle causing the pain.

Hope you can get relief soon . . .

[PeterWh in reply to Finvola]

My Physio told me to always alternate cold and hit and to start and finish on cold. Quite apart from strains if you get numbness and coldness particularly in the feet and hands also use hot and cold water.

[gemsmum]

Thanks for quick replies after reading them I am now sitting with ice wrapped in a t towel on my back and also will try heat as well, I have a thing I can put in the microwave like a hot water bottle. Husband isn't back yet with tablets so can't make my mind up about those

[Finvola in reply to gemsmum]

Great - leave the icepack on for 10 minutes in each hour to reduce swelling, then use your microwave pack - I use one of those too. My doc told me once that the ice/heat treatment is most effective if done immediately but is a good remedy at any time. Try to move about gently to keep the muscle working. xx

[pip_pip]

For my bad back, I have on both occasions, used an osteopath, which I found to be the answer to my prayers. Try one out.

Phil

[Cazzab52]

My physio also says hot / cold treatment. My doctor prescribed cocodamol when my back went the week after my stroke. I have persistent AF. Tiger balm is a great natural treatment. My massage therapist says Vicks is just as good if you have some. Good luck!

[gemsmum]

Thank you for all the help, tonight it is feeling a bit better so hope to get some sleep. I did as you advised and used cold and hot compresses, feel stupid I didn't think of that before. Also decided not to use the codeine but used Co-codamol instead and they definitely have helped as I couldn't straighten up this morning. Kind regards x

[Hidden in reply to gemsmum]

Cocodamol is codeine & paracetamol which is how it is normally prescribed

[fallingtopieces]

I too am a fan of the osteopath.

Don't suffer, find an osteopath and hopefully you will get some relief without medication.

Pat

[Hidden]

I use codeine when I have bad spells of arthritis...15 mg...have not noticed adverse reactions

[Hidden]

A good Chiropractor might well do the trick, no drugs at all.

[Kodaska]

OUCH!

Forget the drugs, the chiropractor, and anything else outside your own body other than heat and cold.

When inflammation first begins, applying cold helps keep it down and reduce swelling, which impedes circulation. After that apply heat, which opens blood vessels, promoting circulation and thereby healing.

Pain is the body's way of telling us something's wrong. When we mask that signal we increase the likelihood of doing further damage, plus we get complacent and think we don't have to take responsibility for our condition.

Assuming your body works pretty much normally, the answer for you, even more important than heat and cold, is yoga. I'm talking about careful, systematic stretching and strengthening. Learn how to align, reach, twist, and gently challenge your body and you'll be able to lift that 5-year-old with no problem (it helps to learn how to lift properly, as well).

If there's a reputable hatha yoga studio in your area, check it out. Avoid the places that emphasize soft music, incense, chanting, and stylish clothing. You want a place that focuses on developing strength and flexibility. A teacher trained in the Iyengar school would be best. Otherwise, look for background in fields like physical therapy or kinesiology. And if a potential teacher says it's no good to use props like pillows, bolsters, blankets, straps or chairs, keep looking. Those items are very helpful and Iyengar studios use them freely.

Best of luck!

[PeterWh]

When I had a bad car smash in 1987 my GP at the time was in his late 20s and he was very much against specialist pain killers and to a lesser extent anti-inflammatories for the reasons that kodaska stated because it masks the pain and hence it is very easy to stretch muscles further and increase the damage. At the time he was certainly against the flow with his ideas. he was happy with paracetamol and ibuprofen but as many of us now know ibuprofen is an AF trigger.