What painkillers to use lovely people?

[Achant1]

Hello you lot, me again, I’ve done my back in knocking up cement on Saturday, lower back, what painkillers do you guys use and is it ok to use ibuprofen with Af? I’m using cocodomol at the minute but it’s not quite doing the trick. Hope you’ve all had a better weekend than me 🤣.

[Hidden]

There are several grades of CoCodomol ......... I use the strongest 30/500, only available on prescription. It works given that I am on Warfarin.

So, the question is if you have AF and are on Warfarin, Ibuprofen maybe be an issue. Don't know about the NOAC's.

[Achant1 in reply to Hidden]

I’m on apixaban, I know ibuprofen will help with the pain, but really not sure if it’s worth the risk.

[Tudee in reply to Hidden]

Just to let people know, I was prescribed 15/500 mgm of Co-codamol in capsule form, red and white, I had a very bad allergic reaction to the red part of the capsule as it contains Cochineal (E124) made from crushed red beetles, 8 months on I am still receiving treatment from Immunology dept, I suffer Hives , urticaria, blisters and can not yet wear my Apixaban silicon med alert bracelet, without my arm blistering. I had no history of this allergy previously, yet Cochineal is in everything sweets, cosmetics, foods.etc.

[Hidden in reply to Tudee]

Hi, Yeah - you've reminded me .... my 30/500 CoCod is pure white in tablet form.

[Tudee in reply to Hidden]

Very wise, why they have to use such an additive is crazy. I am now on Caplets. I have yellow carded my allergic reaction to the capsule

[ibuputih in reply to Tudee]

Wow! I thought I was the only one. Same thing happened to me when taking Omeprazole. One brand that my pharmacy favoured, had a half red capsule and it caused really nasty skin flare ups, hives etc. The pharmacist would not accept that I had an allergy and was extremely unhelpful about purchasing an alternative brand for me. I went to a more helpful pharmacy, who acknowledged the issue and ordered ones for me without the red colouring. Sorted. (The new pharmacist also advised me to stop the Omeprazole as the GP was just repeat prescribing .... but that's another story!)

😉

[Tudee in reply to ibuputih]

So sorry you had to go through that, its not a nice thing, fid you find out if Cochineal was used as a colouring, and yellow card it.

[ibuputih in reply to Tudee]

It's a while ago now, but I didn't yellow card it. The nice pharmacist took details though, and said they would register it, so hopefully they did. Never had probs in the past with cochineal colouring - but mentioned the problem to a good friend who is a retired GP and she wasn't at all surprised and well aware of allergy issues occurring from red gel coatings.

[Bagrat]

Meds like ibuprofen ( NSAIDs) can increase risk of Afib as well as bleeds in the gut, so if on anticoagulants of any sort, it's double trouble.

[Achant1 in reply to Bagrat]

Thanks, it’s a bugger isn’t it!

[Bagrat in reply to Achant1]

Yep and even tiny dose of codeine makes me horribly dizzy.

[Jalia]

NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen can actually promote arrhythmias and should definitely be avoided. I find CoCodamol prescription strength...15/500 or 30/500mg heloful

[Achant1 in reply to Jalia]

Thanks, it just feels like I need to relax the muscle.

[Tudee in reply to Achant1]

I use and find Tens very helpful, also Chilli cream onPrescription, thereby avoiding further meds.

[jeanjeannie50]

Just try Paracetamol. For me they work better than anything else.

[Achant1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks for the reply, but it’s beyond paracetamol type pain.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Achant1]

Bless you, sorry to hear it's that bad. I'd recommend mrgwair's suggestion of heat pad or hot water bottle.

My dad had this theory and I'm not suggesting this to you (in case you make things worse), that holding onto a high bar and letting your body dangle would put everything back in place where it should be.

Hope the pain soon goes.

Jean

[Achant1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

This does help after a long day(the hanging), your dad was right, but this was a proper back twang, I can normally walk it off at the end of the day, not this one, I’m resting up again today and will hopefully be ok tomorrow 👌🏻

[Norhythm in reply to Achant1]

Go see your GP and he should be able to give alternative on prescription. Thats what I do for arthritis pain

[mrgwair567]

Try a heat pad or a hot water bottle to relax the muscles.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to mrgwair567]

I was just going to recommend the same thing. Heat really helps when my gallbladder kicks off and that pain is horrendous.

[mrgwair567 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Heat helps doesn’t it ! So comforting too!

[Achant1 in reply to mrgwair567]

I’ve got some cbd muscle balm which really heats up and that is helping thank you 👌🏻

[mrgwair567 in reply to Achant1]

Hope the pain eases soon. Take care!

[mrgwair567 in reply to Achant1]

Also , Forgot to mention yesterday that I was prescribed Gabapentin by my doctor for persistent neck and head pain last year. It takes a little time but did the trick after a few weeks.

[Achant1 in reply to mrgwair567]

Thanks for your help 👌🏻

[Visacrem]

I recently couldn't walk due to slipped disc.You may need to speak to your doctor to get you through this very difficult time.

I had Gabapentin prescribed for me, the doctor will advise on the correct strength but I'm sure they will help, it certainly did for me. Good luck.

[Achant1 in reply to Visacrem]

Thank you 😊

[Tryfan]

If on Apixaban or similar Ibuprofen or its derivatives are not advised. I've just come through 2 weeks of back pain. Took CoCodomol when at its worse. Paracetamol when I had to a bit later on. CoCodomol prescribed by GP. Best help when I could move a little was a series of lower back pain programs I found on the internet. Also had Bowen therapy as I couldn't get into a physio anywhere in my time frame. That helped. Look it up.

[Achant1 in reply to Tryfan]

Thank you.

[Ppiman]

I have been told that for people taking anticoagulants, we must not take anything that might increase the chances of causing internal bleeding. This means no aspirin, ibuprofen or other "NSAID" drugs - all of which carry a slight risk even in people not taking anticoagulants. I gather. I've read that even codeine can affect the heart in some people, so I would say that it is important to clear all and any drugs you might take with your own GP, first.

For muscle spasm type pain, I have found 5-10mg diazepam can work quite well but it can be taken only on an as need basis since regular use can lead to dependency forming in some people.

Steve

[Achant1 in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks.

[wilsond]

When I broke my shoulder gardening last year I had dissolvable codeine from GP for a few days , then Panadol .Suggest trying your GP or if hard to get hold if,a pharmacist.

Hope you're better soon

[Achant1 in reply to wilsond]

Thank you very much.

[SuziElley]

I have cocodamol 30/500mg, only available on prescription. If your back is bad then call your GP and ask them to put a prescription out for you

[Achant1 in reply to SuziElley]

I have been taking these for the last few days, the pain has eased slightly today, thank you.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

HiUnfortunately not NATS on blood anti-coagulant.

I was given paracetamol 500mg x2 x 4 times a day. NO MORE

or the paracetamol and Codeine or just Codeine but they areny anti inflannatories.

Try diet like tumeric, blueberries etc, cinnamon.

After opI was given OXY-NORM. with above paracetamol.

OXY-NORM is a opium drug and can be addicted, overdosed so be very careful.

cheri JOY

[Achant1 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thanks.

[mrgwair567 in reply to Achant1]

Definitely no turmeric when taking anticoagulants!

[SuziElley]

I didn’t think turmeric was advisable if you’re on anticoagulants ?

[GrampaBill]

Chiropractic is really the first thing you should utilize. Safe, all natural, effective. And it won’t cause hives… I’ve been a Doctor of Chiropractic for over 36 years and taught my patients to use chiropractic first, drugs second, surgery last. Plus, it might even help lessen your afib symptoms. I know there are some great testimonies out there! Let’s hear from some of you!

[Beta44]

Rather late to the party, but I see that no one has mentioned Diazapam. It work as a muscle relaxant as back muscle tends to go into spasm. Only a short course and very effective but does need a prescription. Peter

[Achant1 in reply to Beta44]

Thank you 👌🏻

[ibuputih]

Sorry you have hurt your back - I can empathise, and am really pleased you asked this question.

I am grateful for my AF medication - but the painkiller issue really gets to me. Paracetamol just does nothing for me - never has. Ibuprofen and co-codamol are not much better, aspirin has always, up until now, been my go to painkiller. I can't even have acupuncture!

I inadvertently aggravated an old severe back injury almost 2 years ago, and I am still suffering. Shortly after starting the anti coags, I grabbed some painkillers from my bag thinking they were paracetamol (not wearing glasses), necked them and was jubilant that the pain cleared very quickly. Turns out they were aspirin! I told my cardiologist about this and he suggested asking my GP for tramadol - I have heard mixed messages about tramadol so I haven't done so yet. I had co-dydramol following knee replacement, perhaps I should ask for that and see if it helps?

As for the back pain, I went to a physio for months and was given a host of Pilates style core building exercises, that I have religiously followed. In almost 2 years I am still not good and really fed up. The 3 things that have helped me are: a Theragun which gets things moving ; a freezing roll on liquid obtained from a well-known internet site beginning with A ; and a sacro ilial belt for the really, really bad days, or when I have to do a lot of bending - obtained from the same site. Hope your back recovers soon.

[Achant1 in reply to ibuputih]

Thanks for your reply 👌🏻