Fed Up

[Sooze62]

Main problem is osteoarthritis around L4 & 5 in spine, also hips, hands, ankles. As I only have 1 kidney unable to take arthritis meds. On Pregabalin & Longtec.

I also suffer from COPD & underactive thyroid.

Anyone got any advice?

[Rosepetal60]

Have you considered complimentary health treatments such as traditional Chinese Acupuncture and others. I have been helped a lot with this particular type of Acupuncture for my Arthritis and other health problems.

[Hidden]

Wish i had some advice for you as I'm in the same predicament, luckily I have both of my kidneys but suffer with kidney stones every so often. I too get very fed up I am on Gabapentin and am supposed to take co-codamol but they make me feel quite awful if i take 2 of them at a time and one doesn't help at all so i just grin and bear it but of late the grin slip quite a lot, take care

[Sooze62]

Used to take gabapentin but effectiveness wore off. I cannot take cocodamaol either, makes me feel sick. I do take paracetamol on top of other painkillers as advised by GP. We all know the chronic pain 24/7 sometimes gets us down. Hope you're ok.

[Sooze62]

Yes, British & Chinese acupuncture from NHS. Limited sessions though. Too expensive privately. I also have fascia massage which is very good, I recommend it. Again, very expensive & cannot afford regular sessions. Hope you're well.

[leannejohn]

I've been getting some relief for my back with capsaicin cream . It doesn't smell but it gets your skin quite hot as it's made from chili peppers , this can be uncomfortable but it seems to go away after a few days. Sometimes I also use some lidocaine cream to dull pain of the capsaicin. I have rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis in my back and am not allowed to take nsaids any more . If you chose to try this please check with Dr first as I don't know hard it is on kidneys .

[leannejohn]

Meant to tell you good luck in your quest for pain relief !

[Sooze62 in reply to leannejohn]

I use this too, the higher dose. Thanks.

[Sooze62]

Thank you. That's so kind. Hope you're well.

[ITYFIALMCTT]

Some people do well with NSAID gels that they can apply to wrists, back etc. - a relatively small and localised dose gets through the skin in nothing like the same amounts as taking ibuprofen by mouth so some people with CKD do well with the gels (but they need to discuss it and obtain the consent of their GPs).