muscle relaxant

[cmjoyce]

Hi everyone.

Looking for your help. I have severe hip arthritis and Zapain does not help at all I was allowed two weeks of Diazepam, a muscle relaxant which really helped. Not allowed any more as they say addictive and talking about switching to Baclofen or another muscle relaxant. Any one have any experience of this drug or any comments they think might help before I talk again with the doctor.

Thank you so much

[kohai]

Hi cmjoyce,

I've had a lot of experience with all three;_- Zapain, Baclofen and Diazepam. Only the latter helped/helps me.

I have severe arthritis in all joints and my spine. Because I have other spinal damage, that causes the muscle spasms.

I'm on diazepam as a muscle relaxant for my spine and liquid morphine (Oramorph) for my arthritis since the late 90's, i've been on them at different levels since then, but every couple of months or years I either get those medications added too by other medications, like anti-inflammatories, or swapped out for something stronger, like morphine patches depending on the pain level.

If you agree to try the various medications they suggest and find that diazepam is still the only one that really helped, you may be given a very low dose, one in the morning, one at night, (2mg for example) then one 5mg per day for when the spasms are at their worst, (depending on when your pain is at its worst.)

If you aren't sure, try keeping notes on when its at its worst - time of day, if you were active or not etc - for a few weeks, see if theres a pattern.. this can help you help your doctor to better help you. Mine had me do it, and while I found this incredibly frustrating because I felt my physical pain level wasn't being addressed there and then, my logging things down helped me in finding out some things actually triggered the spasms, which helped me a lot in thethe long term.

I have a very, very long list of what i've been put on in the last 35 years, few at a certain dosage worked, many didn't, many of them I was given a second or third time years apart that still never worked and some on a repeated attempt I found i'm now allergic too.. Being honest, i'v never once been addicted to anything i've been given, i've found many GP's to be overly cautious incase they're ever accused of giving a patient a medication dosage that does get them addicted.

One piece of advice I would highly suggest, and looking back, wish someone had told me... go online to various medical "reputable" websites, find out as much as you can about prescribed medications your GP may offer for your pain or if you suggest them, but make sure if you do find anything, you cross reference it with other medical websites to check they all say the same thing. See your GP armed with knowledge and you'll find he/she opens up to you a lot more and discusses seriously with you all options.

I'm pretty sure my GP hates me now though because when he suggests a new medication I don't just say 'thank you' and leave, I question his decisions, why he feels that specific new medication is an improvement on the last ones. I get further with him now than I did 20 or 35 years ago.

Sorry I can't be more help.

[Happyrosie]

in addition to the very helpful notes that Konami has made, your pharmacist may be the one who can suggest a painkiller.

[piglette]

My hip got so bad I could not stand it any longer and I saw an orthopaedic surgeon privately, who recommended a hip replacement.

[Cat33 in reply to piglette]

Me too Piglette Had both my hips replaced the pain was excruciating beforehand and had a fantastic result each time a new lease of life

[piglette in reply to Cat33]

I have had both done too. I walk along and think about the awful pain I used to have and cannot believe that I put up with it!

[Amkoffee]

Diazapam is not a muscle relaxer. It is an anti-anxiety medicine and is addictive. But because it helps reduce anxiety it would relax the muscles. I have not found baclofin to be much help. I do like tizaidine, however, it will make you sleepy. I take it only at bedtime.

[Jackie1947 in reply to Amkoffee]

Diazapam is prescribed to relax muscles on its own and you don't have to be anxious to get it

[Amkoffee in reply to Jackie1947]

Yes I have seen many Dr prescribe it to be used as a muscle relaxer. Many drugs are used "off label. " I did not mean to imply anything negative about it being used as a muscle relaxer. I found this on Google... "It can treat anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures." which explains both. But until I saw this I didn't know it was ever used for seizures. Live and learn. 😁

[Blackknight1989]

if your hip is so painful you are forced to medicate you need to just have a replacement it will take that pain away. Had both mine replaced in 2008/2009 at 41, don’t go down the pain med/muscle relaxer road as it is fraught with difficulties much worse than hip pain.