Would like to share this with everyone and the dangers of constipation whilst on morphine.
I was prescribed morphine but was not given any laxatives. I started getting chronic constipation and it got to a point one day that I really had to go and nothing would come out, then all of a sudden I had excruciating pain from the bottom of my spine to the top. I was so bad that I had to be taken into hospital. They gave me an enema, which worked but I still had the pain. The doctor said I was so impacted that it was pressing on the nerves of my spine and has damaged them. I can no longer walk without a zimmer frame and have had to have my bed brought downstairs and have to use a commode. I have to have carers in to help me get washed and dressed and prepare my meals. Before this I was able to walk with a walking stick and could prepare my own meals and even hoover the carpet.
Who would know that such a small thing as constipation could cause so much damage.
Please, please address any constipation issues as soon as possible. I would hate anyone to have to go through this much pain.
Gentle hugs to everyone
Written by
lara1953
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So sorry to hear this Lara. I was on morphine after a very recent total shoulder replacement , a revision, the first being done in 2015 and a failure. In hospital they always give a laxative to patients and it is absolutely FOUL. I take it you were not in hospital at the time of being prescribed the morphine. Drinking lots of water also helps. I was only on the morphine for two days and soon stopped that med on returning home as I did not like how it made me feel. Being constipated is not good at any time and nor is the opposite of that either. Thank you for posting and I sincerely hope that things improve for you, given time. Gentle hugs back at you. {{{{hugs}}}}
Oh Lara I am so sorry that you went through that. Thanks for highlighting it.
I take codeine for bad back pain and that makes me constipated and so I have to juggle how many painkillers I take with taking a laxative. Which I don't like taking as it gives me really bad wind and stomach ache. I can't get the balance right if honest and sometimes I haven't opened my bowels for a few days and then I get a pain shoot up my back as I strain.
I have lower back condition where L5 has slipped over S1 so get a lot of sciatic pain anyway and pains down my legs. I am fed up of going to the doctors as sure they roll there eyes when they see my name...but I do get worried about being constipated which probably makes it even worse.
Eating 6 prunes a day helped with constipation when I was prescribed morphine after having several spinal fractures. I hated how morphine made me feel- for example talking ‘rubbish’ even though I thought I was making sense. I came off it with a support plan from my GP. Whilst in hospital the pain team prescribed Oxycnorm(sp?) which is a synthetic morphine. No constipation, no talking rubbish and gives me pain relief. I use it as and when needed. The prunes contain boron which is good for the bones. My sister said she now has her sister back!! Sending you hugs won’t help with the pain but hope it gives you some comfort knowing people are thinking of you and hoping things will become easier for you 🤗
Boy, I so understand how you feel. I was on opiates for a long time, and had the constipation issue. Fortunately I had a friend who had taken laxatives for years and lost all her peristalsis forever, so I tried some other remedies. BEST thing is a LOT of magnesium, and drink a LOT of liquids. Some people say to drink some warm water with lemon in it also. There is a product called MagOx7 that is incredible. Also, if that is not enough, Oxypowder, from Global Healing Center is NOT a laxative, not addicting, and once you get more regular with mucho magnesium you won't need it anymore. My advice as to laxatives is STAY AWAY. You will get lazy bowels, and be dependent for a LONG time. My friend had to take 10 or more laxatives every few days, and then she would describe how awful it was. PLEASE do not make the same mistake.
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Newly diagnosed 
2 wedge fracture vertebrae. Advice needed please! 
No fractures but back pain still an issue
Janh
