Painkillers

[theoldboiler]

I have cirrhosis and my back has just given out on me (I have a dodgy disc) I know my pain relief options are limited but I need something as it is extrememly painful. What is the latest advice about what painkillers are best for the liver? Co-codamol is what I have here (and paracetamol) but I know I have to be careful. Any advice please?

Wendy

[redpoint72]

hello love. Well I have liver cirrhosis.esld. also suffer badly with sciatica .my consultant put me on nefopam. I'm not sure if you're compensated or not?. but obviously you need to consult your liver team with that. hope that helps. take care love. chris

[AyrshireK]

Probably be best to try and get some guidance from your specialist. It would be unwise of any of us here to suggest suitable pain relief BUT you obviously don't want to be taking too much paracetemol so don't take both co-codomol and paracetemol as guidance re. paracetemol is you shouldn't take the full dose that a normal person should and with co-codomol containing paracetemol too you could end up taking too much.

See if you can get guidance from your specialist. If the pain is so severe they might end up even going the opioid route if lesser options arn't working.

Katie

[redpoint72 in reply to AyrshireK]

I hope you get the pain under control. I'm only to a where,of how it can drag you down... but as. I said you need to speak with your liver team. only they can answer ultimately....none of us are qualified medical wise,how ever much research we do. my best chris

[theoldboiler]

Thank you everyone, I know pain relief is a real problem with liver disease. I am trying to manage on occasional paracetamol

[user2021a]

Have you tried a TENS machine or alternate hot and cold compresses on your back? I've taken dihydrocodeine short term on a couple of occasions and didn't impact my liver function tests (which remained normal for me but still abnormal). Alternately have you tried a chiropractor?

[theoldboiler in reply to user2021a]

Heat helps, TENS sounds like a good idea, thank you

[user2021a in reply to theoldboiler]

I had a lot of problems with my knee and hip last year and found TENS was great for helping although took some experimenting as to where to put the sensors and how much to turn it up - you can pick them up relatively cheaply. The cold ice blocks felt painful at the time but I found they helped longer term.

[Readlots in reply to user2021a]

This is an excellent suggestion. TENS got me through a back ache labour. You used to able to hire TENS machines from boots. I don’t know if you still can. That way you could see if it helps before buying one.

[Ubwa]

I have been prescribed tramadol for my knee pain until I have surgery.

Co-codamol, or anything with codeine is recommended to be avoided, as for codeine to work it has to first be metabolised in your liver to morphine. As you know, your liver doesn’t do the whole metabolising thing right so you get hit and miss results. I am ok to take up to 3g paracetamol a day too. But I am not a doctor so best to speak to your liver specialist.

Definitely don’t take NSAIDs until you have spoken to them.