01.38hrs Thurs 2 Nov

[BenHall1]

I am after any thoughts on dealing with osteoarthritic pain. Shoulders (mainly right) and left knee.

Any thoughts on pain relief .......... planning to see GP (now there's a challenge initself apart from dealing with pain) whenever ............

I have had a partial knee replacment in Nov 2015 .... no problems now. Had already a cortisone injection into right shoulder on 1 April 2022 ........... probably wearing off.

The weather beats it all - my pain journey can start with a change in the weather - even days away - then worsen. This current bout of wet weather down 'ere in Cornwall is bloody killing me. Heat patches on the shoulder help but the shoulder is a difficult place to put them.

Thanks in anticipation.

John

[Happyrosie]

Ben, this part of Health Unlocked was started for a specific research which has now ended.

You’d be better off posting in another of the arthritis forums

[BenHall1 in reply to Happyrosie]

Aaaah ! Ok thank you very much. Will do.

[Evonne02]

Hi BenHall1, Not sure what Happyrosie is referring to as I'm not aware of any research. But I'm ill mostly so miss too many days and posts to follow things.

I have Osteoarthritis all over my body apart from in my hands which have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Medication for the pain I would say us very individual and also depends if you get a good gp. I've been told I'll have to wait until I'm retired to get both my knees done and have been waiting 15 years already. My right shoulder was broken around 13 years ago and I was told it was too late to repair it, so the pain there is acute a lot of times. My original form of pain killer was liquid Morphine x4 times a day. I moved address and was told it was too expensive and given a low dosed slow release form of 10 mg which I take twice a day. That dose was insufficient so I was given Tramadol, then Codeine, then Cocodamol then Gabapentin. It all ruined my bowels and I then had to take Macrogol, a laxative twice a day. Now I don't take the Tramadol, Cocodamol or the Codeine. I would love to have the patches but I'm allergic to the elastoplast as well as the glue.

When it's cold I wear leggings and a vest under my clothes. If it gets even colder I layer up again. And use throws and blankets.

It's really difficult to get my gp to do anything new or to even refer me to see a consultant.

I hope you get better treatment than I get as it's depressing 😞. All the best 😍

[BenHall1 in reply to Evonne02]

Hi Evonne02,

Thanks very much for your comments. Gosh, you certainly have been through the mill and am so sorry for you. I'm learning that pain can really drag a person down to the pits.

I'm restricted in a way as I have Atrial Fibrillation and am on Warfarin for life. So the Warfarin dictates very largely what pain relief I can take and what I can't. I have had a right knee replacement back in Nov 2015 and now the left knee seems to be going the same way. Probably worse for me at the moment are my shoulders, aggravated by my sleep posture. At the moment I'm on CoCodomol 30/500 and find it works best. Meanwhile I have Osteopath treatment which helps. Heat patches I can take. Frankly, I don't see that there is much more I can do. Tramadol doesn't work for me as it upsets my gut/digestive system and I can spend hours in the bathroom.

Thanks for your thoughts and best wishes to you.

John

[Evonne02 in reply to BenHall1]

Try taking Peppermint Oil Capsules which will relax your stomach and bowels. All the best 😍 Thanks 😊

[Happyrosie in reply to Evonne02]

Evonne, I’ve just seen this. If you look at the posts “pinned” to the right side of this page you will see about the research project, in which I took part.