Painkillers

[pagan1960]

Has anybody found anything effective? I know a lot of different drugs are used to try and help but I'm still not sure what's good and what is no use at all. Thank you.

[Hidden]

Well that's a hard one as what's suits one person

May not suit you it's just a case of trying things

I don't think any thing takes the pain completely

Away, just makes it easer.

Ask to be referred to a pain nurse in your hospital

Love viv

[pagan1960 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks viv, I'll definitely do so. I know that there isn't anything that can completely take the pain away, but perhaps a combination might be useful. xx

[ladymoth]

Hi Pagan,

My very nice rheumatologist recommended that I take Tramadol together with Paracetamol, and whilst neither was effective alone, the combination is very good.

I have reduced the dosage to the lowest effective amount, which for me is one 50mgm capsule of Tramadol, and one Paracetamol tablet.

This gives me better relief than a large dose of Tramadol alone, which is great, as Tramadol is pretty addictive stuff, and can make you feel even 'foggier' than normal!

I am aware that what suits one won't necessarily suit another, but apparently this combination has been used successfully by many fibro sufferers, so do ask your doctor if he thinks it might be OK for you.

I have also found that exercise - even the tiniest amount - will help control pain.

I lie in bed in the morning and have a really good stretch, then I try to take a little walk once or twice in the day.

I know it's a puny amount of exercise, but if I don't do it, I get worse.

Take it very steady though - experience will tell you that overdoing it when you're having a good day may result in several days of hardly being able to move at all!

Hope this helps, luv Moffy x

[pagan1960 in reply to ladymoth]

Moffy, I am so pleased you told me that. Large doses of Tramadol lead me to believe that I'm King Zog of Albania, so perhaps I would be better off combining. I do try and do some stretching and on some days it's quite effective so I'll carry on with that. There's a new yoga class starting up near me that is good for beginners and those with pain, so I'm thinking of joining that. You can but try and eventually you find a combination of medication and exercise that helps. On my good days, I sit on my exercise bike and read a book whilst travelling so at least I don't die of boredom and fall off. I love walking and I take the dog out every day, differing the length and time to suit my state (too foggy and I'll wander off and fall in the river You've been a great help, Moffy. luv Pagan x

[ladymoth in reply to pagan1960]

Heehee! >>>>> off to take a ginormous dose of Tramadol in the hope of turning into 'Royalty'

I am sure that being Kate of Cambridge would be more fun than being poor old Zog! x

[Hidden]

Tramadol is only any good with paracetamol

Does not work other wise also the SR tramadol

Is good with the 50 for break through pain

Not every one becomes addicted to tramadol

I can take 450 a day for 3 to 4 days then stop

Because my pain is better, the only problem is

I then get a bit hot but that is all, but please

Don't try it without your doctors blessing

Seems strange but it depends on

The persons system as other people would

Become addictive if you look in the bnf which

Is for medication, it is advised to only prescribe

It for short periods I think it says no longer

Than two weeks, but what would we do with

Out it.

I work in a drug unit and the drugs that the

Addicts want more is pregablin

And gabapentin as this then goes up

There noses please don't try this you

Would be very very ill and they use it

To,get high not for pain

Pregablin and gabapentin is very addictive

And no one should ever try to stop taking

Then without help

I think with tramadol you need to stop for a while

As you get used to it, and you can't do that without

A doctor in case you have withdrawals

But I agree it does take the edge off

I would not manage without it

Most drugs have side effects, and most

Of the strong medication that we take

Too stop our pain is addictive.

I hope this has helped a bit, I know I

Sound a know all but I deal all day

With drugs

[pagan1960 in reply to Hidden]

viv, you don't sound a know all, you know what you're talking about and that's good. I have been taking Pregabalin for some time because it was prescribed for sciatica so I'm taking a chemical soup at present. I do worry because having no knowledge and no access to Mims (I used to work for a medical company) I haven't got a clue what some of this stuff is doing to my system. I would like to find out in case I'm doing permanent damage to my liver (or what's left of my brain, for that matter). Thank you viv, more help than you know

[Hidden in reply to pagan1960]

Dont worry about it, it's better than having pain and lots

Of people take it, you just must not stop on your own

Let's face it we are all addicted to pain killers as not a

Day could go bye without taking some thing how would

We cope without, I think it's the least of our problems.

I would try anything if I thought it would give me my life

Back.

Hope every thing works out for you but please don't

Worry we all have to take some thing.

Just wish that we could take that illegal stuff that. People

Smoke it's suppose to help greatly, I know that in some

Country's they take a legal form but I don't think it is

Available here

[pagan1960 in reply to Hidden]

A friend of mine lived in the US for years and told me that Cannabis is prescribed by doctors to people with chronic pain. I have to say that when ever I've indulged my pain has lessened. The law is a ass, as has been said by somebody wiser than me Thanks Viv x

[siskin in reply to pagan1960]

In u.k. called Sativex currently used for MS sufferers.

I believe they are studying it for other uses, RA in particular.

[fibro in reply to Hidden]

I did not know that gabapentin is addictive. I have been taking it for about 8 years!

I was more worried that I'm taking diazepam for longer than you should because outr mental health department who call themselves " improving access to psychological therapies". not sure how the improving access came about as they will not do home visits and they have a waiting list as long as the Great Wall if china! but had I bps aid I was a drug or alcohol abuser or was threatening suicide the waiting list would be as long as my front pathway and I'd get a home visit, but coz I want help from them, they are just tooooooo busy!

we all know about waiting lists but you would have thought if I had been taking diazepam for three months already what danger is waiting another three months going to put me in? my GP has tried speaking to them and even now they don't seem to have 'say so' power.

I certainly won't be trying the other ideas with the drugs but as the old saying goes..... just keep taking the pills'...... or Mr C may be would say "It's all right dear, Its only Fibromyalgia"

sorry to feel so cynical, but you know what it's like xx

[pagan1960]

Haha! I'll be Zog and you could be Catherine the Great (or someone equally royal. I like the sound of George the third because I can do madness standing on my head I would like to be Kate of Cambridge because she has longer legs than me

[Extremelygrumpy]

When I was first diagnosed with fibro codyramol worked wonders ... Over 20 years later it suddendly stopped working and I didn't use it every day either .... Weird .. After trial and error I take dihydrocodeine now and that helps greatly.. Again I use it sparingly I prefer to only take the night meds and then painkillers when I really can't stand the pain. I use my bath or shower... Hot packs... And treat myself to a massage when I can afford it

VGx

[pagan1960 in reply to Extremelygrumpy]

Thank you, VG. It's a big help to hear other peoples experiences and advice. Pxx

[Lucyw]

I take zapain very good with paracetamol and also pregabalin.

[NordicNavajo]

Hi Pagan

For 10 months in 2010 I was almost pain free when I only had fibro to contend with. This state was achieved not through meds, but through a regime including the following:

1 to 1 excercise with trainer who taught me muscle pairing skills 2 times per week. The muscle work was to keep the knots and spasms in muscles at bay.

a SAD or light lamp daily on grey days

further 3 gym sessions self directed

swimming

sun bed usage once a fortnight

laughing alot

good company

energy therapy and meditation

no wheat low dairy diet

I managed to come off the muscle relaxant/anti depressant that I had been on for over 3 years. All was well in my world, I had a job, a partner and was coping and "living" surprisingly a full life after developing fibro after a RTA in 2007.

Then before RTA went to court in early 2011 I was told (and you have to listen or pay their fee ) by a specialist rheumatologist acting for my barrister that these actions may well be psychosematic and I should give them up. I did and within 8 weeks I contracted shingles which from them on destroyed my nervouse system functioning. I have never been sicker. I am hoping once I can mend some of the nerve diorder shingles caused that I may return to the 2010 health state.

Experiment and find a good combination that lets you be you

smiles and warm thoughts NN