Post head injury pain relief

[sospan]

Like most of us, I have more than "just" a head injury and as people like to say there is a lot wrong with me!

One of the things that have been troubling me a lot over the last 18 months is my knees. After many, many years of taking brufen and co-codamol they aren't as effective as they used to be and neither are they that good for you.

My GP suggested some pain patches, first off he suggested some Buprenorphine patches which when you look at the frequent side effects are which are significant especially for people with head injuries. I declined these.

He then prescribed Lidocaine patches, not the one you can buy in the shops with a fraction of the medicine included. These you can leave as one piece or cut to fit where you have the pain. You can only wear them for 12 hours then a 12 hour break to reapply

Wow, what a difference over a couple of days, pain is gone, more movement! What I have discovered as well, is that they are perfect for severe cluster headaches, migraine and having suffered for debilitating neck pain for years wish I had realised it was excellent for that as well.

Because it is a local anaesthetic it doesn't seem to have the effects as causing drowsiness and brain "fog" as the other strong painkillers.

Whilst it may not be suitable for everyone it may be worth considering if you have chronic pain.

[cat3]

I'm glad your GP has found some effective relief for your pain ; it must be a massive relief, especially without the side-effects of NSAIDS & Codeine.

All I get from the arthritis clinic are monthly phone calls until face to face appointments are resumed. So it's a case of wrist splints through the post, Co-Codamol and lip service.......none of which ease the pain. I was bang in the middle of further tests for the OA and possible Hyaluronic treatment to increase viscosity and elasticity in the joints, but looks like many more months of waiting.

Oh well, it is what it is and I won't let it stop me gardening and clearing up the thousands of falling leaves ! 🤨

I'm using Codeine & Arnica gel after working, but still wakened regularly by the pain.

Great news about your breakthrough though Steve ; I'm really happy for you. Love to you & Sharon.... 😐 xx

[sospan in reply to cat3]

Thanks,

I tried the arnica gel and tablets, didn't work so well for me.

Nighttime is pretty grim and then moving first thing in the morning. Maybe I will cut some pads in strips and wrap around my fingers at night.

maybe stitch the patches together and make a quilt ?

[cat3 in reply to sospan]

I wear soft white socks on my hands to keep the gel from rubbing off. It doesn't so much kill the pain as calm the awful stinging sensations.

Honestly Sos ; if we were horses ..............🥴 x

[sospan in reply to cat3]

Honestly of late, that would be the better option ...

[AndrewT]

Dear Steve,

It is, really great, that you have 'Something' that works- so well- for you...Brilliant. A lady that I used to know, via a colleague, 'Swore By' her TENS machine. (others, tend to' swear 'at' them!).

Codeine is 'awful' stuff, certainly in the Longer Term. It's OK if you have 'Collided' with the, Front Wall, and Broken your Arm...... I had a Kidney Transplant, in July 2013, and they give you Morphine that you can 'administer' yourself. I didn't need it often fortunately- I was more 'sore' than anything else- but I still need, a couple of, suppositories three days later💩. One thought though, if you are given it 'Twelve Hours On, Twelve Hours Off', there might be a 'reason' for that- so if you start wrapping yourself, in it, 'Overnight as well'.... if you see what I mean.

Once again Steve, it's great news, my friend.

AndrewT

[sospan in reply to AndrewT]

Yes,

Thanks, so far it has been life changing. The other evening i made an evening meal, just a spag bol. Afterwards, they hurt so much, I couldn't eat what I had cooked.

Today walked the dog and managed a mile. The first time he has been for 18 months.

Oddly, the conversation with the GP started the other way around than what you expect - he wanted to give me morphine and I fet it was too strong and we kept going down from there!

Always makes me smile in a supermarket when they say only two packs of paracetamol - given all the meds I have in the house.