Ideas for pain relief

[GypsySarah]

Hi Everyone

My husband had just been diagnosed with nsclc. He is staged as T4 N0 M0.

He is on co-codamol for pain relief whilst waiting for chemo. He is using a hot water bottle to give a bit of relief but I wondered if anyone had used any of the heat patch type things or had any other suggestions?

Thank you x

[Bow-19]

If he is still in pain with cocodamol just wondered if he needs stronger pain relief medication. I know I have had a combination of pain relief medications in the past. I discussed this with my Mac Millan Nurse a few years ago and my pain was brought under control. The Lung Cancer Nurse at your husband’s hospital might also be another good contact. Hope that he gets relief soon x

[GypsySarah in reply to Bow-19]

Thanks for the quick reply.

They are potentially looking to change him to morphine but not just yet which is why I was looking for ideas for non medicated relief.

I see there are several thermal patches on the market and wondered if anyone had tried anything like that.

[StillClare in reply to GypsySarah]

I haven't tried the patches (sorry) but have tried gel ibuprofen gel and was considering patches as I had a very bad experience with cocodomol. Was very relieved to be moved onto morphine. Don't let them delay getting his pain relief under control! It's so important for psychological well being.

[GypsySarah in reply to StillClare]

Ok, thanks.

I’ll have a chat with him about giving the Oncologist a call.

[Bow-19 in reply to GypsySarah]

I agree with stillclaire, give the Oncologist a call

[StillClare in reply to GypsySarah]

Good luck and hugs

[GypsySarah in reply to StillClare]

Thank you

[Tcam]

Hi, My Mum in Law was on co codamol for several months and then she moved on to paracetamol every 4 hours she found that much better. Hope this helps. Sending hugs.

[GypsySarah in reply to Tcam]

Thank you

[JanetteR57]

A friend of mine used these patches extensively and frequently to gain relief from his shoulder pain that eventually was diagnosed as extensive lung cancer and the pain was due to it being in the bones. He found they gave some relief. When recovering from my surgery (open thoracotomy to remove half left lung in Dec 2010), a nurse at the walk in centre explained pain management to me and said the best relief comes from taking different types of painkillers from different 'families' - some are opiate based, some are aspirin based etc and recommended a combination of NSAIDs (ibuprofen type) that release slowly into the bloodstream and need to be taken all the time (she stressed they weren't addictive which was my fear) and opiate type (I was on diclofenic as unable to take morphine due to reaction after surgery) and co-codamol. The latter caused constipation which added to my pain. hope they manage to find something to get his pain under control soon.

[StillClare in reply to JanetteR57]

This is very helpful thank you. I had the same experience with co-codamol.

[JanetteR57 in reply to StillClare]

found lactulose very helpful for this. good luck.

[GypsySarah in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you so much, really helpful!