Pain relief

[Kimfrombelvedere]

Good morning everyone hope your all pain free this damp cold morning I'm just wondering what pain relief everyone's on I been given co codamol but can't take em as thay make me sleep

[daintydina]

I take tramadol or pain relief. also humira and a n.a.i.d.s. for inlamation. I have severe r. a.

[Kimfrombelvedere in reply to daintydina]

Do thay make you sleepy only co codamol make me really sleepy

[daintydina in reply to Kimfrombelvedere]

no not realy.

[daintydina]

sorry about spelling

[Jacey15]

I take naproxen xXx

[nomoreheels]

What I'm prescribed definitely won't help then! Maybe going through your options with your GP would be more helpful. Sometimes it's a suck it & see thing but hopefully there'll be one that works on your pain without the sleep issue.

[RAinK]

I have a different problem with co-codamol - makes me sick. So GP prescribed the Coidiene & paracetamol separately + Coidiene is 4 small tablets rather than 2 larger tablets. And now I'm rarely sick. Don't know if it would work for sleepiness, but might be worth a try.

[Jora]

I take Paracetamol during the day. It doesn't t do much, but at least it takes the edge off persistent headache. When I need to, I take 30 mg Codeine as well. Taking them separately ( rather than as Cocodamol) gives me more flexibility and minimises side effects. I think I used to get more sleepy on codeine than I do now, so maybe it's a question of getting used to it. In the evening, I take paracetamol and Tramadol and welcome any soporiphic effect at that time of day. I also smother myself with Pernaton Green Lipped Muscle Extract Gel. It has an instantly cooling effect and then this gradually develops into deep heat. It doesn't last long and isn't a painkiller as such, but I do find it soothing.

For me, the worst side effect of codeine, and maybe the other analgesics too, is constipation. I have to take Lactulose solution and Senna daily or I have a real problem! Jo

[oldtimer]

There are other ways of managing pain during the day. Distraction may sound like a cop out, but works - your brain cannot concentrate on the pain if it is concentrating on something else, so read, listen to music, meditate, go for a gentle walk, swim, etc. Hot and cold bathing work well for peripheral joints like hands and feet, showers help with back pain. If you have pain in a limited area, then a TENS machine may also help (I use it for my sciatica mainly!) I also have a wax bath for my hands which is really effective - I bought it on the internet but can get the wax on prescription.

Although exercise sounds difficult to do and hurts at the time, especially to start with, it does produce endorphins (your own pain killers). So start small and little and work up.

Have a look on the NRAS site too for ideas about pain relief. If you need to take medication, then always take it before the pain gets too bad - that way it stops the pain at an earlier stage and overall you end up taking less medication. So taking a milder preparation regularly - e.g. paracetamol every four hours during the day and just codeine preparations at night - but check that you don't exceed the overall daily dose of paracetamol as co-codamol contains that too.

[Sueymo]

I take tramadol and naproxen - brilliant and no constipation lol