Advice on best pain relief

[teresa2711]

Hi everyone. I have RA and OA. I’m on waiting list for new hip. I’ve had Zapain and Naproxen to take for the pain. Neither work and have stopped naproxen as making my tummy sore even with omeprazole. My pain is really bad. It effects my sleep and every day life. I’m in tears with it. Can’t get an appointment with gp so at my wits end. Do any of you have any advice on something that works 😢

[Neonkittie17]

We aren’t supposed to recommend painkillers. I hope you can get through to your GP or rheumy helpline. 🙏🏻 Or phone the pharmacy and ask to speak to the head pharmacist ? That might be the quickest result. Hope you get some advice from any of the above soon.

[Tracylux]

Hi, I really feel for you, I'm in exactly the same position. Waiting for hip replacement and finally have a surgery date for 5 weeks, after a year of pain. It is the worst pain I have had, and living with RA you do get used to pain. After Cocodamole and Tramadol stopped working my GP has now put me on liquid Morphine and it is definitely helping. I only take it at night and it does really help me sleep. I can't take naproxen as they prescribed it to me for 8 years without the Omeprazole and it gave me a stomach ulcer.

Keep hassling your GP until you get an appointment and I really hope you get some pain relief soon.

[Haz58]

Hi TeresaI’m so sorry to hear this it rings so many bells. My doc had me on zapain but I had a breathing problem on them. My rheumatologist put me on Amitriptyline and said if I still woke up with pain to then take co-drydamol. I too cannot take Naproxen.

I got the appointment with my rheumatologist by emailing her secretary. I got an appointment in a couple of weeks. The GP service at present is abysmal! At one point I finally got a call from a GP only because I emailed her directly on her NHS email. I got gently told off but I said when your desperate with pain you have to try anything to get people to help.

Please do get in touch with your rheumatologist, my GP isn’t interested now they have referred me to a rheumatologist. X

[mattcass]

Hi there I have been on Omeprazole for several years like yourself various meds triggered off severe stomach pains. Even now since my transplant I am on 11 different meds without Omeprazole I would hate to think what I would. Do without it. You must remember RA goes for any weak parts of your body and that's not just joints it can stretch ligaments and tendons in the stomach and ribcage. Matt