Pain medicine

[days70]

I would just like to know what pain meds anyone uses for osteoarthritis and nerve pain.

Any tips and advice would be really appreciated.

[HeronNS]

It's important to know that all nsaids interfere with cartilage renewal so really should not be used on a regular basis for arthritic pain. Hopefully others will be along soon to advise about what you can safely use. It's a pity about the nsaids, and of course doctors do prescribe them, but in the long run they are counterproductive.

I have taken glucosamine sulfate for many years and I believe it has helped me. Certainly I've had OA since middle age, and probably before that, and will soon be 75 and still up and about, although beginning to feel it more. I think that's not bad for decades of the ailment, about half my life! I have developed it in my knees more recently, partly as a result of injuries, and have found a non-medicated lubricant called Flexiseq has been very helpful indeed.

[days70 in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you for responding. I will certainly try the medications you suggested that have helped you.

[HeronNS in reply to days70]

Glucosamine is not a painkiller. When I started taking it, doctors mainly dismissed the idea that it was useful for OA. However in the intervening years there has been research which shows it can help. I take two doses a day, 1000 mg each, which is somewhat more than was recommended when I started. The larger dose is more effective. Mine is in a capsule, which I think is much preferable to a hard tablet, and certainly easier to swallow. I also think it helps to have it with a meal. I've heard people complain it is hard to digest, but I have not found it so. I have bought tablets by mistake and couldn't even swallow them they were so large! But I think like many meds it is easier on the stomach if you have it with breakfast and supper, or some such arrangement.

I don't know if it's true but I also read long ago that Vitamin B6 helped. I took it for a while, then thought, why bother, but after I stopped taking it the OA discomfort seemed to worsen. I decided to take a complete B supplement and have done so now for many years. I don't think it hurts and may be doing some good. At the time it seemed it helped, and I'm not about to experiment by stopping again - but this is purely anecdotal.

[Happyrosie]

I used to take ibuprofen but because of raised blood pressure the doc switched to co-codamol. This is constipating so I do a half dose in the middle of the night plus paracetamol. But the main prescribed medication is Butec patches - an opioid. Along with that I buy the modern version of cod liver oil and glucosamine with condroitin. This helps the hallux rigidus - my feet don’t bend

[Constance13 in reply to Happyrosie]

I take Cocodamol! I eat quite a lot of prunes and Omega 3 oil to cope with constipation. Non of the topical gels/creams work for me. I have OA and RA.

[days70 in reply to Constance13]

Thank you for responding. I think I should try omega 3 on a regular basis.

[Happyrosie in reply to Constance13]

Agree with you about prunes! Though in my case I eat a lot of beetroot and sometimes figs, and my oncologist told me kiwi fruit too (but they’re not so “powerful” as beetroot!!!

[Constance13 in reply to Happyrosie]

Never knew about beetroot, I really like it to and figs.

[Skylane2 in reply to Happyrosie]

Beetroot is also good for high blood pressure

[days70 in reply to Happyrosie]

Many thanks for responding. I did ask my Doctor for pain patches but he was not keen as he already prescribed me co codomol, however, I will ask him again, no harm in asking a second time I guess.

[Happyrosie in reply to days70]

Certainly they are both prescribed for me. That said, my particular GP took an extra degree in pain management so he’s super+expert on this subject!

[Skylane2 in reply to days70]

Ask for lidocaine patches. They work very well only 3 at a time every 24 hours though.

[BonnieMagic in reply to Skylane2]

I use lidocaine too as they were prescribed by the pain clinic. They are very expensive though so GPs don’t like prescribing them - I was once told off by a dispenser for using them😞 but she was told off by my doctor!

[days70 in reply to Happyrosie]

Hello,

I appreciate your response and thank you for taking the time to respond to my message.

[Jalia]

I found Butec patches very helpful. Also Cocodamol but of course not at the same time. I'm suffering bad nerve pain as a result of the Spinal block I had for my recent hip replacememt and am currently on Gabapentin which is giving some relief

[days70 in reply to Jalia]

Hello,

Thank you so much for responding to my post, I really appreciate your advice.

[Happyrosie in reply to Jalia]

I can have the two at the same time. Butec in a small dose and co-codamol only when I can’t sleep for pain or I’ve done some strenuous gardening.

[Jalia in reply to Happyrosie]

That's interesting. What strengths of each do you take?

[Happyrosie in reply to Jalia]

Started Butec at 5 which is minimum. After a year 10. Now been about two years on 15. The max that can be given outside a hospital situation is 75.Co-codamol : 1 tablet which is half a dose, plus 1 paracetamol which is another half a dose. Normally during the night when I can’t sleep (every night at four-ish) and very occasionally during the day.

[Bcol]

I manage mine with Co-Codamol, prescribed strength, used to use Naproxen as well but stopped that a few years ago. Don't have a real problem with constipation.

[days70 in reply to Bcol]

Thank you for responding. I take co codomol but just 2 to 4 a day, I am looking towards other therapies but just have not found any that work yet. I am hoping to find something that is effective in tackling the pain naturally. I appreciate your help.

[DorsetLady]

As mentioned by HeronNS Flexiseq is non drug -good if you still have cartilage between your joints, but once you get to bone on bone not effective-see link sold on usual online megastore -but very often high street pharmacies have on offer - useful because it it quite expensive-

flexiseq.com

Sensi CBD cream is also quite good, -again cheaper on Am&@£n -

sensiwellness.co.uk/sensi-c...

[HeronNS in reply to DorsetLady]

Re Flexiseq. With desire to avoid the big A my son was going to pick up Flexiseq for me when he was in UK during April. Not to say that it isn't available less expensively from some pharmacies, but the Boots price was definitely more than A, so he ordered it to be sent to a UK address and brought it home with him, avoiding some of the extra it would have cost if sent to a Canadian address. I have a six pack, so good for a while!

[days70 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you so much for your recommendations.

I will certainly try them.

[days70 in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi,

Thank you for responding. I appreciate your advice and will certainly try what you have recommended, l have tried different supplements and creams but not these ones, so l can’t wait to try them. Thank you again!

[Hidden in reply to days70]

Hi yes I don’t take tablets all the time, just when I need them. I take every day these are good nerve tablets,pregabline3 a. Day !and DULUXATION AND TO MAKE ME sleep I use 3 ampytriptions , hope thisis ok

[colourblue]

Hello, not much I can add to the excellent replies, but one thing I find helps me is Pernaton Gel, available at Holland & Barrett or Amazon. I take Co Codamol at night which helps me to get some sleep. Best wishes.

[Skylane2]

Tylenol and Gabapentian + supplements like Flexuron ( from Amazon)

[tselph]

I’m on Lyrica for pain. I find that hydroxychloroquine & methotrexate hemp me the most. Not the safest I know, but helps me the most.

[chrisj]

Hi - I was prescribed gabapentin for nerve pain and help with sleep, codeine for osteoarthritis pain. I take gabapentin every night but rarely use codeine if I can help it.

[BonnieMagic]

Hi, I can’t tolerate any codeine based meds and had bad response to opiates. I can only take Naproxen and Paracetamol which barely touches the pain. I also have lidocaine patches. Have also tried Pernaton Gel which helps. Good luck to you

[days70 in reply to BonnieMagic]

Hello

Thank you for responding, I will ask my GP for Lidocaine patches, I am hoping he will prescribe them as he is sometimes reluctant to give further pain relief.