Hi everybody can someone advise me as to what is the strongest pain killer that any doctor would prescribe to me , one that is not used to say calm people ie pregabalin gabapentin etc but quite simply a pain stopper ?
As I have neuropathic pain in both of my legs.
HELLO Pirate
You mean a PICKAXE.
All the best
BOB
, .
I think neuropathic pain responds best to antidepressants and mood disorders. A GP told me that. Maybe it's because these medications affect the brain and nerves. I guess that explains why painkillers havent been helping me. I ve just discovered that at least one of my pains is neuropathic. horrid eh
I think we are all in a catch 22 situation. We struggle daily with chronic pain and at the same time are not inclined to saturating our bodies with harmful chemicals either. I have been given a book " The Pain Chronicles" by Melanie Thernstrom. A little deep to begin with and not something you can race through. Must admit am on my usual dose of co codamol while reading! Sorry I cannot offer any advice on painkillers. The subject is a minefield to work through. All medications work differently on us all so how any of us can say which one is the strongest or is the most effective, I have no idea. Good luck on your search. Ann
Thanks for that Ann , like you as I Itype this I am on my trusted Cocodamol pills as the pain is getting worse I hope that you are on a good day an the pills are working for you . Sam.
Am a bit wary of going on to something stronger. At the same time this pain is getting worse by the day! Wonder sometimes if I have done something very bad in a previous life to deserve this! No, serious, I don't believe in all that. Just, it really gets beyond me! Never mind, we shall overcome! Ann
I don't know if this will help, but in sept, oct & november 2013 I had extreme pain in my foot and ankle, and it was being passed off as something being caused by my Parkinsons Disease, I was in agony. Finally a Rheumatology Consultant said that being he was a bit baffled - but try Prednisolone ( steroids) at 2.5mg a day, this worked for me , and the pain has nearly gone, wonderful. I am worried that when I stop taking the steroids the pain will return.
But the steroids didn't take away the pain in my left hand fingers, which I believe is neuropathic pains - which is a shame. I am loosing my motor skills in my hand & fingers & I get intense burning, throbbing, tingling and electric like shocks - anyone being treated successfully for this?
I did have a test done at West Surrey Clinincal Neurophysiology which showed:
'The nerve conduction studies show bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome; very severe on the left and mild on the right.
That:There is electrophysiologigal evidence of mild ulner nerve entrapment possibly at Guyon's canal on the left.
There is no evidence of significant generalised large fibre peripheral neurapathy.'
What I would like to know if anyone has had similar experience's and did having a carpel tunnel operation help with healing the symptoms? Would be very much appreciated...
Thanks Helen
Hi Ann
How are you getting on with "The Pain Chronicles"? I agree that it was a bit deep at first, but I think it's an attempt to explain how pain is sometimes viewed in our society - for example, some people think it's necessary to go through that suffering - yeah right, try living with it, that'll make it seem different!
I found the book got better when she described her own struggle with chronic pain, and when she visited pain clinics in America and spoke to patients. I particularly identified with the bit where a patient said she didn't like to go back to the clinic and tell the doctor his medication hadn't worked because the doctor was such a nice man and she didn't want to let him down. I kept reading and thinking, "Yes! Been there, done that!"
Required reading for anyone working in the field of pain management, I think.
Hi there, yes you are right, I also identify when she starts talking about her own experience with pain. I have a first visit to a pain management clinic and another 6month visit to the specialist. I shall update on the outcome of this. I have reapplied for PIP but honestly do not hold out much hope there. We shall see. Today I have done well in that I have only had to take meds three times and not four, so am giving myself a big pat on the back. I am now struggling to shift a stone I have put on due to inactivity, it is irritating but in comparison to the pain, I can take it or leave it. It is not the main focus at the moment. Hope you have a good evening and a very good week. Ann
Hi Pirate 184, If anyone can give you the answer to your question please, please ,please share it with all of us, as I hope you realise you could become a millionaire over night. Good luck to you triciaj
Hello BOB here
I suppose we will never find that magic bullet, there is always something that knocks relief on its head, so we end up becoming a prescription junky. It would be great if we could have a pain control medication that actually treats nuropathic pain at the same time, that at the same time has no contraindications that would be great.
All the best
BOB
I use oral morphine for breakthrough pain, it does dull things enough for me to get back on top of my pain management however it comes with horrible side effects as does the pregablin, the tramadol, tamazapan, oxycontin and everything else I have to take to keep my pain level below passing out or vomiting stage. If you discover one magic pill let me know I will be first in the queue.
nutty
I get very little result from any pain medication and find my TENS machine the best thing. It can take a lot of experimentation - sometimes with the help of a physio or the pain clinic - to find the best positioning of electrodes and programme to use.
Good luck
Ann
HELLO Pirate
Cannot answer the question on Painkillers. What is exactly the real question? Is it the pain is driving me crazy, destroying my life and what can make it go away? This has loads of possibilities.
You can reduce pain by having help with your musular response to the pain. These are things like chiropractic, Alexander Technique, reflexology etc.
You can reduce pain by modifying your emotional response. These are things like Meditatation, Mindfulness, appropriate christian healing services etc.
It is now being recognised by the various scientific research that painkillers can be additive and be responsible for causing pain as part of their withdrawel symptoms.
I have taken Erythromycin on occassion for painful flareups. It is not a painkiller however it works wonderfuly at reducing pain due to inflamation. A diagnosis for one condition does not mean you do not get other conditions attacking your area of weakness. Because of the original diagnosis other additional problems have a tendency not to be looked at.
Has anyone tried wacky baccy. Some milkman a while back was dropping it of to o.a.p.'s on his round. That news bite kept me tittering all day. People were not amused.
Yes, I have. It is the best thing I have ever doe for my pain, and sleep. My activities of daily living went up 10 times. I only used at night because my pain is pretty well controlled during the day, and I don't like feeling stoned but it is quite pleasant at night. it works fast, releasing muscle spasm and killing pain, and makes one drowsy - very good if you are anxious, it's an anxiolytic. However the body has 5 different pain receptors so according to my pain consultant those of us (I would guess most of us on this page) should be taking meds for each receptor (marijuana is the 5th). I have found this to be true. Superannie, PIRATE 185 and those of you struggling to TAKE NO PILLS and only on co-codamol: this will not work. There is pain science to help you. I took only co-codamol for the first 2 years of my terrible pain after a whiplash. That is why I now have chronic pain permanently. Because my pain was not controlled the pain pathways established themselves and learnt that pain patterns were normal - it rapidly became a feedback loop (ref. Melzack and Wall, The Challenge of Pain, THE seminal work on pain, Penguin Books). If you don't knock pain on the head with medication, particularly in the first 2 years, and stop those pathways, they become permanent. PLEASE help yourselves guys, don't be puritan. There are lots of drugs out there and suffering a little drowsiness is a lot better than damaging your neurological matrix permanently with pain and the disability and misery that can come from it. It is important to get your prescribing done at a pain clinic. GPs are not trained.. After collapsing completely after those fist two years and needing 7 hours a day care at home (which I had to pay for at £60, 000 a year) the clinics and management courses have slowly got me a quality of life back with little extra care at all. I take 7 different pain killers (both opiates and anti convulsants) and have no side effects apart from thinking a little slower from the opiates (which I am reducing since I was given the wonderful Topiramate (see other question thread). I got overwhelmed easily before I started any of these so I think that's the condition, not the meds. I also have weekly massage and osteopathy which I find hugely beneficial, and use lidocaine pain patches - no side effects from them. I do believe, as taught in the clinics, it's a case of using lots of different thing, including exercise (which can reduce need for pain killers but most importantly keeps you stronger and less disabled, and builds good posture) and alternative therapies. PIRATE 185 If all else fails, neck the Bucky (I'm in Scotland too). The best to all of you, I home you get some improvement soon.
Bowbells hi an thanks for that helpful response. After two weeks off my work on my yearly holiday break its back to work at 6am till 11 am this will be fun and games.
I will take my painkillers with me as I know that I will need them.
After my last visit to my doctor I now know that I am on my own as the advice was zero I came away asking myself why after telling the doctor about my now new top of back pain and head shakes I came away with nothing its enough to make you scream all I want to do is get a light duty job and work is that asking to much sadly with this present government it is shame on all of them ..
Dear PIRATE 185, I am sorry to hear you have new symptoms. If you are getting worse this is definitely a sign you should not be working. You are establishing new pain pathways and once established they are hard to remove. Since these symptoms are new you have a hope if you insist in getting to a pain clinic quickly. Your GP sounds useless and you have a right to another opinion. Meanwhile work is damaging you. In that case ATOS cannot legally make you work. If your GP writes saying work is damaging you they should review you and put you in the support (not working)group. The Benefits and Work Site (not a Government agency) is very well worth joining for very high quality and constantly updated info on how to deal with ATOS etc. The subs are £18 pa and worth it. I went straight I to the support group, I definitely. Please please please take action before your symptoms worsen. Good luck, Bowbells
Bowbells hi and thanks for that imput . As for the pain clinic my visit was in july and I told them my new pain problem ie my back at the top and the pain in my heels they said that a letter would be sent to my doctor requesting a visit to the neorology clinic, but on my visit to my doctor no such letter had been sent.
Thats why when I came out of the consultation I thought whats wrong so now I just take my painkillers and get on with it .
Very often one has to push, even fight for care. I've had to and I have got good results eventually. I suggest you push harder. What was their rationale for neurology? What i have learned fro yoga, the orthotist and my own body is that if your feet aren't right your spine isn't right, right up to the top of your head. Have you seen an orthotist/podiatrist? Do you wear properly supportive shoes with full lacing and a rubber sole at least 1cm thick? Or good walking boots with ankle support? These can make a huge difference to pain all up the body. Podiatrists (yes, on the NHS) can make insoles and/or lifts for your shoes to balance you out. Good luck.
Bowbells hi the reason that the neurology was mentioned was owing to my top of back pain and my head shakes as of yet no letter has been sent to my doctor from the pain clinic advising this check up for me. Thanks for this I will let you know what happens. As for my back I have been to see a back specialist several times and then the slightest movement undoes all the good and at £40 a go well need I say any more.
Keep calling the pain clinic secretary and your GPs. It sounds like you MAY need an extensive Physio rehab programme to rebalance and strengthen your back muscles, but get Neuro check first. I'm offline now for a fair while. Good luck
Hello Pirate
BOB here, .
This problem with script going missing is well known, although the GP should have contacted sooner if there was no letter from the clinic.
Now it is always advisable to have a copy of the department letter sent to you, at the same time as the GP, This gives a second chance for at least one of you getting the reply. This is your right. You should be offered that option as a matter of course.at the reception desk in Pain Clinic or hospital reception.when you booked in.
This I suppose does not assist in what is going on with your new problem, all I can suggest while they are trying to to square the circle with the lost referral letter the doctor make an appointment with the other department. If urgent.
If the GP has your records the letter should have actually be entered on you record page at the surgery Access can be taken over the internet these days. I had a blood test eight days ago at the GP, the hospital picked up the results two days later.
So all the best, snail mail can take four weeks or so for results to be sent out from a hospital
BOB
Need to stop increasing pain killers 
pain pain pain and more pain
Leg pain
