Hi folks, I have been on Co-codamol 30/500 four times a day for two years but started having horrible headaches a few months ago so I tapered it off with a view to stopping it. My GP said most painkillers stop working after a while anyway. I managed to stop Co-codamol completely two weeks ago, no headaches now, much better BUT my pain is a problem. My doc gave me Naproxen 500mg twice a day which hasn't helped. I've tried Tramadol which was about as effective as the Co-codamol but it made it extremely difficult to pass urine so I had to discontinue this. I'm on Gabapentin 300mg four times daily. I have increased this to 400mg four times daily with no effect. Please has anyone got any ideas what to try next? My GP is usually happy to try whatever I suggest. Thanks.
Change of painkillers - advice needed! - Pain Concern
Change of painkillers - advice needed!
I will be interested to see what advice you get on this as I am in a similar position, quite severe constant lower back pain whatever I try and no relief from painkillers
Thanks for your reply challyann. I have injections in my lower back which help a lot. Since I stopped my co-codamol, other problems have revealed themselves! I now have a lot of pain in my upper back which my GP thinks is related to my lower back (I have a spinal fusion at L4/5. Also both knees and my left thigh are causing me problems - don't know what's going on! I used to take Diclofenac which was great but the docs reckon it raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. I've just found an old box of them so I'm going to take them today and tomorrow and see if they work. I'm seeing the doc on Thursday. I understand how you feel - it's very hard convincing doctors when we look OK! I hope I get some helpful replies on here too. x
When you had your fusion 4.5 lumbar did they say you would get better , I have c4c5 fused but nothing changed for me as i have cervical myelopathy , also the fusion as put extra pressure on c3, which I need another op , I was told a month ago but came away without making a decision and im due back this Thursday at Walton center Liverpool and have to make a decision.
I had my fusion in 2004 following two discectomies. I was great for 13 years then it all kicked off again. I have injections around the site of the fusion and also my left SI joint. My MRI shows a small disc protrusion with degeneration above and below the fusion.
Try diclofenac suppositories, they work best. A tens machine is good for lower back pain.
Hi tennysonbear, I would becareful taking naproxen they can cause problems with the bowel and stomach it gave me ulcerative colitis. Also have you tried kapake it's similar to co.codamol ,and I was on gabberpentin which my body got used to so I went on to pregabilin from same drug family and that helped ,each drug acts differently on each person depending on the level of pain .
Thanks Longsider. I really want to avoid anything with codeine in as it doesn't seem to suit me. I also thought about trying Pregabalin. I've been on Gabapentin for three years now - perhaps it's time for a change. Thanks!
I came off codein phosphate because of bowel movements , but kapake as a lower one at 15mg , but I have to take laxidos because of my bowel dysfunction , just like my bladder through cervical myelopathy.
Hi kapake and Co codamol are exactly the same for reference.
Hi there, yes you are right but kapake you can get 30 mg codein phosphate and 500 paracetamol or a low dose 15 mg codein.
Yes, co-codamol also comes in 30/500, 15/500 and 8/500.
Hi
I take oramorph, zomorph, duloxetine and nortriptyline, and sometimes paracetamol and cuprofen!! I still get a lot of pain as I have many other conditions too. Please take care of yourself Lynne
Thanks Lynne - you're an inspiration! x
Thank you, so is everyone else on here. Love and hugs Lynne xxxx
I was taking loads of morphine too and still in a lot of pain. So now I'm having a pain pump put in that will administer the Morphin automatically. With the pump it goes straight into my spinal fluid, and goes directly to my brain which means using a whole lot less. For example instead of taking several milligrams in pill form which has to go thru the digestive system, I will be getting micrograms. I've had the trial and am waiting for approval from my insurance so that I can proceed with the surgery.
That sounds like you're not in the UK. Good luck.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I think everybody on here is an in inspiration. Love and hugs Lynne xxxx
Hi Tennyson as Longsider suggested try Pregabalin, it might do the job. I was on gabapentin but due to eye problems was switched to pregabalin. I found it actually worked better for me even though they are supposed to be from the same family so to speak. I was on 1800mg Gabapentin and was switched to 600mg pregabalin as apparently the same effect gets reached with a third of the dose. 600mg is the maximum and it made me quite zombie like. I was on that for a while and then reduced to 450mg a day plus 50mg of tramadol before the night. I am allowed to opt the dose during unbearable times which happens on occasion. I had 3 microdiscectomies (l5s1) due to slow onset cauda equine and now have a problem at the l2l3 level which is excruciating and causing weakness. Am due to see the consultant in 2 weeks. Wow bit of an essay sorry but hope it’s useful.
All of my following comments are assuming you have back pain. If it's another kind of pain then please disregard.
Gabapentin is so over used these days and doctors don't understand that it only helps with nerve pain (Well that and epilepsy). But they feel so frustrated because they can't prescribe something that would really help so they resort to prescribing medicines like Gabapentin and pregabalin to their patients for all sorts of pains. And then these patients get frustrated when it does not work. I am by no means suggesting that doctors not try it because it does help some people quite a bit. With all that being said, I've gotten some relief from Excedrin Migraine. It has a combination of aspirin, Tylenol and caffeine and for some reason this combination works better the just Tylenol. I would also recommend seeing a pain management specialist. There are other things they can do that your GP can not. Such as epidural injections, nerve ablation, dry needling and a spinal cord stimulator, just to name a few.
Thank you Amkoffee. Lots to think about there.
I have Dihydrocodine 3 times a day . They are better than co cocodamol for back pain .
Thanks!
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