Pain Medication Expectations

[Jo198919]

Hello

I have 2 types of pain - Mechanical pain from degenerative disc disease and nerve pain from trapped nerves.

The pain is in both in my neck where bone spurs cause stenosis trapping nerves and my lower back where I have herniated discs pressing on nerves causing mild sciatica and mechanical back pain.

The nerve pain in my arms/hand and legs comes and goes but the mechanical pain is more frequent and ranges from mild to very painful. 80% of the time is manageable but the other 20% can unbearable.

I was on amitriptyline for nerve pain but came off it as it didn't agree with me and my GP has refused to prescribe anything for the mechanical pain.

I cannot take NSAIDS.

I am in the UK and cannot go out for a day trip etc as I end up in extreme pain after a few hours.

Please could anyone with experience answer the following questions.

1) Do GPs or pain clinics still prescribe pain medication for acute pain to help ease symptoms on a short term basis such as going out for the day or having a short term flare up and if so what? Codeine or something similar?

2) Is pain medication now banned in the UK for anyone with long term chronic mechanical back and neck pain? How are people supposed to cope on a daily basis.

3) Is anyone else getting fed up with GPs and the NHS who seem to say no to every suggestion.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

[Bevvy]

I take duloxetine for significant nerve pain due to Cauda Equina syndrome and residual sciatica. I find it helpful for my situation and was originally suggested by a spinal nurse. I also have tramadol which I can take for breakthrough pain.

So yes in answer to your question it is entirely appropriate to be prescribed medications so that you can go out for a day. It would also be appropriate in relation to your mental health because it would obviously benefit you to be able to go out for a day and not unreasonable to want to.

On this site I have read mixed views on pain clinics but if you believe your gp is no longer able to treat your situation then I would have thought a referral to a pain clinic would be sensible. Certainly from what you have posted it doesn’t seem that gp can give any further suggestions re medication which is unfortunate. There are lots of different medications used for people who have pain and it is often a case of trying different types until something helps.

[Jo198919 in reply to Bevvy]

Great, thanks for your reply Bevvy. I didn't think it was unreasonable to ask for medication to take the edge off things on a day out or during a flare up but anything remotely addictive seems to get the thumbs down these days. It is good to know others have been prescribed suitable medication to help their pain.