Hi
I have painful arthritis and my GP has just stopped prescribing Diclofenac which worked wonders but has some serious issues with safety. He’s prescribed Codeine instead but I didn’t ask if it interacted with Levothyroxine in anyway? Has anybody experienced issues with taking the 2 meds? Obviously not at the same time but a few hours apart? Thanks!
Have you been given Co-codamol, as I don't think codeine works without paracetamol.
Hope you were also prescribed Lactulose medicine and told to drink extra water ?
If not then I would ask for Lactulose prescription too and take every evening or twice a day. But you must also drink lots more water.
Like any other meds , as you say, don't take at same time as Levothyroxine. Just be aware (if not already) that codeine dries out stools and causes constipation.
What strength codeine? 8/500mg Co-codamol, 16/500mg or 30/500mg?
Edit:
Did your GP do some bloods tests to check your Kidney Function ? ( I understand should be done at least annually if on regular NSAIDS ).
I would suggest getting a print out of your results and keeping an eye on things yourself.
You may be able to use some topical NSAIDS gel or drops when pain severe, but just occassionally. Bear in mind these get into the blood stream also. May not be as potentially harmful to stomach if eating well.
Best to avoid regular Co-codamol if possible and keep for occasional use in place of paracetamol.
I'm guessing you were on paracetamol as was well as Diclofenac ?
Did you ask the GP the reason Diclofenac was stopped?
Paracetamol taken with a glass of water is the preferred pain killer . I take 2x 500 mgs. Codeine definitely known to constipate.I remember years ago,my GP apologised for giving me codeine.!!
Did you realise you replied to me and not the poster?
Sorry about that - my mistake.
However, with so many replies now ,I think Camomile1 has hopefully received a lot of help.🌸
You don’t need paracetamol for codeine to work.
Are you not under any consultant for arthritis? Or a pain management clinic? Codeine is addictive so be careful. I have a cox-2 inhibitor for my joint pain - it’s called Celebrex and it is amazing. I have joint pain because of Hashimotos disease. Are you aware of the link? Sorry you probably are but just checking. You may have an other type of arthritis poor you
Is your joint pain all over? I have seen a consultant for arthritis in my hands (mainly right thumb) and my neck and shoulders just hurt and are sore almost continuously. I’m going to get a massage or something to see if that helps. (It’s setting off migraines, and I get them easily).
I’ve just moved, so seeing a new GP, might broach the subject of this continual aching. See if he/she says it’s connected with the Hashimoto’s.
My antibodies level was high and I got it down to 600ish. But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t gone up again.
Yes pretty much all joints. I’ve had a trapeziectomy on left thumb butcright thumb going the same way. Left knee knackered with torn medial meniscal tendon with underlying arthritis. Right knee dodgy as well. Right shoulder - 3 tears in rotator cuff tendon with arthritis spurs - had subacromial decompression in right shoulder but post recovery, pain eased for a bit but now back with a vengeance. Paracetamol helps but marginally. Don’t really want to take codeine and Im not sure it’s being effective anyway, but thought Id ask if any of you had received any relief using it for arthritis. Thanks!
Yep me too. Mine started in my neck and shoulders going down my back. After I had my son, it got worse, to include my pelvis and hips, lower back, then ankles and wrists. I was undiagnosed for years. They ruled out arthritis so then I did some reading about Hashimotos and found that over half of fibromyalgia patients end up diagnosed with Hashimotos or similar. The immune system attacks healthy cells in muscles (tendons particularly where they attach to the bones ie joints) causing tightness and soreness. I have a sports / deep tissue massage every four weeks without fail and it helps massively. Along with the cox2 inhibitor (Celebrex) I can now exercise and are relatively pain free! I only use Codiene one in a while if it’s really bad to break the potential cycle. I wouldn’t use codeine regularly as it’s addictive. Good luck.
I was having a massage once a month, but felt it wasn’t helping so I stopped. I feel worse now! I’m seeing a new person next week, hopefully she will improve things.
It’s so frustrating, most people just don’t understand. My husband is even saying that I should be doing more exercise, going out etc.
Ah well, I’ll keep reading on here. Everyone has something to contribute and hopefully we can all find something to help us improve our daily lives. 🤗
Yep! I’ve been having physio every fortnight - massage to back & shoulder and knee & ultrasound to knee and toes. It does help but only when she is treating it.
You have to get your pain under control first before you can exercise! Else it’ll make you feel terrible. We understand don’t worry. That’s why we’re all on the forum : )
Yep, I ignore hubby most of the time when it comes to health advice. He has loads of health issues and doesn’t help himself or listen to good advice. Pot calling the kettle black in this case.
Love this forum, it’s helped me a huge amount and kept me sane 🥰
Haha yes : ))
Living with pain is exhausting and my mother struggles all the time with her RA. I think it was compounded by a lot of drugs that did not agree with her. A pain clinic is a very good idea and I believe you may self refer. Hydrotherapy and natural interventions like magnetic clay packs may give you a better quality of life as they won't give you the side effects that drugs will. My mum has been persuaded (by me) to use Magnesium body lotion on her aching joints and she has been pleasantly surprised. She cannot take turmeric due to being on blood thinners, but if you are not on blood thinners a good quality turmeric supplement is good for joint pain (I used it for my back). I have never tried it, but have read good things about cat's claw (herb).
Thanks! Tried curcumin /turmeric supplement & it didn’t agree with my tummy!
That's a shame. Like SlowDragon says, it'd definitely be worth knowing how well your thyroid treatment is working.. symptoms like reflux and indigestion are often down to still being hypothyroid despite treatment.
Codeine can be addictive and can make you feel like a zombie
If you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) perhaps your not correctly treated for thyroid, or if not on strictly gluten free diet, this can help reduce joint pain considerably
IBS is frequently improved by strictly gluten free diet
arthritis.org/living-with-a...
When were vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin last tested?
These are frequently too low. Low vitamin D especially can cause joint pain
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Add recent results and ranges if you have them, or come back with new post once you get results
Hi Camomile1, WOW, I’m amazed that ur GP has prescribed Codeine. Codeine is only for moderate pain & isn’t as effective without Paracetamol & you can’t take codeine for more than 3 days at a time.
What you need is an anti-inflammatory. Diclofenac is a Really good anti-inflammatory, which is what you need for your condition. Your GP should have replaced Diclofenac with Naproxen at the very least. It’s an alternative, with less gastric side effects, even though they usually prescribe lansoprazole or omeprazole with it too.
My GP changed me from Diclofenac to Naproxen & it was no where near as good, so I requested Diclofenac again, explaining why & they gave.
They try not to give as It’s a more expensive drug. Good luck 👍
Thanks ! Yes I used Diclofenac and it helped a lot! They then withdrew that & I tried Naproxen which didn’t work on the pain at all. I managed for a while without Diclofenac just used Paracetamol but now the arthritis has really flared. I have osteoarthritis in my toes, thumbs, shoulder and knees. In 2018, I managed to trip over a hoover & tore my medial meniscal knee tendon. This is causing considerable mobility difficulties All my joint issues not helped with having a severely learning disabled nonverbal - physically active, autistic (adult) child who uses behaviour that challenges. I know codeine is addictive & constipating too but want something more than Paracetamol! for the pain .
Yes you definitely need something for the pain. Codeine (Co-Codamol) wasn’t any good for my joint & bone pain & made me feel all spaced out, only found Diclofenac to work
Hoping you get some relief soon 👏🏻
Hi Camimille1,
Have you tried Voltarol gel?
It contains diclofenac and you can buy it over the counter.Not sure how the amount in it compares to your tablets. May be better than taking tablets though.
I usually use Ibuleve max strength gel (contains ibuprofen) on my shoulders, back etc as I find it suits me better.I prefer to use gel instead of tablets if I can as it bypasses the stomach.Though if I have a headache (frequent, though not migraines like I used to get!) I take 1 codeine /paracetomol which I buy over the counter.
Yes using Voltarol gel for many years now & it does help to a degree, but sometimes the whole body joint thing is overwhelming. Sometimes one just needs an anti inflammatory all over. I think I should take out shares inVoltarol manufacturers! I might be rich then in wealth if not health! 😆
So true!!! I too have the same problem. Definitely could take out shares in Voltaran gel!!
I find that Devils Claw gel is much better than Voltarol or codeine phosphate with paracetamol. It shifts headaches too if rubbed across the fore head. It does not alter my INR as I test my own at home. It may thin the blood if taken in tablet form though as it can be purchased in either form. I, for my own purposes think that meds applied topically are safer than taken internally. If you should try it (from H&B) I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. All of my friends were, as well as my window cleaner, who now swears by it.
I agree completely with Hypothyro that you need pain relief. Unrelenting pain wears you down faster than just about anything:/ I just find it hard to believe that Diclofenac could be any more dangerous than the standard Rx arthritis meds or biologics readily prescribed. It's also one of the older drugs which generally tend to be safer than the new iterations. [I have personally always felt that it had more to do with the drug actually offering real relief to the patient (possibly in a safer fashion 🤔) that was the real problem.....and we can't have that, can we?!?!]
I know where you're coming from. I have suffered with whole body pain my entire life from a connective tissue disorder causing easily dislocated joints and early onset arthritis. I'm 51 now. So, I have run the gammut on the prescription arthritis and pain relief front. And, I would love to be able to say that all pain could be relieved with natural substances. But, some types of pain will require a Rx at various times.
I would like to say here that diet can definitely make a difference. The wrong foods can make pain much worse, particularly wheat gluten.
Codeine can be a godsend for pain, but only in the short term. Your body becomes tolerant to it very quickly, hence having to take more and more to achieve the same effect, which is no good. It does cause constipation. But, increasing your magnesium intake will help with that. Codeine works best when taken occasionally (i.e., save it for occasions when pain is much worse or when pain has kept you awake for a few days, so you can get some rest.)
Prescriptions, specifically the older arthritis medications, like Feldene/Piroxicam (marketed 1980) worked wonders for me. While taking that, I felt the most functional I have been before or since. (But, like most arthritis meds, especially the Rx versions, it can cause serious side effects and is very rough on your stomach and kidneys.) The stomach pain became so severe, throwing up blood etc., that I had to stop. If not for that, I would have continued with it, even with the safety/side effect concerns. In my case, I would have felt it was worth the risk. Feldene is in the NSAID class. It is effective, but heavy duty.
The next best were Celebrex and Vioxx. I preferred Celebrex. (Vioxx was recalled permanently in 2004.) Both considered dangerous. But, they worked. Celebrex (a Cox-2 inhibitor) was taken off the market, but then put back on. It worked well and the patient backlash was so great that they started production again. And it is still available as is Feldene.
I do know that Feldene is now also made in a gel (topical) form. It is available in the UK. Supposedly providing the benefits without as serious a risk to your kidneys, specifically. Some people report rashes, etc., as one would expect with a topical. But, it would certainly be worth a try, in my opinion.
As far as paracetamol (Tylenol) goes, it isn't formulated for persistent types of inflammatory pain. It is mainly used, in the US, for fever reduction and the achiness that accompanies it. It is also used as an excipient in other formulas, namely codeine preparations. But, it is quite toxic to the liver.
I have had better luck with ibuprofen and non-acetylated salicylic acid (which is basically non-acetylated aspirin), not taken together. You either take one form or the other. In the US, Doan's pills are the OTC brand of the non-acetylated aspirin. I find it to be much easier on the stomach. (Regular acetylated aspirin, for me, always causes stomach pain.) Non-acetylated salicylic acid comes in two forms: magnesium or sodium. They both work equally well, in my experience. By that, I mean that it takes the edge off making the discomfort manageable. You could Google to see how it is branded in the UK.
Of course, the good ole standbys: Extra long heating pad and hot Epsom salts baths are still gold standards, even though the soothing effects are short lived.
Some people with arthritis swear by Boswellia (frankincense) extract in capsules. Read up on possible interactions with other meds before you try it, though. I've read that stomach pain can be a side effect, among others I'm sure. But, it may work for you. Also, you may want to try adding a few drops of frankincense essential oil to your lotion or in aloe gel and rub on to see if you notice any improvement. (Up to 15 drops per ounce (adults) is generally deemed safe for many oils, but I personally use much less, 3-8 drops per ounce of lotion/aloe gel if I'm using it on my skin, depending on the oil. It's different for each person.)
If you try the Feldene gel or Celebrex, or even some of the newer Cox-2 inhibitors let us know how it works out for you.
Best of luck.😊
I am not surprised that the arthritis has flared with Paracetamol alone (which is acetaminophen -- generic for U.S. brand name Tylenol.) Works on some types of pain (headache, for example) but unlike ibuprophen and naproxen, it is not anti-inflammatory. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease. Here is another possibility: webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingre...
That’s not right. I’m a reg nurse. Codeine WILL work very effectively on its own. It’s given in small doses OTC with eg paracetamol or ibuprofen to avoid codeine related problems but to improve analgesia .... legislation, dependence, addiction, sensitivity issues. I believe the paracetamol in co codamol (often 8-12 mg codeine phos) is more dangerous than the codeine!
Agree with what you say re side effects but Codeine won’t work for everyone. Like urself, I have 25 years in NHS & I’ve always found Iv Paracetamol the best pain relief, especially in bone pain. Stay safe 👊
Another alternative to Diclofenac is Etoricoxib, which is a newer anti-inflammatory that is supposed to be safer. I have Psoriatic Arthritis, as well as chronic pain following cauda equina and spinal surgery in 2012, and the Etoricoxib works well for me.
However I’d fully support the recommendations for seeing a pain consultant; mine has changed my life.
Good luck 😊
Hi I have never been unable to take any antinflamergy meds so this is my 2nd month of pain patches and for the first time in over 40year my pain has dropped I can recommend them
Sorry its able
What active ingredient is in the pain patches? Also as so many of my joints are affected it’s tricky using patches on toes!
my personal experience in pain medication is that for nerve pain - i.e sciatica, slipped discs and damaged nerves due to radiotherapy-, neither codeine nor morphine helped. The only pain killer which worked for me is prednisolone ( steroids).
Thanks told steroids can be troublesome for Hashimoto sufferers.
Really? I didn't know that. Any idea what the side effects are? I have steroid shots in my knees when I have to do certain jobs. Sitting at a computer is OK, but lots of walking is very painful in my knees - so I get steroid shots. Do you know what damage am I doing?
Not sure but a medic told me you can’t continue to have steroid shots as each time the needle goes in you are compromising tissue and thinning. I’ve had 3 steroid shots in my left knee over the past 12-18 months. They do help a lot and funnily enough once inflammation goes down in one area, it seems to help with inflammation in other parts even which haven’t had treatment. I had steroid injections in my big toe and for arthritis pain under the middle toes as well.
Agree with slowdragon re gluten free.
All painkillers and drugs effect the body, and as we keep hearing that they are one of the leading cause of death it’s a good idea to look at root cause. Functional medicine does this.
Margaret Hills arthritis book is worth reading, hundreds of thousands of copies have been sold. Many years ago she was so ill and told she had osteo and rheumatoid arthritis and could not finish her training as a nurse. She was told at 18 she would be in a wheelchair etc
Well she set out to find a natural way and not only returned to training as a nurse, she married and had 8 children and had a full pain free life. Her health shop is in Kenilworth, one daughter and grand daughter are nutritional therapists in the clinic and have updated and still sell her book today.
Thanks will look into that!
No I haven't though I do limit mg intake of Codeine.
my sister has had Hypo Thyroid but medicated to normal now, and has been on high doses of Pred for 2 years with only brilliant side effects. Her GP diagnosed her with PMR despite blood tests being normal when she presented with painful joints and muscles at 70 years of age 2 years ago.
She is now on a low dose and does sometimes gets twinges but nothing intolerable.
Hi Camomile1
I too suffer from arthritis pain, mine being psoriatic arthritis as well as hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. Right now I have pain all over my body, but specially in my shoulders. I had arthroscopic surgery on right shoulder in July and will have reverse shoulder replacement on my left shoulder in October. I can’t seem to manage anything right now! So I’m happy to be here with all of you this morning reading all of your wonderful ideas. Thank you so much for your posting!
I’ve had to take oxycodone for the past two months just to keep me sane! And yes I know it is very addictive but I have nothing else to turn to. I smother myself in Voltaran gel, use essential oils, take melatonin, you name it!! I’ve had my genes evaluated and found I don’t convert codeine. Can’t take nsads because of stomach pain and bleeds. I loved taking Celebrex but was told bad for me.
So, I don’t have much to offer other than I hope you can find help here on this site and know that many are with you hoping you find relief.
Best xxxx
Teresamarie
Thanks to everyone who has replied. 11 months on, I have had a knee arthroscopy in January and more or less recovered from that. I’ve stopped taking co-codamol. But I have luckily had a newish GP prescribe Diclofenac for me on an ad hoc basis (not on my repeat prescriptions), as the arthroscopy showed up severe arthritic degeneration which only a knee replacement will solve. I also have joint issues in both shoulders. The right one has 3 years in the rotator cuff diagnosed over 2 years ago. The left one hurts more but will be looked/hopefully MRI soon which will no doubt gave the same sort of issues. Diclofenac is the only anti-inflammatory that seems to work for me. Naproxen does not. I supplement from time to time with Paracetamol if pain is preventing me from sleeping. Lockdown meant more rest at home for me, so that’s been a blessing. But have missed seeing my youngest disabled & autistic son who is in a care home.
Thanks again to all who have replied. I’m coping and hope you all are too?
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