Long term chronic back pain-what painkillers should I be asking for?

fro9etb8j5qsl2

I've been suffering with SI joint dysfunction and also some problems with discs for the last 2 years. It has basically been a trial and error of medication and nothing has really worked. I started off on difene, then lyrica, then arcoxia and recently my doctor has put me on vimovo. None of these have given me any major noticeable relief. Along with all of these, the doctor has had me on Solpadol which I'm very reluctant to take because apart from being addictive etc, I find that the only relief they give me is that they help me go to sleep. So I only take them when I'm desperate. I would like a painkiller that would give some measure of relief that doesn't contain coedine or isn't highly addictive. Have any of you guys found any tablet in particular that is effective? My doctor is nice but he's laid back and unless I go to him and ask him about specific medication, he just leaves me on what I'm on :rolleyes:

So I'm not looking for medical advice, I'm just asking- what works for you?

RubyGirl

I'm on diffine, lyrica, amnipriptiline and tradol for my back pain. Have you been referred to see a pain specialist? I'm also on durodegesic patches.

Spook_ie

Have had 2 surgeries for l4/5 problems including synovial cysts, and for me there was no one painkiller that did the trick - I also second the opinion of a visit to a pain management team.

solas111

Someone close to me suffered from chronic back pain and nothing seemed to work. Then she discovered a good chiropractor and started to visit her twice per week. She visits now once every three weeks unless she does something she should not do and injures it again. She has about three different back issues but is not on any medication for it now.

Some people dismiss them and some others swear by them but all I can say is this particular chiropractor has done a good job.

I hurt my back a few years and was told by the GP not to go near a chiropractor. He said they do more harm than good a lot of the time.

A physio is what is needed.

locum-motion

Jayda Repulsive Semiconductor wrote: »

I've been suffering with SI joint dysfunction and also some problems with discs for the last 2 years. It has basically been a trial and error of medication and nothing has really worked. I started off on difene, then lyrica, then arcoxia and recently my doctor has put me on vimovo. None of these have given me any major noticeable relief. Along with all of these, the doctor has had me on Solpadol which I'm very reluctant to take because apart from being addictive etc, I find that the only relief they give me is that they help me go to sleep. So I only take them when I'm desperate. I would like a painkiller that would give some measure of relief that doesn't contain coedine or isn't highly addictive. Have any of you guys found any tablet in particular that is effective? My doctor is nice but he's laid back and unless I go to him and ask him about specific medication, he just leaves me on what I'm on :rolleyes:

So I'm not looking for medical advice, I'm just asking- what works for you?

Love the way people still ask for advice and then say "I'm not asking for advice".
Yes, you are. It's right there in your thread title.

locum-motion

solas111 wrote: »

Someone close to me suffered from chronic back pain and nothing seemed to work. Then she discovered a good chiropractor and started to visit her twice per week. She visits now once every three weeks unless she does something she should not do and injures it again. She has about three different back issues but is not on any medication for it now.

Some people dismiss them and some others swear by them but all I can say is this particular chiropractor has done a good job.

rarnes1 wrote: »

I hurt my back a few years and was told by the GP not to go near a chiropractor. He said they do more harm than good a lot of the time.

A physio is what is needed.

Chiropractors hold no qualifications from any recognised educational institution. Not recognised by anyone except themselves, at any rate.

solas111

rarnes1 wrote: »

I hurt my back a few years and was told by the GP not to go near a chiropractor. He said they do more harm than good a lot of the time.

A physio is what is needed.

Yeah, the G.P.s and surgeons don't like to see their Euros, sorry patients, walking out the door.

fro9etb8j5qsl2

rarnes1 wrote: »

I hurt my back a few years and was told by the GP not to go near a chiropractor. He said they do more harm than good a lot of the time.

A physio is what is needed.

Ya my doc told me to stay away from chiropractors and he said that physio wouldn't help either unfortunately He mentioned pain management the last time I was in with him but he didn't elaborate so I'm not sure what he meant What does a pain management specialist do?

locum-motion wrote: »

Love the way people still ask for advice and then say "I'm not asking for advice".
Yes, you are. It's right there in your thread title.

Thanks for the great input :rolleyes: MODS If you feel I may be a danger to myself by acting on these suggestions and ( :eek: god forbid) asking my doctor some questions then feel free to lock the thread.

tbh

locum-motion wrote: »

Love the way people still ask for advice and then say "I'm not asking for advice".
Yes, you are. It's right there in your thread title.

Please use the report post function only if you have a problem with a post.

Op the charter says it's okay to ask for shared experiences not advice. I'm happy that someone can let you know what worked for them and you can discuss with your doctor but would remind posters they may share their experiences only and not suggest courses of action

tbh

solas111 wrote: »

Yeah, the G.P.s and surgeons don't like to see their Euros, sorry patients, walking out the door.

Let's not get into this debate on this thread of that's cool with everyone. And even if it's not

ac08400

I'll give you a different view - just based on personal experience, I just want it to add to your thought process, I am not suggesting what you should do.

My best friend's mother worked in various jobs over some years, stacking shelves, gardening centres, helping people in old folks homes (including lifting them). She had increasing back pain over the years. She sought more and more medications over the years, and some operations to make her back stronger. She went to various chiropractors, some of whom helped for a week or two, and some of whom seemed to cause more pain. In the end, the painkillers she was on were not helping a lot over time (ok for a few weeks, then wore off). Relatively soon, those medications messed up her stomach. Once those pain killers become relatively strong, they will impact your whole body not just the back. In the end, she is not very functional at times, in and out of psychiatric care, and what started out as back pain has become something different entirely. Some of that reaction was intrinsic to her. I am not suggesting it is the path for everyone, I am just very wary of medium to long term usage of painkillers and their impact, based on the experience of some people I love a lot.

Apologies, I am not trying to scare you, I am just telling you something I have seen. Do not assume medication is the only solution - I know in chronic pain, the fastest solution seems the best.

Queen-Mise

ac08400 wrote: »

I'll give you a different view - just based on personal experience, I just want it to add to your thought process, I am not suggesting what you should do.

I wonder was the back pain ever 'back pain' or was it symptomatic of something mental/emotional. And of course the pain killers started their own roller coaster.


I'll stand by chiropractors - they are useful short-term. But for example in my case - one of the bones in my pelvis kept coming out of place, the chiropractor would put it back. And after a while it would come back out again - basically what I needed was Pilates and chiropractor.
The Pilates strengthened the core muscles that 'held' my pelvis. My son's labour was especially traumatic and did a lot of damage.

I would hobble into the chiropractor and walk out standing straight. The only reason I was able to walk down the aisle was because of them; in fact, I still did have a slight limp.
The Chiropractor used to massage the knots out of the muscles and the pain of it:(:( Because one of joints was out, it was pushing the muscles out of alignment - so the muscle going down would be a mass of knots.

This has taken years to sort out really - my son is 11 now, and then had another baby, which of course started the whole thing off again. Although, thank god, not as bad as the first time. I could get off the toilet myself, the second time.:o


So my tuppence worth on pain management and what I did over the past 9 years.
- Pilates (excellent)
- Chiropracter (good short-term, but doesn't really sort out long term),
- Back brace - not sure of correct term, but when the pain was really bad, it helped support my back. It closed with Velcro, and tighteners around the side. Haven't used it for years, it helped a lot though.
I think the same support is also a negative long term, as it will eventually weaken muscles as they will rely on the brace. I used it sparingly, when pain was especially bad.
- Physio - not as much help as you would think.

Drugs
-Difene - I could feel the inflammation, one part of my back would be red hot, the difene would calm down the inflammation, until I got to a chiropracter to put it back in again.
- Zydol, these are slow release 50mg (12hr) and 100mg (24hr). They would take an hour to kick in, and you would feel them wearing off for an hour or two. It was a bugger if you forgot to take the next one as you would be in agony for an hour or two, waiting for the slow release to kick in.

Ponstan, DF 5/10 ??? (relaxer codeine type drug??), Neurofen - none of them really made a difference. So didn't really use them unless very stuck.
The codeine relaxer - was used sparingly, if my whole back was spasming from pain. Too scared to use them any more.

I always swore by the Difene & Zydol. I always have them in the house.

But then back pain is so different. Maybe the Zydol/Difene suited the 'type' of pain I was in. I don't think the Zydol are addictive, but they do make you drowsy. They don't me make drowsy anymore - even though I mightn't take one for six months. My back has calmed down a lot.

Although I am kinda at a permanent 2/3 of 10 in pain. I mostly try to ignore it now, unless it gets really bad.

Spook_ie

......as I was saying earlier, I've had 2 back surgeries with Padraic O'Neill in the Mater Private, he also works along side Dr Frank Chambers, who is an Anaesthetist with an interest in Pain Management. My experience of the afore mentioned Doctor was just amazing, such a gentle guy who had all the time in the world to go through every conceivable type of pain relieving options with me and to meet someone who really understood 'pain' was great. I'm doing great following my 2nd surgery and fingers crossed its going to stay that way !

locum-motion

tbh wrote: »

Please use the report post function only if you have a problem with a post...

To use your own phrase... Meh!

In case you didn't notice, I DID use the 'Report Post' function.

The thread title says

What painkillers should I be asking for?

How is that NOT asking for advice?

If you ban me for a while, it will have been totally worth it!

Jocelynel

my hubby has long term back pain...he's been attending a sports physio for 10 years, usually goes every 3 months

around christmas time, a colleague in work (also suffering with back pain) recommended he try physio with acupuncture...well now my hubby has got on fantastic, his back feels better than it has in years

this is the website and he's currently attending the Barrow street, dublin 4 clinic

http://www.thephysiocompany.com/

username123

I have suffered SI joint pain and cannot really tolerate painkillers because my stomach is kinda sensitive. What used to work for me was to get deep tissue massage to unlock all the tightened muscles. It would only give temporary relief (because natually my problem was still underlying so Id slowly tighten up again).

My problem was due to another orthopediac issue, but core strengthening and stretching helped a lot too. I saw physios, a chiropractor, doctors, consultants etc....

The bottom line was that something else needed fixing but the deep tissue massage was a great pain relief. One physio used to do the same moves that the chiropractor did to relieve it, but it was so short lived, itd be hurting again next day.

If there is anything you can do to fix or help the underlying issues?

RubyGirl

I find the deep tissue massage works great for me aswell. But above all I do hot yoga twice a week and find it brillant, would be lost without it. Pain specialist next week so we'll see what he sort's for me.

tbh

locum-motion wrote: »

To use your own phrase... Meh!

In case you didn't notice, I DID use the 'Report Post' function.

yeah, I noticed, thanks.

The thread title says How is that NOT asking for advice?

I've made the call.

If you ban me for a while, it will have been totally worth it!

Grow up for gods sake. And stop discussing moderation on thread.