Back pain and co-codamol

[~Wingnut~]

Hi all :o)
My back went on Monday and I struggled through the week with paracetamols not really touching the pain but I seemed ok. Went to watch my daughter at the theatre Weds night so was sat for 2 and a half hours but my back actually felt better when we left and a bit more free.
Woke yesterday morning in agony. I can walk and move about but once sat or laid down it is just so painful to get up or even move. I have been to the Docs and she has given me co-codamol but the pain feels no different! Do they need to build up in my system more? She didn't look at my back or ask whereabouts it hurt just asked if I wanted stronger painkillers.
I think I just want some reassurance that they are going to work, I can't stand the pain, I'm actually exhausted from it. Thanx for any help :o)

[Sqad]

Well....co codamol would not have been my choice of pain killers and no, they should relieve the pain immediately if they are going to be effective.

My choice would have been Ibuprofen 600mgms unless there was a contraindication for it´s use.

[daffy654]

I'm with sqad on this one, if the co-codamol were going to work you would have had instant relief, as that didn't happen I would go back to the doctor and ask for an anti inflammatory painkiller such as diclofenac to be prescribed. Try ibuprofen first though.

[~Wingnut~]

Hi Sqad
No reason why I can't have ibuprofen (no other health probs etc.) I was literally in there less than a min. I was back seeing another Doctor yesterday afternoon for something else and explained I had been in that morning and why and said I was still in a lot of pain but she just sympathised so I assumed they had to take time to work. I will try some ibuprofen.
Thanx for your reply Sqad :o)

[Sqad]

wingnut....daffy also gave good advice.

[~Wingnut~]

Thanx Daffy, I was expecting instant pain relief from them but thought maybe I was being impatient lol Will have to send hubby to the chemist :o)

[Hopkirk]

If sitting in a chair at the theatre improved it, that suggests you don't have suitable chairs in your house for your condition.

You need to find a chair with good lumbar support, that leans you back a little.

Perhaps get one of those managers chairs.

Something like this.

http://www.pcworld.co...air-03109985-pdt.html

I find them excellent, and also suffer lower back pain.

[~Wingnut~]

I've just rung the surgery and the duty doctor is going to ring me back.
Thanx for the link Hopkirk, I usually sit with support behind me but will have a look at that chair :o)

[jno]

you might want to consider osteopaths or chiropractors for back pain (not necessarily cheap but they do try to treat the causes rather than just the pain).

[gingejbee]

While waiting for back surgery, the only thing that kept me mobile and pain-free was (prescribed) diclofenac at maximum dose.

[woofgang]

mind with co codamol, it can constipate you.

[LoftyLottie]

They don't work at all on me. The pain stays the same and the hallucinations start. I would go back to the docs.

[mike11111]

I used to find co-proxamol (Distalgesic) very effective but for some reasons doctors are now very reluctant to prescribe them.

[~Wingnut~]

Hi again!
An update for you all! Husbands just gone to get my prescription for some anti inflammatories, here's hoping I get more relief from these!!

Thank you for all the replies :o)

[jno]

mike, I think David Kelly killed himself with co-proxamol; they were withdrawn very shortly after that.

[mike11111]

You can kill yourself with co-codamol if you have a mind to. I have never understood why, if someone misuses something, it should be denied to the rest who use it sensibly.

[LoftyLottie]

Wingnut, don't forget you can take paracetamol along with antiinflammatories. Check this out with the doc or pharmacy though just in case their is a problem. A combination of painkiller and antiinflammatory usually works very well.

Good luck. As a person with back problems I know how debilitating it can be. x

[jno]

I guess it was the publicity over Kelly's death that made it seem like a worse risk than other drugs. All of a sudden everyone knew you could kill yourself with co-proxamol. They don't know that about other drugs.

[lyndylou]

OMG - I have shingles at the mo ( had it two months now - and realise it can go on for more than three ) I am in constant pain day and night - to be honest I have been climbing the walls with them - they itch - they burn - they ripple and I feel the pain so deep into my chest (I have it around one side of my chest from back to front ) That it feels like I have a burning knife right through me. Anyway the doctor has prescribed - co - codamol for the pain along with amitripityline for the nerve pain in the night - I have been back to the doctors and had Pregabalina prescribed for day time nerve pain - The doctor told me that people can be in pain for months with singles and since he added to my already existing dose - I just assumed that I had to put up with the pain - I didn't want to feel as if I was a winger so I haven't been back to the doctors BUT now I have read your stories - I don't think any of my pills touch my pain - I feel no different after I have taken them - and Woofgang is right - I am on constant laxatives as well!! Does anyone have any advice???

[theshedman]

I find Co-codamol work on my back, but they are not for everyone as woofgang says they can make you constipated. They don't get rid of the pain altogether but they do ease it a bit. They do make them in different strengths and they also make it in dissolvable form. Maybe your doctor gave you the one you can purchase without prescription.

[mike11111]

If you pay for your prescriptions it is cheaper to buy co-codamol than have them prescribed.