Pain. What helps you?

[parrotonmyshoulder]

I’m suffering at night from severe leg pain. Waiting for X-ray and physio appointments to come through, but not sure what they will
achieve. I know it’s from a hip problem (labral tear) that was diagnosed with MRI 10 years ago but improved with pregnancy and hasn’t been a problem since.
Until now.
I have cocodamol and naproxen. Some nights this last week I have slept through. Last night was horrendous. Hardly any sleep and the pain didn’t go. No sleepokg position helps.It’s barely noticeable, or just not there, in the day when I’m up and about. Finding it difficult to function on so little sleep though. Not really sure what to do.

[Orangesandlemons82]

Does a heat or ice pack make any difference? I have been using a freeze spray at night and that seems to dull the pain enough to doze off.

[parrotonmyshoulder]

Neither hear nor ice seem to help but I haven’t tried a freeze spray. Thanks, I’ll get one.

[LabradorMama]

Cocodamol and Napeoxen do nothing fur me. Diclofenac works but trying to get a GP to prescribe it is like pulling teeth

[Seahorseshoe]

A heat pad helps. Argos sells them. Chronic pain is no fun at all.

Ps. Cocodamol constipated you terribly, grab some All Bran.

[roundligament]

Lidocaine patches ? Get gp to prescribe as very expensive
What about a chiropractor?
Can you try things like
Robaxin
Tapentadol
Tramadol
Gabapentin

[Zoflorabore]

Dihydrocodeine and Naproxen with diazepam definitely help with my chronic pain.
Also listening to pain relief hypnosis on YouTube seems to work.

A new medication that has been bloody amazing for me is Nortryptyline.
It's a painkiller and sedative and i take it an hour before bed.

[Oldmum55]

Pregabalin is the only medication that helps my mother in law's chronic back pain. It worked where morphine and fentanyl patches failed.

[unweavedrainbow]

Right. Are you taking the max amount of cocodamol (30/500mg x 2 x 4=240/4000mg in 24 hours) and naproxen (usually 1000-1250mg in 24 hours) around the clock and on time, not just when in pain? If not, do so. Pain medication needs to reach a steady level in the blood, by the time you're in pain it's already too late and so you'll have pain peaks and troughs. There 's no point in adding additional pain medication until a steady blood level is achieved.
If your're taking your meds on time and you're still in pain there's three options: more holistic pain relief like heat and cold, a different class of painkiller such as a nerve painkiller or more opiates. With a labral tear you might have nerve impingement? Have you tried a nerve painkiller like amitriptyline? If not, it might be worth a go. In terms of more opiates, the next thing on the list is tramadol. I do wonder though if a GP might be able to prescribe a small amount of liquid morphine (oramorph) for night time breakthrough pain until your referrals come through. Lots of GPs are reluctant though.

[parrotonmyshoulder]

Thanks for the advice.
I’m not taking max cocodamol, no. In a bit nervous of it. But will do as you say and take them regularly - I’ve only been taking one naproxen so need to taken the other one. Will see how that goes and then speak to GP again. Seemed helpful when I saw him last week.

[ShabbyAbby]

Take the max of cocodomol
If that doesn't work a stronger opiate or opioid like tramadol, dihydracodeine or oramorph

Something to Help you sleep

[redannie118]

I live with chronic pain and found Naproxen no use at all. Try switching to ibuprofen instead.