The pharmacy wouldn't sell me codeine and now I'm upset.

[Pumpkinstace]

I'm not sure if I was wrong for wanting it.

A couple of weeks ago I slipped in the bath and damaged a tendon in the back of my knee. I can't bend my leg or lock my leg straight.

The pain varies day to day but it's slowly getting better. Last night I had a bad night. No matter what position I was in the pain was radiating up my thigh and down my calf and my ankle. I could only get comfy in one position which has now created a stiff neck.

I'm in work today and struggling. I took pain killers last night and this morning but they haven't had any effect.

I went to the pharmacy across the road and asked the woman behind the counter for some painkillers slightly stronger. She said she would need to check with the pharmacist. She went I've and whispered something to him and he came over and quite bluntly said 'I'm not selling you codeine'. He gave me deep heat and told me to rub it on the pain. Except the pain is all over my leg and in my neck where I can't reach.

I've not actually asked for codeine, just something stronger that paracetamol....I've not washed my hair either and I'm wearing dirty work clothes.

He thought I was an addict didn't he?

I think you are mad to have left this problem for so long and only be treating it with pain killers.

A friend of mine had untreated sciatica and ended up with another more problem as a result.

You need to see either an orthopaedist or an acupuncturist as soon as possible.

The pharmacy staff shouldnt be rude to any customer, he should have come out to speak to you in private, ask what your pain was and given you advice instead of the assistant wispering in his ear and him refusing to help you. They are highly trained and accountable, they can be reported which may be a good idea if they have a reputation for being unhelpful and refusing medication for no good reason.

OP I feel your pain as I currently have an arm in a sling from a fall and it's amazing how long the pain persists.

That pharmacist was a judgmental chump, don't feel embarrassed. Hats off to you for getting to work in this state. Even getting dressed is a pain with a messed up limb.

Leave a scathing review and get your cocodamol elsewhere. Get well soon.

I think if you have explained what had happened and need something stronger for the pain since paracetamol isn't working, maybe you had different response, rather than just asking for stronger painkiller.

Just go to another pharmacy? It's not the end of the world.

I've seen the GP. He said that this type of injury can take a while to heal, 2-3 months.

I also have a faulty gene, one that is to do with collagen production and it affects connective tissue, so it might take longer for me.

It was just a case of pain management unless it got worse, which it seems to be. I will go back to them.

Have not read full thread sorry but op of you can’t bend it straighten your leg and this has been weeks you are going to end up with more issues - are you booked in to any outpatient physio or occupational therapy appointments?

So seen your last post there, does your gp know you can’t bend or straighten leg, how did you get to the pharmacy? Not being rude just wondering why you are dealing with this for months on end.

Is that ES op? Are you not under an OT?

I drive for a living. Private courier. I can drive ok.

Getting in and out the car is a ball ache though. And today had been extra hard because it hurts to turn my head to the left.

I've given up now, I was going to work until 8 but I've gone home.

I can't lock the leg or bend it further than a 90 degree angle.

Actually, fuck knows how I've been managing, I have because I have to. I need a wage.

I had 2 days off when I first did it. I damaged a tendon in my knee and bruised the hip bone in the opposite leg. The hip is fine now.

My faulty gene was found when I had genetic testing for my hereditary deafness. It's all to do with collagen (or lack of it ) it affects connective tissue also. I've was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at 14, I'm 38 now. I've always had issues with my joints so this isn't that unusual for me.
It's very rare I take anything for it. I'm just used to it.

I think autism also can effects how we perceive and deal with pain. I didn't realise I was in labour until I was 10cm dilated for example. High pain threshold.

I feel a bit fobbed off tbh.

You’ve obviously not been in that much pain then as a 16 pack of paracetamol would provide 2 days worth of max doses and 16 ibuprofen would be 2.5 days of max doses.

It sounds actually like your pain has been totally manageable on absolutely minimal pain relief. Particularly today on the day that you’ve decided to go and ask for stronger analgesia and yet you haven’t needed any since 7am.

You need to be taking your simple paracetamol and ibuprofen up to the max daily doses consistently for a few days before considering something stronger .

This thread is super outing now 🤦‍♀️

Exactly how is it super outgoing? You aren't the only person who visits the pharmacy for pain relief.

You can buy small doses.

OP make a drs appointment. I've been on codeine for years. Sounds like you very much need it. Or try a different pharmacy

Co codemol is codeine!

I've mentioned my job
My autism
My dodgy gene
That I'm deaf
The fact that it all started with a slip In the bath

Anyone that knows me well enough would connect the dots. I don't really mind. I don't post anything I don't tell people irl.

Op report the one outing post if you need.

I still think if you have limited range of movement for months you’ll need physio?!

Get solpadeine & Nurofen plus from separate chemiststhe Solpadeine has 8mg of codeine & the Nurofen plus has 12.8mg, you can take them together & the codeine will be nearer the prescription strength.

@Pumpkinstace

Ask mn to delete your thread if you're concerned.

Solpadeine max has 12.5

Was it a Lloyd's chemists? I have found them to be the worst ones for being funny about buying medication, try Boots or an independent one.

Wells pharmacy

Hi OP, it is possible the chemist didn't want to give you codeine if you don't have plans to see about getting treated by a doctor. I think you should get yourself to a minor injuries unit and see what's happened and get a proper plan in place.

'A pharmacist isn’t a medical professional.'

They're highly trained medical professionals and do an incredibly important job in the community and in hospitals. If all the doctors quit tomorrow, they could write scripts til the cows come home but who is going to supply the medicine?