What painkillers can FiL ask for?

[AgeingMillennial]

FiL has massive joint/skeletal problems from working a very physical job for many years. He often seizes up, has had both hips replaced multiple times, get pain in his legs/feet to the point he can’t walk. It sort of comes and goes according to how much he has exerted himself, a 20 minute walk will often render him immobile for the rest of the day.

2 weeks ago he ‘put his hip out’, he didn’t fall or anything it just went. He’s been in terrible pain ever since. He’s been given tramadol and has finally been booked for a scan in a few days, but he seems to think there’s nothing more they can do.

I have no experience with things like this but he’s been immobile for 12 days now and doesn’t seem to be getting better. He isn’t at the point of A&E, but the GP has only offered tramadol which doesn’t seem to be helping.

Is there anything else he can get in terms of painkillers and if so, how? He really needs something much stronger than this but at a loss what to suggest. Thanks!

Tramadol is pretty strong.

best to find out what is actually wrong and fix it.

not sure what they can give that is stronger than tramadol.

DH had a morphine patch which really helped. You wear them for a week and then replace them.

Thanks, This is the sort of thing I wondered about - would he get one for a non fatal/operation type thing? I did look online but said it’s normally used for things like terminal cancer. Not pain conditions in themselves if that makes sense?

If FIL is elderly then NSAID aren’t suitable but something like nefopam can be really effective.

Morphine patches can be prescribed for pain relief too. Is he also having regular paracetamol in addition to the tramadol?

If he's been immobile and in pain for 2 weeks he needs an urgent xray or scan, he could gave a fracture or dislocation. Tramsdol is strong but like all painkillers causes constipation which doesn't help. I'd say he is at the point of a&e and would at least be calling 111. Morphine patches are given for all sorts if pain, not just cancer, they are very effective but if he has a serious injury they need to investigate the cause, poor man, the GP should have sent him for an urgent xray, not leave it 2 weeks. Can he move both his legs, can he wiggle his toes, are both his legs nice and warm.

DW is on a mix 30mg cocodamol
30mg nefopam
700mg lidocaine patch 12hr for night /sleep
Multo skeletal issues/hip pain.

Thanks everyone. If he’s helped to stand he can shuffle a few paces using crutches, but he’s wincing as he goes. That’s all he can do really, then he has to sit back down. He hasn’t improved. Thats what he could do the day he injured it, and that’s still all he can do now. He’s awake most of the night when it’s worse. I’m just worried they’ll tell him he can’t have anything stronger. I’ll pass on these suggestions to DH who will take him to the GP tomorrow.

Let's hope his hip isn't dislocated or has come out the socket

And after it's been properly examined, get a referral to the pain clinic

Especially as OP says he's had his hips replaced multiple times....my experience of looking after patients with a similar history is that they then tend to be more likely to dislocate them again.

I find it quite astonishing that he's only just going to be getting a scan at this point after half a month of having this level of pain/immobility....if it is a dislocated hip.... that's an awfully long time for it to have gone without being treated and it might be difficult to get it back in place if it is.

As others have said....what you really need is to just find out what's causing the pain and treat it... anything else is just masking it and won't help your FIL in the long term.

The GP should arrange an urgent xray tomorrow if op dh or fil doesn't want to call for medical attention today

I agree but he’s had pain for about 15 years now unfortunately, after many investigations and his hip replacements it seems there isn’t a silver bullet for that. Of course this new problem is hopefully diagnosable and can be sorted but pain is his default sadly and is never really under control.

Maybe injections into his joints, the first thing I thought of was hip dislocation or just crumbling so hopefully he'll get help.

Does he wear a hip brace, have the therapists and orthopedic team arranged suitable equipment and adaptations at home.