How do painkillers work; what is the best way to take them?

[KatyMac]

Specifically paracetamol, co-codamol (not at the same time) & diclofenac

Currently I take (Paracetamol or Co-codamol) them when I am in pain; but something the GP said makes me wonder if taking them before I get to that point might be better.

He also intimated that I should take the diclofenac whether or not I have any pain at the time

Does anyone know what I am supposed to be doing; getting understandable info out of my GP is like puling teeth (which may well be my problem as I don't think I am necessarily a 'good' patient)

Thanks Alypaly, how do you do the 3 times a day 8 hours apart without having them at 11

I have ones with sodium enter(somthing) which are supposed to be better

Hello Katy.

How are you this morning? Did you manage to get some reasonable night sleep at all? And no, I'm not going to tell you any rubbish jokes.......yet

I had a wee think about your overall situation and I was wondering why your GP wouldn't try you with anything else before your bloods. It doesn't make that much sense to have you left in quite a bit of pain and not give you much for it.

When I was being tested for fibromyalgia/CFS/ Thyroid/Liver/Kidney function and a few other coditions, I was taking Pregabalin, Co-codamol, Tramadol (when needed) and Lodine together and had been for about 2-3 months before the tests. I was told that they were safe to take while having bloods done, when I enquired about it.

Your GP refuses to discuss other types of pain relief. I would suggest you see the Dr and firmly ask why, after all, this is YOUR health and YOU have a right to know everything about it.

Apologies if I seem pushy, but this situation (boiled down) is you're in pain, your GP giving you tablets which don't help much, and won't talk to you about other types until after your results are back. Something doesn't seem right about this.

Any half decent GP will do their utmost to see their patient is being treated as well and as pain-free as possible, so don't let yourself be fobbed off.

I am getting a 'well you have CFS what do you expect' reaction from the GP

Which is somewhat annoying as I was diagnosed in '95 in remission by '97 & having only very minor flare ups since

I second what Chilled says not long ago I went through alot of blood test but was never told to stop pain killers ( that wouldn't of happened anyway I was in far to much pain).
Try a differant doctor if you can. Maybe change if he is not understanding how you feel.Good luck it is awful feeling so much pain and not being able to continue as normal.

I think you see another Dr for a 2nd opinion as there's bound to be more they can do for you.

Do you think the CFS may be making a comeback?

Well if the tests come back clear I can go & see a CFS specialist & based on last time they check everything before saying you have CFS; so either way I'll be OK

It seems like CFS isn't as well understood as I first thought it may be, even by some GP's.

Is it mainly just the pain that's doing your head in? I understand it gets annoying when you're in so much agony, you become scared to move because it hurts so much.

It's good to see you've already been diagnosed, and I suppose (unless told otherwise) there's scope for possible relapses in the future. Please do correct me if I'm going off the beaten track here. Busy enjoying a wee & dunking a . Here Katy, you have one too on me or would you prefer a and choccies .

I'd have been happy with a straight referral to the specialist, but we have to do tests.

I'm not in pain all the time - I have pain all the time but I'm only in pain when it gets too much.

A relapse of CFS is always possible indeed it's more probable than not; but the symptoms are different so it's not very likely. However the CFS specialist sees so many non cfs patients & are generally very good diagnosticians

The type of pain is different too, it was always my muscles, sort of post exercise pain. Now it is joint & bone pain and just touching the skin pain. I have occasional joints swelling up but they don't cause 'in pain' only 'pain'

Mind you I have lived with back/hip pain since my late teens so maybe my brain is warped

Chocolate for me btw no wine ever it's bad for the CFS

No wine for me either as I'm known as a 1 glass wonder . I end up on my back with my legs in the air like a flipped sheep.

Anyway, I hope you have a good night's sleep and take care.

I get drunk very easily & the hangovers - I get a hangover from alcohol in a pudding

Sleep well

It's odd talking on here definitely gives you clarity of thought

The idea of pain & being 'in pain' as being 2 different things is quite new to me and it's very valid. rather like 'love' & 'being in love'; one is an awareness or state of being the other an occasion or event with power and strength

Thyroid
Diabetes
Kidneys
Liver
ESR
CRP
Anaemia

But only 3 test tubes

Has inflammation showed up on any tests that you have had so far Katy?

It's great though because where my knowledge of CFS and other conditions is limited, I never thought I'd get so much information and in turn, it helps me to be more sympathetic toward the sufferer IYSWIM.

Won't be on for long as I've to go to my mates tonight for a wee cuppa and cake. Have another and a whole packet of to dunk, chomp and be merry . Will be back tomorrow morning. Take care and sleep well.

It has always (along with thyroid & blood sugars) been within normal levels; which is fine, if you're normal

Most people think I'm a bit odd

Good day today

I have fibromyalgia and get alot of muscle pain in the back/hips neck/shoulders arms well everywhere really.
The sun was out today and the weather was alittle warmer so that reduces my pain. Have you looked into fibro before?

Happygolucky0 I have a book I'm currently reading, called The Fibromyalgia Solution by Dr David Dryland a rheumatologist. It's fascinating and well worth reading.

I bought it in Bargain Books (now called The Works) for about £2.

Good morning Katy. How are you this morning?

Hope you're feeling better today

I didn't take the diclofenac yesterday as the day before I had some tummy pains, I thought I'd wait a few days & try again

I also didn't need the co-codamol until bedtime yesterday; I am confused by the whole take the painkillers regularly even if I don't actually need them.

More for the anti-inflammatories than the co-codamol TBH.

Inflammation more often causes pain. Anti-inflammatories, depending on strength, take away some/all the inflammation and therefore some/all of the pain. Any remaining pain can be dealt with by other painkillers.

Painkillers like Tramadol etc which act on the CNS stop/dull the pain messages being sent FROM the brain to the site of pain and are generally used for long term relief.
Opiate painkillers like co-codamol etc, stop/dull the pain AT the site of the pain and can be used either long/short term, depending on the type of pain.

Omeprazole/Lansoprazole are just 2 types of Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI). PPI's are used to reduce the production of stomach acid and is also used to help prevent and treat ulcers caused by long term use of, say, diclofenac/lodine etc.

So all in all, you could keep using the diclofenac and ask about Omeprazole to take alongside the diclofenac and then, use the co-codamol when the pain gets really bad/uncomfortable.

ah thanks chilled

That is really useful info ChilledChick

It really makes sense; I'm sorry it's taken me so long to 'click' but I am actually starting to understand a bit now

Can the diclofenac cause damage to my tummy quickly or is it a long term thingie, as if it's long term I'll take it until my appointment on Friday (when I get my results)

It really all depends on the individual, how long the person has been taking them and how strong the dosage is. Some folk develop ulcers very quickly and some take ages to develop them.

This is where the PPI's come in. They help to prevent or treat ulcers. Another problem you may find is, prolonged use of opiate painkillers can make the user become constipated, so it's good to drink plenty of fluids and take a laxative like Movicol if it's needed. Movicol is great because, where other laxatives can draw fluids out of the body into the bowels to soften faeces, Movicol uses the water it's been dissolved in so it DOESN'T take fluids from the body.