Morphine or Codeine for muscle and joint pain

[Iamseeingstars]

I need to renew my prescription but will only be allowed one or the other.

Whilst neither are brilliant can anyone advise which one is better for muscle wastage pain and sore joints.

I physically can't walk because of pain, so muscle wastage is severe. I need to be able to build my strength up

Thank you

Codine has a bad record for causing headaches if taken for too long, so I'd avoid. Tramadol seems to work well

If you can tolerate other more complex drugs such as tramadol mentioned above, you might actually get more relief from something else - maybe try posting on a medical forum such as HERE for recommendations :)

Out of the 2 you mention though, I find neither are much use for muscle pain, but better for nerve related pain, but Morphine is the stronger of the 2

BOTH can give you a headache when they start to kick in & BOTH will cause constipation - which can be a double blow if your problems are low back related too - Morphine can leave you feeling very spaced out too

Also, can you swim ??? - if you can't weight bare easily, then swimming is a great way to build up muscle tone - perhaps also ask your Drs about Hydrotherapy - are you under a pain clinic, rehab physiotherapist?? - if not your GP should refer you to one - along with accessing all sorts of practical help, including therapies such as acupuncture, you learn about pain drugs there too & theres a LOT more that are probably more use to you than the 2 you mention

Can you ask your GP for a referral to the pain clinic? They were fab with me and put me on all sorts of weird stuff like anti-epileptic drugs and anti-depressants that are also pain killers.

Pain clinic def worth it. Tramadol is the only thing that I find helps but I can't take it due to high blood pressure probs. It's hard to advise because what helps one person doesn't always help another even if the symptoms are similar. It's often a process of trial and error. Hope you find something that works for you.

Pain clinic have only offered morphine, but will speak to doc on Monday about tramadol.

Waiting for referral to local physio.

Local pool too dirty so won't go. Also have wounds from picc and Hickman lines so risk of infection too great

Codeine is basically just a weaker form of morphine & pain clinics don't like to prescribe morphine without good cause, so sounds like that might actually be whats best for you right now, but look into other pain drugs for later, the medhelp forum in the link is good, because you can search your own condition & speak with others who have the same experience & also the sites Drs drop by & add there replies too - do bear in mind its a US site, so drug names may be different to how they are know here, but just google suggestions for UK names :)

& if you still have unhealed wounds, have they told you to exersize yet?? - please be patient & wait if not, I know its frustrating, but trust me I know from experience that being bloody stupid over doing things really isn't a good idea - in the past I spent over a year in Physio because I didn't listen & rest up an ankle injury & it caused me spinal problems - in short, 6 months recovery time turned into a very long haul, because I was impatient & didn't listen -

maybe slow gentle yoga type stretches just to keep you moving will be enough until you see physion - you should find something relevant if you google :)

& 2 cups Epsom salts in a foot bath can help your body regulate pain better & its good for relaxation too

good luck

Persuaded doctor to give me Tramadol to see if that works. Told him codeine and morphine not doing anything for the pain.

I fins that Tramadol is great for my pain, but after a few days I am so lethargic and weak, in bed all day, with heart palpitations, that I only take Tramacet now. Which is a small dose of Tramadol and acetaminophen. It works better for me.
I hope you feel better and regain your strength soon.

Morphine not doing anything for pain? That's the first time I have hear that, are you shure it is not morphine salts. Morphine is usually only give in hospital of for terminal care.

You can augment the Tramadol by using paracetamol as well.

My dad has Coggan's Syndrome and says that morphine (oramorph) does nothing for the pain.

It is Morphine HCL from the hospital and it doesnt help at all. Will be interesting to see if anything else does work. I really hope so.

shh do you mean Diamorphine? That's what is used in terminal care in hospital and community

Morphine and joint/muscle pain imo are not compatable. Try an anti-inflamatory or something along the lines of amytriptiline/nortriptiline/gabapentin/pregabalin or even arcoxia/meloxicam etc as opiates have side effects that can outweigh their analgeisc qualities.

I use fentanyl patches and oramorph for pain. It takes the edge off, but I'm still in pain. Unfortunately with very severe pain, medication will help a little but it won't take all the pain away.

Nerve pain meds are usually gabapentin or pregablin.
I've tried all sorts of combinations.

Ive been given Fentanyl patches as well but bit concerned about the headaches, even worse diarrhea than normal and dizziness. Not sure if its because its the first time I have used them (on first patch). Has eased the pain a bit though.

Fentanyl has a lot of side effects, and what your describing are extremely common.
80% of time I feel dizzy and out of it, I get headaches, nausea and vomiting (even when taking anti emetic medication, severe constipation (but this is in combination of my spinal injury as nerves are damaged), memory loss, itchy, and prob lots of others I can't remember right now.

Pain relief wise, I found buprenorphine patches helped me best, but unfortunately I have a very bad skin reaction, that leaves me scratching like bad, bleeding, takes skin off, even when I've tried anti histamines and steroid cream too. So for now staying with fentanyl patches.