Living with pain. What do you take? How do you cope?

[Monroe]

I know my situation isn't as bad as many others but it is starting to get me down.

I have had hip pain for a long time now and it has reached the point where the pain is constant. Sometimes it is just a dull ache, often it is more painful, can keep me awake at night and radiates down my leg and into my knee and shin. I also limp a lot when I walk.

Luckily it is being investigated and I have an appointment in 2 weeks to discuss the results of an mri and then a follow on appointment with the consultant surgeon however in the meantime I am struggling.

My GP prescribed naproxen which I take with paracetamol but it doesn't touch the pain. The only thing which helps ease it is codeine which I can't take as it leaves me feeling like I've drunk a bottle of wine, without the good bits

Does anyone have any advice, coping tips? Also any suggestions for any different painkillers that might help in the meantime? Thanks

The fact that the pain radiates into your shin is highly indicative of nerve pain. Even if you have no back pain the problem could be stemming from your lumber spine. If your MRI is ok I would be asking for one of that region. You don't say how old you are? Of course it could be degeneration of your hip but IME that is a localised pain whereas you are describing sciatica.

In answer to your question, I take the drugs you mention including codeine plus gabapentin for daytime nerve pain and amytriptiline for night nerve pain. It works. I am never actually pain free but certainly have days that are better than others.

Heat patches and hot water bottle both help, too. Rest, potter and rest. Not great for running a life, I'm afraid.

If it does turn out to be a trapped nerve, injections help some. Personally surgery has been catastrophic but if you have to have it then you want a neuro surgeon not orthopaedic.

Always worth trying TENS machine before drugs, (about to take own advice). My chronic pain was alleviated by morphia drugs while being treated for cancer, plus sleeping tablets prescribed long-term by Pain Clinic, who tried many other systems apart from meds and are worth waiting to see or even making private appointment. I also have anti-depressant now, due to long-term pain, so there are many ways to make pain bearable once one's got to GP - hope you get something soon.

Thanks to Matildathecat - my new pain this weekend is similar to OP's, so info is useful.

Thank you Matilda and showtime

I'm 39. The hospital rang me last week and explained that the MRI shows a tear in the ligaments around the hip. The pain in the knee/shin is quite new and I had thought it might be due to my limp or the way I am walking, certain areas over compensating for hip pain? I'll make sure I mention it at my next appointment though in case they feel it worth investigating further. Previous X rays of the bones have come back clear and ruled out arthritis or joint damage.

Heat patches and hot water bottle are a great idea, I'm a bit annoyed with myself for not thinking of it sooner. Where would I get a TENS machine from? Are they expensive? And I've also started the rest potter rest regime even though I get frustrated and feel guilty when I'm not doing something.

Following on from the phone call I received a letter from the hospital confirming my next appointment but it clearly states that this is a pre operative assessment and that at the end I will be given an appointment with the consultant surgeon. I rang the hospital today and was told they couldn't tell me any more as the person I needed to speak to is off till tomorrow but should I take this to mean I will be having surgery????

Thanks again

Afraid I don't remember a great deal about hospital appointments or letters, but can possibly advise on TENS machines, which are often available from chemists, altho mine came via Pain Clinic and cost a bit less, £30-odd about 20 years ago. They're more versatile these days, and possibly cost less as more popular. I can give you name and address of a local company (NE) if you wish, but you'll probably do as well Googling - I think every household should have one in the First Aid box, and 20mins use just now has made a big difference. I'll be using it at bedtime too, as it encourages the "happy hormones" (sorry not technical), useful when in pain.

Thanks again. I'll have a google and see what I can find. I'd prefer to try the non meds route first as strong drugs don't tend to sit well with me

Def try heat patches, too. Although they say not to stick directly on your skin I always do and am fine. They really are magic and the cheaper ones from Superdrug and Wilkinsons are exactly the same as the expensive ones which cost more than 3-4 times as much. They stay hot for many hours.

I'm addicted to them, can you tell?

Oh, and going to discuss surgery definitely should not mean you are going to have the surgery. It's just a discussion. Do ask if it could be sciatica, though. I only mention because I also had a hip MRI and it showed lots of labral tears and wear and tear but actually the pain was from a disc prolapse, not my hip at all.

Heat patches are great and I have an extensive collection of microwave wheat bags which I stuff under my clothes or lean on when I'm at home. I also am a big fan of ibuprofen gel (you can get 10% version from behind the pharmacy counter). Making sure you take care to take painkillers at regular intervals before the pain is bad and don't over use the joint but don't let it stiffen up either. If you take ibuprofen you MUST make sure to have it with food and watch for acid indigestion, you can really ruin your stomach lining forever by not being careful. (I am the sad voice of experience on this one).

I agree that you should try non drug ways of helping before you get stuck into stuff that can make you ill in other ways. I don't think this will be any good for ligament damage but for the arthritics on the thread there is a new gel treatment Flexiseq which I have just found and am itching to try out. If you do need drugs to help with the pain don't be scared though, I was putting off taking the heavy stuff but it helps and you get used to the fuzzy feelings (I take 150mg tramadol slow release twice daily and it's a great help).

I can recommend Biofreeze, ilex-based,(prefer gel roll-on), altho more expensive than ibuprofen there are not usual side-effects or problems of possible overdose, but will check out Flexisec as alternative.

When I read your post I immediately thought you sounded like you have a labral tear in your hip. I have them in both hips and have hip impingement in my left hip. I, also, have very severe SPD for 17 years and Sacro-illiac joint dysfunction.

I take quite a few pain killers. For the hip pain I have steroid injections every 12 weeks into the left hip because it is really painful, and I have multiple ones into my pelvis. They really do help. My right hip isn't too bad at the moment fortunately. It plays up every now and again, but nothing like the left.

I have nerve damage all down my left side caused by a strange brain thing. I take pregabalin twice a day plus amitriptyline and sometimes have to top up with ibuprofen. I hate taking drugs everyday but the pain is pretty bad if I try to cut down. I think its all about accepting it and doing the best you can.

Thanks again everyone. I have purchased some heat patches today as well as and have some heat rub cream. I've also dug out my old hot water bottle

Iam have you been offered / considered the surgical route for the labral tears?

I am worried that it will be a case of pain management rather than treatment. I currently only work part time and it is manageable at the minute but I will be looking to go back full time later this year and I'm not looking forward to the idea when still in constant pain.

I spoke to the hospital this morning. My pre op appointment is on the 20th and I will then be able to choose an appointment with the consultant surgeon. She explained that this is to discuss my results and possible treatments and does not mean surgery is a given but may be discussed as an option.

And for the tips and coping stategies. Sorry there are so many having to live and cope with pain on a daily basis.

Glad you have more information about your appointment, and really hope it's effective, as well as your present alternatives.
My pain's been less today, probably due to sitting around this afternoon doing crafty-stuff - having an absorbing hobby (or two) is important in pain management. Hope it improves soon for you.

Try the codeine, even if only 1 day a week or at night.

Amitryptoline helps with pain and sleep but you need to stick with it for 2 weeks, week 2 you will feel like giving up.

Camomile tea can also help with both inflammation and sleep, if you are awake in the night it is (for me anyway) a bit of comfort, a warm drink that helps sleep.

TENS - you don't pay vat if it is for 'disability' so make sure you don't pay the vat. Mine is from Patterson Medical and I have had good service from them.

You need to get one with wires and electrodes so you can try different positions, I originally had one on loan from a physio to try out.

Remember, some days the pills will work, some days the TENS will work, some days rest will work. They may not always work all the time.

Thanks sashh. I took a codeine the other night when I couldn't sleep and it did help and thankfully no after effects in the morning so at least I know that is an option for nights.

Resting is certainly helping but is the hardest one to do!

It sounds like it is a mix of trial and error and using a variety of methods to find out what works on the day.

the drugs that have been mentioned. Are these all on prescription? I'm wondering if another trip to the gp might be needed

Yes, prescription amitriptolyne is actually an anti depressant but helps with chronic pain. It can make you very drowsy/dopy to start with and you need to go through that, and it takes 2 weeks.

Baths, I forgot to mention hot baths, they also help me.

I was just putting my Tesco shop away that the lovely man had put on my table and I thought, AHA a coping strategy, I must tell them! . I meal plan, order online and have it delivered and ask the lovely man to put the boxes on the table so I don't have to bend down. Think of all the movements you save by not going to the supermarket, reaching to shelves, on conveyor belt, off into bags, lift bags to trolley, lift bags to car, lift bags into house, lift up onto table, unpack - when you can get away with just doing the unpack bit. Although my hands aren't working today so I should get off the computer.