Unmanaged osteoarthritis pain

[DaemonMoon]

What happens when the patient is taking all the pain medication and doing what they have been told but are unable to manage the pain?

When speaking with the GP they do very little.

I'm not sure how my relative will cope with it if it continues untreated. I've offered to speak with GP etc.

In my experience nothing happens. They maybe offered pain management classes and taught relaxation techniques at best. Are they on waiting list for a joint replacement? Which joints are causing the issues?

Nothing, I find a hot bath is pretty good.

Waiting for a nerve root block in her spine. I'm going to see what it costs privately.

Baths, hot packs, all of that doesn't work. Been to a pain clinic.

Nothing happens. There is so little for osteoarthritis pain and it is miserable.

Went private for a nerve block for my mum, lasted a good few months but sadly just drew her attention to how bad the pain was in other joints.

On waiting list for a joint replacement, unfortunately could only persuade my mum to do this when it was unbearable so she's had at least another year beyond the point it became unbearable.

My mother is worried about going private because of there being no emergency treatment if needed. I think she's read the news articles out a few months ago.

Did the pain clinic not help? Any follow up appointments there? Which joints is she suffering with? What drugs has she tried?

It is hard.

@DaemonMoon depends what your mum is having.

Mine was meant to have a joint replacement done on the NHS but in a private hospital - got cancelled because she was too old and frail, needs it in an NHS hospital with all the emergency backup

But for her nerve block the private hospital was ideal. Not going to need any emergency backup, and she had the whole thing from 1st appointment to block in about 4 weeks - would have been less if the consultant hadn't gone on holiday.

On the NHS she'd still be waiting now for a first appointment and any block would be years away.

So, she had a nerve block in both sides. Hasn't really worked. The GPs aren't listening to her about her pain. Worried about additiction to tramadol. Tbh, I'm worried about what will happen if the pain isn't managed.

Who oversees it all? I've given her questions to ask the GP tomorrow. I've offered to go. But who should be overseeing it from an NHS POV? She isn't even clear on her diagnosis.

I really feel for your DM, I found that I had to find my own way to deal with the pain. The only thing that really helped me was a tens machine which was recommended by a pharmacist that I saw. Your DM wont be able to use it if she has heart rhythm problems and it doesn't completely remover the pain, but I found it really helped and it meant I was able to get some sleep. I hope you find something that works for your DM.