Hi, I would suggest that you discuss this with your GP with a view to reconsidering your decision not to take the Naproxen on a regular basis. It is an anti-inflammatory which I found worked really well for me in that it reduced the pain I experienced a result of osteoarthritis in my wrists and shoulders. Less pain means fewer and/or lower strength painkillers. Codeine is a brilliant painkiller but can be highly addictive and as you have found, long term use means that you can experience withdrawal symptoms when you try and reduce the dose. I found that when taking Naproxen, I could manage on paracetamol alone.

I had to stop taking Naproxen because I appeared to experience a skin reaction to it (one of the rare side effects) but it now looks as if the skin reaction was caused by something else because it has returned. So it seems that it was just coincidence that the first flare up happened within a short time of starting the Naproxen and to be honest I can't wait for this to be confirmed so that I can start taking it again because the effects were so good in even the short time I was taking it. It made me largely painfree and I only needed to use Cocodamol on an occasional basis whilst on it.

SM

Thank you very much for your kind reply, i am on Naproxen tablets 500mg. Maybe i should try these properly, if i am honest i have not given these tablets a chance. I knew Cocodamol was strong well the codeine and it had worked well, or so i thought.

I do not really like taking tablets if i am honest, but have IBS and migraines which i have had since the age of 12 years old, fybogel mebevine for IBS, Pitzofen for migraine attacks.

The arthritis does not hurt so much in the day, mainly night time.

Thank you for your reply, appreciated

Hi - you should ask for a referral to pain clinic. Also if you are taking painkillers long term and have IBS you should also be taking some Omeprazole to protect your tummy.

Hi Michelle

I have OA it's a weird kind and roves around the body, one day it's the hands & feet, one week the left hip the next the right hip etc

You probably do need to have a talk with your GP about reconsidering some kind of antiinflammatorys for this if the codeine type drugs are effecting you in a bad way anti-inflammatory's are the traditional treatment for Osteoarthritis.

It's a difficult call in a way though as I suspect from my own personal experience that you will get more pain relief from codeine painkillers.

Tbh neither of these medications are problem free as anti-inflammatory's can destroy the stomach if taken long term & cause other issues I think. But sometimes if you are in constant pain you have to go for quality of life at the time and not worry about what might happen 10 or 15 years down the line, especially if you have to be fit enough to work in the interim.

I was prescribed co-proximal years ago then the drug companies banned it even though it helped millions because one person killed themselves with it from what I remember. I have found co-codemal which is the substitute less effective so don't bother with it and put up with the pain.

I have been on a highly acclaimed pain management/CBT programme at Barts and yes I thought it was good, but these won't get rid of pain just help you manage it. People who have reasonable expectations of these give much more positive feedback.

Those who expect to be cured often leave saying the courses are rubbish & can be quite bitter & negative about them.

Part of that is because GP's will only refer as a last resort as they are mega expensive due to the staff they use (often top consultants) mine was 8 full days spread over 8 weeks then 1 day after a month and a 1 day after 9 months. Obviously it's cheaper for GPs to deal with it via the medical/pills route (that's not a criticism of GP's & I understand why they do it). Also I had a Hospital Consultant writing periodically saying I would benefit from one.

Don't know if any of this helps but I know first hand it's not nice to have to manage a cronic pain condition so didn't want to read and run.

Doe

hi Michelle - hubby has arthritis in his knees and ankles- the after effects of working 20 years in a coal mine. His GP regularly changes his painkillers, as he says that the body gets used to everything over time. Overall he's been prescribed 4 painkillers of which he takes 2 at a time, and these are rotated when the GP thinks it's necessary.

I wish they would invent drugs with no side effects :/

I am already on anti inflammatory "Naproxen", i took it twice yesterday with food, once in the morning when i got up, the next side with food before bed. When i spoke to a GP over the phone he has lowered my cocodamol to 15/500 so less codeine. So far have not taken any. Unfortunately i must be still going through withdrawal as i just do not know what to do with my arms and legs. Its a strange feeling, i want to stretch out my limbs, its like a dull ache. This makes me fidget and itch.
I did sleep better and of course the horrible faces at the end of my bed have gone (hallucinations).

I only took two every so often, i feel sorry for people who have this all the time. I hate taking pills as it is.

I am on Omprezole for indigestion as well, have been for years, but again when abroad i do not need it, strange factor, their food must be better, i never get it there.

Fybolgel also for IBS

Pitzofen for migraines i take every night.

The pain in my stomach has ceased, so thats good.

I will keep taking Naproxen when needed, and paracetamol when needed, the co-codamol will stay a distant memory for now, my OA from the top to the bottom of my spine i know will get worse, so as long as i continue to sleep ok after my night shift for the next one, i will remain withdrawal free

Hope you are feeling better soon hun

Thanks G, its all too easy to chuck pills at people than to give proper treatment.

I can't take Co-Codamol or Naproxen they make me really sick, the doctor really struggles with what to give me painkiller wise, but have found Diclofenac to be ok taken with paracetamol.

I have had lots of problems in the past with my joints and are recovery from a knee operation at the moment. ( Part of my Cartilage removed)

Hope you get your medication sorted soon.

Michelle,
it sounds like you need a holiday and some warm sunshine on your bones.

got to wait until September, going to Cyprus my GP also said the same as you, warm heat on my bones. By the way, not my GP but one in my practice suggested i drop down from 30/500 to 15/500. So far they are working but cannot sit for too long, got to keep moving. Having physio as well. I will never heal now but will only take pills as needed.

Travelman67 thanks

Must be a nightmare for you, i feel for you , i was on diclofenic once, but they didnt work. So i am hoping you will get a better response

hi I thought diclofenac was taken off the market that's what I was told im on naproxen I have no problems with them but I don't think they are any good I take 32 tablets a day in total I will be here all day so not listing problems I also cannot take codine I was on tramacet but they were not working so my new doctor says it better to split the tramacet and take ( paracetamol / tramadol ) so trying that even had morphine nothing takes away pain can any of you lovely people suggest anything for pain apart from going to live in a lovely warm country lol x

topofthetower wrote:

hi I thought diclofenac was taken off the market that's what I was told im on naproxen I have no problems with them but I don't think they are any good I take 32 tablets a day in total I will be here all day so not listing problems I also cannot take codine I was on tramacet but they were not working so my new doctor says it better to split the tramacet and take ( paracetamol / tramadol ) so trying that even had morphine nothing takes away pain can any of you lovely people suggest anything for pain apart from going to live in a lovely warm country lol x :cheers

Yes you still can get Diclofenac, their not the best really but like I said In my previous post I can't take many painkillers cause they make me ill. (can't take tramadol either)

I have had Arcoxcia they are good, the doctor did tell me once they don't like to give them you as they are very expensive, but worth a try if nothing else is working for you. I might be asking for some myself when I go back soon.

thank you travelmam at the docs in a couple of weeks so will ask its worth a try

Oh my word i thought i was expressing a lot of pain with my back, but you guys my heart goes out :/ It is a hard job for any GP to give the right meds, its trial and error and can take a long time to get one that is suitable to your needs. I use naproxen now twice a day, the stated dose for me and now the lower dose of 15/500 of cocodamol. It is working at the minute but i must remember not to take them without food, thats my problem. On the lower dose i am not hallucinating or getting pain in my belly, so thats a start.