Pain relief

Sorry for long post

I've often wondered about this too. I will be interested to hear what you find out.

I too have osteoarthritis just about everywhere so I really do feel your pain. It's debilitating and wearisome isn't it? I looked into cannabis but apparently I can't take it because it's not compatible with statins which I also take.

I'd be interested to see how you get on Lilliesmum. I haven't had my cholesterol checked for ages and it may have come down enough for me to ditch the statins.

I couldn’t just read and run but I have no experience of this level of pain Lilliesmum. I hope you get some help from GP. And this isn’t a long post, so no need to apologise! ☺️ Take care.

Before my hip replacement i was in considerable and my GP prescribed Naproxen with a stomac protector it really worked for me and i was able to carry on working while I waitd for the surgery. If your hip is causing that much pain especially at night ask your GP about hip replacement.

I felt my osteoarthritis pain was ignored for years and was eventually given co-codamol which I understand contains cannabis but not the part of the plant that gives you a 'high'.
I can't say it was much better than paracetamol, and it gave me constipation.
Then I broke my back and was given liquid morphine - WOW what a difference! After each 3ml dose I was pain free for a couple of hours, something I had forgotten existed.
Sadly I was not 'allowed' to take it for ever and now have fentanyl patches. These do work quite well but I don't get the 2 hours of pain free existence any more.
My GP says he doesn't want me to get dependant, I'm 87 - does it matter.
I would try cannabis if I knew how to get it! But fentanyl patches give me the best relief so far (apart from liquid morphine) so worth asking your Doc if you can try some.

Yes! I went down the legal cannabis oil last year, through a proper clinic, who notified my GP.

The pluses

Worked as both relaxant and relieved pain.

Negatives

Expensive
Didn’t like the way it messed with my head so stopped taking it regularly after about three months.

I was quite disappointed, but the process was easy. I was sent three different strengths, two for day time use and one strong (more THC) for night.

These are the things I’ve tried since diagnosed in 2020.

Massage - works but only for short periods
Acupuncture - no difference
Cocodamol - didn’t work too well and gave me chronic constipation
Morphine patches - great, but was taken off them by pain clinic as not for long time use.
Hot water therapy/steam rooms/hot tubs
Works, but again very short lived time
Exercise - so much pain but did loosen me up a bit
Physio - just started, quite painful and waiting to see if long term results.

Oooh and forgot
Osteopath and chiropractor - limited benefits and very expensive

By the way, I don’t think Co-codamol contains cannabis in any form, my understanding is that it’s a combination of strong codeine and high dose paracetamol

Also, I’m on statins and the doctor in the clinic said this was ok, I’m also taking Setraline 100mg and three different BP pills

I’m reading with interest as I’m waiting for THR and in quite a bit of pain. Haven’t tried cannabis but would echo what Cossy said about everything else. However I do get less pain in my leg if I use my small rollator to get around both indoors and outside. Not sure if that would help you Lilliesmum.

I'm going to see an osteopath next week who helped me when my arthritis first started to impact upon my life. Pre covid I loved having a sauna but am worried that it is now one of the places where I'm most likely to catch it. Years ago I knew someone with MS who swore by cannabis so I might try that albeit not knowing how to. I tend to forget about taking paracetamol which is safe if taken correctly and I also forget to take turmeric; tend to get out of the habit.

teabagwoman

I’m reading with interest as I’m waiting for THR and in quite a bit of pain. Haven’t tried cannabis but would echo what Cossy said about everything else. However I do get less pain in my leg if I use my small rollator to get around both indoors and outside. Not sure if that would help you Lilliesmum.

I found the other week that I was walking normally in a supermarket because I was pushing a trolley...

Cossy

By the way, I don’t think Co-codamol contains cannabis in any form, my understanding is that it’s a combination of strong codeine and high dose paracetamol

Also, I’m on statins and the doctor in the clinic said this was ok, I’m also taking Setraline 100mg and three different BP pills

It doesn't. Co-codamol is paracetamol and codeine. It's available in three different strengths of codeine.

Cozzy - I got this from Wikipaedia so it may be incorrect
"Codeine is an opiate and prodrug of morphine mainly used to treat pain,"
(do you think 'prodrug' is a typo for 'product'?)
so it seems codeine is made from morphine and not cannabis as I thought, which is confusing ..... anyway it seems its an opiate too.
What we need is a pain killer that works and doesn't cause addiction.

Codeine does not cause addiction. It can be addictive so some people become addicted to it. Most of the people who use codeine painkillers do not become addicted.

I hope you find some relief for your pain, lilliesmum.

What painkillers have you got? Your GP should be able to help at least a bit.

Codeine is indeed a form of morphine, but much weaker, although it's still an opioid and can be addictive.

A "prodrug" is biologically inactive, but becomes active when it enters the body and is metabolized. Codeine enhances the pain-killing effect of paracetamol on its own. A patient could not get the same pain relief from paracetamol on its own without overdosing and causing liver damage.

Baggs

Codeine does not cause addiction. It can be addictive so some people become addicted to it. Most of the people who use codeine painkillers do not become addicted.

I agree. I have co-codamol on repeat prescription, but don't always order it because I don't always need it. I can go for weeks without taking it, but it works well when I do. I doubt if I'm addicted - I certainly don't get shaky or anything if I don't take it.

I have a friend who swears by cannabis for her chronic pain. Not the legal kind. She adds it to cookies. It's a very effective painkiller and you don't need high doses. Not so easy for your average older person to get hold of though.
Frankly I don't think addiction to codeine or anything else is a priority when you're in your 80s and in constant pain.

RedRidingHood

I have a friend who swears by cannabis for her chronic pain. Not the legal kind. She adds it to cookies. It's a very effective painkiller and you don't need high doses. Not so easy for your average older person to get hold of though.
Frankly I don't think addiction to codeine or anything else is a priority when you're in your 80s and in constant pain.

For many years we sourced cannabis for a friend with MS.
We knew who we were buying it from, someone who grew their own.
She used it in biscuit form.
Today you have to be careful of your sources.

Years ago, a neighbour who was a nurse grew her own cannabis on her kitchen windowsill. She moved away about 30 years ago and we're still in touch. She's now 78 with a range of health issues and is still growing cannabis! I could ask where she gets it from?

Madmeg

Years ago, a neighbour who was a nurse grew her own cannabis on her kitchen windowsill. She moved away about 30 years ago and we're still in touch. She's now 78 with a range of health issues and is still growing cannabis! I could ask where she gets it from?

Obviously she gets it from her own plants.
But if you want to buy seeds your spoilt for choice.

www.google.com/search?q=buy+cannis+seeds&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari&lqi=ChJidXkgY2FubmFiaXMgc2VlZHNItfGl-Oy3gIAIWh4QABABEAIYARgCIhJidXkgY2FubmFiaXMgc2VlZHOSAQ5jYW5uYWJpc19zdG9yZZoBI0NoWkRTVWhOTUc5blMwVkpRMEZuVFVObmFYSjJXR04zRUFFqgFcCggvbS8wOWRoMBABKhYiEmJ1eSBjYW5uYWJpcyBzZWVkcygAMh4QASIaDOXDIQhyIuRxEKvFZMyQJT09N6QXvcVMT0MyFhACIhJidXkgY2FubmFiaXMgc2VlZHP6AQQIABBA#rlimm=8916760670445350838

I had acupuncture for mine from the physio. It was amazing, my knee felt numb as soon as it was done, I hobbled in and could walk downstairs coming out! Must go again as it wore off after about a year.
Best £40 I’ve spent in a long time.

My surgery won't consider prescribing medical cannabis and I get suicidal with pain at times .

I bet the GP's would take it if they were in agonising pain 24/7 !