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• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Medication: strong opioids >> Medication: strong opioids

Medication: strong opioids

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• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP04 >> A Dosett box, refilled weekly, helps her remember her medication.

Multiple tests all negative. Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Treatment: Physiotherapy Pain management: Pain Association Scotland Living with Pain course. Current medication: amitriptyline, quinine sulphate, diclofenac sodium (Arthrotec), co-codamol (Kapake), omeprazole (Losec).

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP40 >> Adjusts his medication so that he can last through social events.

Abdominal pain since 1988, no diagnosis. Treatments: Nerve block to pancreas. Pain Clinic for medication. Current Medication: tramadol. Past medication: Tried stronger opioids could not tolerate side effects.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP29 >> Uses mild laxative to treat the constipation from taking morphine.

Back pain since, 1990. Surgery: Discectomy 1990, Discectomy 1991, Spinal stabilisation 1997, Bone fusion 2003. Treatment: Epidural steroid injections. TENS. Pain management: Going on Expert Patient Programme. Current medication: morphine, codeine, tramadol. Past Medication: fentanyl.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP34 >> Her GP told her she should take her medication regularly.

Post-surgical adhesion pain/abdominal pain since 1979. Treatments: Coeliac plexus nerve block. TENS. Counselling. Current Medication: dihydrocodeine, amitriptyline, dipipanone (Diconal) for flare-up.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP43 >> Was video taped walking at the start and the end of the pain management programme and was amazed at the improvement.

Back pain since accident at home in 1993. Treatments: Facet joint injections. Pain management: In-patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: co-dydramol Past medication: co-proxamol.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP23 >> Discusses the pros and cons of the email forum group.

Pain due to damage to spinal cord from Chiari I Malformation and syringomyelia. Pain started 1997. Surgery: Essential cranial cervical decompression and laminectomy, 1999. Treatment: Pain Clinic for medication. Current medication: gabapentin (Neurontin), dothiepin, tramadol.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP42 >> Realises that medication is not always the best for her body, but using it allows her to get on with life.

Spinal pain. Pain started 1997. Pain management: Advice about pain management from complementary therapist. Current medication: co-dydramol. Past medication: co-codamol.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP47 >> Pain disturbs her during the night and if she doesn't get enough sleep the pain will be bad the next day.

Neck and shoulder pain since 1992. Irritable bowel syndrome 1988. Treatment: Pain clinic. Current Medication: meloxicam (Mobic). Antiinflammatory drugs.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP09 >> Medication was making him too drowsy so his GP tried acupuncture, which was effective but short lived

Back/neck pain since 1994. Spinal compression and arthritis. Surgery: Disc surgery in neck and surgery on lower back. Treatment: Epidural steroid injections. Pain management: Out-patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: rofecoxib (Vioxx), amitriptyline, tramadol for flare-up. Past medication: morphine (oral and patches).

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP02 >> Regularly takes a combination of pain medication and antidepressant drugs and can vary other painkillers throughout the day.

Multiple tests all negative. Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, 1996. Pain management: In-patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: tramadol, amitriptyline, sertraline. Past medication: ibuprofen, paracetamol, diazepam

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP02 >> Experiences mild side effects and advises people to persevere as side-effects are often worse in the first month of taking a drug.

Multiple tests all negative. Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, 1996. Pain management: In-patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: tramadol, amitriptyline, sertraline. Past medication: ibuprofen, paracetamol, diazepam

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP04 >> Advises people to tell their GP about side effects and emphasises that side effects can vary from person to person.

Multiple tests all negative. Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Treatment: Physiotherapy Pain management: Pain Association Scotland Living with Pain course. Current medication: amitriptyline, quinine sulphate, diclofenac sodium (Arthrotec), co-codamol (Kapake), omeprazole (Losec).

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 31-40 >> Interview CP20 >> She was originally prescribed one drug but couldn't tolerate the side effects so was given a similar drug which gave her less trouble.

Abdominal/ Pelvic pain since 1992, Back pain since 1991. Surgery: Laparoscopy followed by Hysterectomy. Treatment: Epidural injection for sciatica. Facet joint injections. Pain management: Exercise classes for back pain. Medication: imipramine for pelvic pain, co-codamol for back pain.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP40 >> He has very few side effects from tramadol but had a very bad reaction to strong opioid drugs.

Abdominal pain since 1988, no diagnosis. Treatments: Nerve block to pancreas. Pain Clinic for medication. Current Medication: tramadol. Past medication: Tried stronger opioids could not tolerate side effects.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 31-40 >> Interview CP21 >> The combination of medicines she uses doesn't take the pain away but takes the edge off it.

Back pain came on after injury at work, 1993. Surgery: Discectomy. Treatments: Pain clinic. Epidural steroid injections. Pain management: NHS outpatient pain management course. Current medication: dihydrocodeine, tramadol (slow release), amitriptyline, gabapentin.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP44 >> Occasionally has a drink of alcohol when her medication is not working as well as usual, even though she knows she probably shouldn't.

Pain since 1978. Psoriatic Arthritis, Inflammatory Arthritis. Treatments: Epidural steroid injections. Hydrotherapy. Current medication: co-proxamol (Distalgesic), methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine sulphate (Planquenil), dihydrocodeine for flare-up.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP18 >> Used to take her medication regularly but now is trying to regulate it herself and finds that difficult.

Back pain since car accident, 1978. Treatments: Facet joint injections, TENS. Current Medication: dihydrocodeine, co-proxomol, buprenorphine (Temgesic) for flare-up, diazepam for muscle spasms. Past medication: Diclofenac.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP07 >> Uses medication as part of her plan of managing a flare-up of pain but disciplines herself not to take too much.

Back pain since 1981. Failed back surgery syndrome. Diagnosed with Arachnoiditis, 2001. Surgery: laminectomy, correction of laminectomy and spinal fusion. Pain management: Learnt through support group and books. Current medication: distalgesic, co-proxamol, maprotoline, oxycodone (Oxycontin) during recent flare-up.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP24 >> Used to take medication but found it wasn't helping and now only takes any when her sleep is disturbed.

Back pain following injury at work, 1994. Treatments: Epidural steroid injections. TENS. Pain management: Graded exercise programme. Outpatient NHS Pain management programme. Current medication: Occasional use of co-proxamol.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP48 >> Prefers to not take medication because he finds they are not effective and he doesn't like the side effects.

Pain following myelogram (test) for disc damage in 1978. Diagnosed Arachnoiditis 1992. Pain management: In-patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: None.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP03 >> Tells how he was weaned off a lot of his medication and could reduce it even more by using breathing and relaxation tapes instead.

Brachial plexus injury following motorbike accident in 1983. Two failed nerve operations. Treatment: Pain Clinic for TENS and nerve block. Pain management: Pain Association Scotland Living with Pain course. Current medication: co-codomal.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 31-40 >> Interview CP39 >> Was disappointed that his GP did not explain that the antidepressant was to treat his nerve pain, not depression.

Neck and arm pain since 2003 aggravated by working at computer workstation. Treatment: Physiotherapy, NHS and police convalescent home. Current medication: tramadol slow release, tramadol, amitriptyline.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP15 >> Finds that she gets a dry mouth from taking amitriptyline and has to use special toothpaste to protect her teeth.

Pins and needle, numbness and neck pain since 1996. Surgery: Neck surgery for cervical mylenopathy. Treatment: Physiotherapy before and after surgery. Pain Clinic given oral steroids. Pain management: NHS outpatient pain management programme. Current medication: gabapentin, amitriptyline.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 31-40 >> Interview CP21 >> Explains that she takes gabapentin, an antiepileptic drug which also relieves nerve pain.

Back pain came on after injury at work, 1993. Surgery: Discectomy. Treatments: Pain clinic. Epidural steroid injections. Pain management: NHS outpatient pain management course. Current medication: dihydrocodeine, tramadol (slow release), amitriptyline, gabapentin.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP23 >> Describes the side effects that she has with Neurontin (gabapentin).

Pain due to damage to spinal cord from Chiari I Malformation and syringomyelia. Pain started 1997. Surgery: Essential cranial cervical decompression and laminectomy, 1999. Treatment: Pain Clinic for medication. Current medication: gabapentin (Neurontin), dothiepin, tramadol.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP41 >> She had to build up the dose of the opioid Oxycontin gradually to minimise the side effects.

Back and shoulder pain following fall at home in 1999. Spinal osteoarthritis. Treatments: Epidural steroid injections. TENS. Physiotherapy. Current medication: oxycodone (Oxycontin) Past medication: gabapentin.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP32 >> His nerve pain is much relieved by morphine patches and the anticonvulsant gabapentin.

Back and right leg pain following spinal stroke, 1997. Treatments: Nurse led Pain Clinic. Advice and medication. Current medication: morphine patches and gabapentin. Past medication: amitriptyline, dihydrocodeine.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP28 >> Describes the side effects that she gets from taking morphine.

Neck injury during surgery (hysterectomy), 1993. Surgery: Cervical discectomy followed by microsurgery to release trapped nerves. Pain managment: Out-patient pain management clinic. Medication: morphine, co-codamol (Tylex), diclofenac.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP34 >> Her GP had explained that addiction and dependence are different.

Post-surgical adhesion pain/abdominal pain since 1979. Treatments: Coeliac plexus nerve block. TENS. Counselling. Current Medication: dihydrocodeine, amitriptyline, dipipanone (Diconal) for flare-up.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP41 >> Was at first unhappy about taking opioids in case she needed them for increased pain or terminal illness but her doctor reassured her.

Back and shoulder pain following fall at home in 1999. Spinal osteoarthritis. Treatments: Epidural steroid injections. TENS. Physiotherapy. Current medication: oxycodone (Oxycontin) Past medication: gabapentin.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP29 >> Was concerned about using opioids at work as a nurse but checked with the General Nursing Council which said it was OK.

Back pain since, 1990. Surgery: Discectomy 1990, Discectomy 1991, Spinal stabilisation 1997, Bone fusion 2003. Treatment: Epidural steroid injections. TENS. Pain management: Going on Expert Patient Programme. Current medication: morphine, codeine, tramadol. Past Medication: fentanyl.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP31 >> Changed to a different anti-inflammatory drug which doesn't attack the stomach or gut because she had developed irritable bowel syndrome.

Low back pain following injury at work, 1991. Current medication: celocoxib (Celebrex) Past medication: other anti-inflammatory.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP23 >> Finds the pain clinic very helpful with her medication but would prefer to see the same doctor every time.

Pain due to damage to spinal cord from Chiari I Malformation and syringomyelia. Pain started 1997. Surgery: Essential cranial cervical decompression and laminectomy, 1999. Treatment: Pain Clinic for medication. Current medication: gabapentin (Neurontin), dothiepin, tramadol.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP29 >> Was frustrated that the pain clinic seemed to follow a protocol for backs and didn't listen to him.

Back pain since, 1990. Surgery: Discectomy 1990, Discectomy 1991, Spinal stabilisation 1997, Bone fusion 2003. Treatment: Epidural steroid injections. TENS. Pain management: Going on Expert Patient Programme. Current medication: morphine, codeine, tramadol. Past Medication: fentanyl.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 31-40 >> Interview CP21 >> Started wondering whether she was imagining the pain so stopped talking her medication and found it was very much there.

Back pain came on after injury at work, 1993. Surgery: Discectomy. Treatments: Pain clinic. Epidural steroid injections. Pain management: NHS outpatient pain management course. Current medication: dihydrocodeine, tramadol (slow release), amitriptyline, gabapentin.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 31-40 >> Interview CP21 >> Says that prescription charges can mount up but found out about pre-payment certificates which work out cheaper.

Back pain came on after injury at work, 1993. Surgery: Discectomy. Treatments: Pain clinic. Epidural steroid injections. Pain management: NHS outpatient pain management course. Current medication: dihydrocodeine, tramadol (slow release), amitriptyline, gabapentin.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 31-40 >> Interview CP39 >> Searched the internet to find out what 'chronic pain' meant after seeing a poster in the surgery waiting room.

Neck and arm pain since 2003 aggravated by working at computer workstation. Treatment: Physiotherapy, NHS and police convalescent home. Current medication: tramadol slow release, tramadol, amitriptyline.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP44 >> Has a drink of alcohol when her medication is not working as well as usual, though she knows she probably shouldn't.

Pain since 1978. Psoriatic Arthritis, Inflammatory Arthritis. Treatments: Epidural steroid injections. Hydrotherapy. Current medication: co-proxamol (Distalgesic), methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine sulphate (Planquenil), dihydrocodeine for flare-up.

• Condition
• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Chronic Pain

Publication date: March 2005          Last updated: November 2010.

Review date: November 2012

 

Chronic pain can have a wide range of causes and symptoms. We interviewed 47 people about their experiences of chronic pain. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Medication: antidepressants and antiepileptics >> Medication: antidepressants and antiepileptics

Medication: antidepressants and antiepileptics

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Medication: other analgesics and muscle relaxants >> Medication: other analgesics and muscle relaxants

Medication: other analgesics and muscle relaxants

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP15 >> Feels frustrated that she cannot reduce her medication for nerve pain, but has found her GP very supportive.

Pins and needle, numbness and neck pain since 1996. Surgery: Neck surgery for cervical mylenopathy. Treatment: Physiotherapy before and after surgery. Pain Clinic given oral steroids. Pain management: NHS outpatient pain management programme. Current medication: gabapentin, amitriptyline.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP19 >> Had to stop her medication in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Pelvic pain since menstruation, 1992 and back pain. Treatment: Laser laparoscopy. Medication to suppress periods. Pain management: One-to-one psychology. Current Medication: co-codamol (Tylex), sodium diclofenac (Voltarol), amitriptyline and morphine for flare-up.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP28 >> After surgery she experienced withdrawal side effects because the medical staff had not picked up that she needed to restart her morphine tablets.

Neck injury during surgery (hysterectomy), 1993. Surgery: Cervical discectomy followed by microsurgery to release trapped nerves. Pain managment: Out-patient pain management clinic. Medication: morphine, co-codamol (Tylex), diclofenac.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Introduction: medication and side effects >> Introduction: medication and side effects

Introduction: medication and side effects

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP28 >> After surgery she experienced withdrawal side effects because the medical staff had not picked up that she needed to restart her morphine tablets.

Neck injury during surgery (hysterectomy), 1993. Surgery: Cervical discectomy followed by microsurgery to release trapped nerves. Pain managment: Out-patient pain management clinic. Medication: morphine, co-codamol (Tylex), diclofenac.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP19 >> Had to stop her medication in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Pelvic pain since menstruation, 1992 and back pain. Treatment: Laser laparoscopy. Medication to suppress periods. Pain management: One-to-one psychology. Current Medication: co-codamol (Tylex), sodium diclofenac (Voltarol), amitriptyline and morphine for flare-up.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP15 >> Feels frustrated that she cannot reduce her medication for nerve pain, but has found her GP very supportive.

Pins and needle, numbness and neck pain since 1996. Surgery: Neck surgery for cervical mylenopathy. Treatment: Physiotherapy before and after surgery. Pain Clinic given oral steroids. Pain management: NHS outpatient pain management programme. Current medication: gabapentin, amitriptyline.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP03 >> Tells how he was weaned off a lot of his medication and could reduce it even more by using breathing and relaxation tapes instead.

Brachial plexus injury following motorbike accident in 1983. Two failed nerve operations. Treatment: Pain Clinic for TENS and nerve block. Pain management: Pain Association Scotland Living with Pain course. Current medication: co-codomal.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Managing, taking and stopping medication >> Managing, taking and stopping medication

Managing, taking and stopping medication