Drugs For Back Pain

[Scarlett]

I've been in agony for a week; L3 and L4 move about due to hypermobility and slipped discs. My physio moves L3 and L4 moves worse. She's away for 2 weeks so I have to manage til she is back. I am taking 2 x co-codamol twice a day (500mg/8mg) and 1 x diazepam a day (or two if bad) which is 2mg tablet. Also the odd Ibuprofen 200mg x 2.
I hate taking drugs and know these can become addictive. How do these quantities compare- should I be worried? They seem to make hardly any impact incidentally but I don't want to increase them!

[Jackdaw33]

Go to your GP and ask him for co-codamol 500/30. You can't buy them but I find they do the trick.

[MallyJ]

Does a corset help?...by that I mean a supportive one rather than one with suspenders and lace...Hard ware shops such a B and Q sell them

[gingejbee]

Some years ago, while awaiting surgery for disc problems, the only thing that helped my severe sciatic pain was (slow-release) diclofenac.

https://beta.nhs.uk/medicines/diclofenac/

[rowanwitch]

Up the ibuprofen to the maximum daily dose, you could take 600 mg if you are really desperate or use the gel as well. You might want to try a tens machine some people get good results but it takes a bit of practice to get set up just right.

[douglas9401]

You need to take more and different drugs, never fear addiction.
Pain killers are no use unless they're killing pain.
I had a similar situation last year and found a combination of Ibuprofen and paracetamol taken regularly helped a great deal when coupled with Amitriptyline. I went down the 2mg Valium road but eventually convinced old risk-averse that it needed more and got 5s.
Doctors do sometimes need reminding of who it is that's in trouble.
I did find that the stuff with codeine in worked to a degree but the constipation made it unworkable.
Physio and chiropractor only seemed to aggravate the situation, later found by MRI to be herniated discs, and when left to nature taking its course things began to improve.
A bit rambling, I'm sorry, but in a nutshell, take the drugs, get a scan and definitive diagnosis but most of all, take the drugs.

[Scarlett]

Many thanks - I'll try the above!

[Mamyalynne]

All above advice is sound, especially the fact that 500/8 cocods are next to useless and you need a higher one on hand.

[Scarlett]

Update: I managed to get to a physio who specialises in hypermobility. This helped me the most. The drugs took the edge off the AWARENESS of the pain (not the pain itself) but seeing someone skilled was way better than pain killers, and if you are in a similar situation, I'd advise seeing a physio or osteopath as soon as you can rather than suffer and fill yourself up with drugs like I did. Although I didn't have a choice as I couldn't find anyone with a free space!

[Samuraisan]

What on earth can someone be saying to have their answer removed, in reply to this obviously very much in pain lady ?

[Sqad]

Sam....they are adverts.

[Samuraisan]

Ah, I see Sqad. I never get ads. My son set me up so.