PAINKILLERS OR NOT?

I take the painkillers. Have done for a long time with no detectable long term ill effects. Your GP is right that quality of life is important. I,d be miserable without the painkillers I need.

Depends on the painkillers. If you're worried this site may give you some useful information

I don't suppose you play every day, so I would say take them before you play when you do. I think taking them before exercise is important. And then take more afterwards of course. I imagine they are nsaid's. Perhaps ibuprofen?

I find anti inflammatories help with arthritic pain, more effectively than pain killers. Real pain isn't touched by paracetamol and the stronger pain killers knock me out so are saved for bed time when it's truly grim.

I'm with jingle -take take the anti inflames before and after you play, and avoid them if you can manage at other times. Exercise is an important part of managing arthritis and pain

Thanks so much for your replies. I am new to this site but am already hooked! I'm going to carry on with the pain killers and the badminton. I was interested in the advice to take them before AND after, as I have only been taking them before, and suffering the consequences the following day. I've been back to my GP a few times, whinging that my leg hurts and when he asks about the painkillers I have to confess I have had none or few! I'm sure he's fed up with me now!

Just be careful if you use co-codamol. See my posts on other threads regarding the withdrawal problems I had.

Hi, Pompa. My GP did warn me about that and I've read the instruction leaflet. Definitely something to guard against. Thank you.

Lots of excellent advice NotTooOld I would suffer if it were not for my anti-inflammatories I wasn't happy having to take them at first but I am so grateful for the relief they give me I take prescribed Naproxen. Keep playing while you can, have you discussed a hip replacement with your GP?

I punched a hole through my stomach with taking too many painkillers, and would dearly love a hip replacement (not allowed around here until I am 60) so am interested as to why you haven't chosen to have one. I have had problems for some years now, I took diclofenac/naproxen for ten years and was told they would have no side effects. I'm only allowed the odd ibuprofen as an occasional treat! They give me dreadful heartburn now so at least I get warning.

I was only on 8x co codamol per day for about 8 weeks, very surprised how bad the withdrawal was, and still is, it can take many weeks for the brain to get back to normal. I would be very wary about ever taking them again.
If your hip is bad enough to need constant pain relief, you really should talk to your Dr. about a replacement. Never regretted having mine replaced, got more movement in the replaced one than the good (?) one.

I'm in the same position with a long standing knee problem. I use Ibuprofen. Others have said go and get anti inflammatories from the GP.

I'd second the advice not to use CoCodamol if you can help it. Some people find Paracetamol ok though I think that can damage your liver if you take it regularly for too long. I think different people find different painkillers suit their physiology.

Do you take things like fish oil? I think that helps with arthritis and joint problems and there are herbal supplements you can try like Devils Claw. There's a list here www.arthritistoday.org/arthritis-treatment/natural-and-alternative-treatments/supplements-and-herbs/supplement-guide/

The other thing I do is try to have days off taking painkillers. So if I'm doing an activity like your badminton, I might take painkillers on the day and the day after to counteract inflammation and pain and then I'll try to have a couple of days with no painkillers to let my liver and system recoup. Hope that helps. Great to keep moving while we can!

I wouldn't want to go any stronger than ibuprofen. I found it worked just as well as co codamol, without the side effects.

Ibuprofen has some nasty side effects, especially if taken with other common drugs. My Dr. would not prescribe me ibuprofen because of the potential stomach damage.

When I requested a repeat prescription for Ibruprofen (for a recent cracked rib) I was told that I should be taking a "stomach protectant" as well as Ibruprofen could cause stomach ulcers

All of the nsaid's have that side effect. There must be a reason why ibu is the only one sold otc.

I wouldn't advocate taking it day in, day out, for any length of time. Paracetamol would be better if that were necessary. But, of course, paracetamol cannot reduce inflammation.

Ibuprofen and aspirin work in a different way from the paracetamol and codiene in co-codamol. You can actually take co-codamol and one of the others. I have done for years with my GP's blessing. Don't take anything else containing paracetamol though.

Ibuprofen doesn't work for everyone.

I attribute a lot of my problems to long-term use of an anti-inflammatory, Diclofenac, which seems to have affected my stomach in several ways. So if you have a NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) prescribed, ask your GP if you should also have a proton pump inhibitor with it (like Omeprazole) to counteract increased stomach acid production.

I don't think co-codamol is an NSAID.

Sorry, anno, crossed posts.

No, as you say, bags. It is an opiate and I can't tolerate it. Ibuprofen, however, is a NSAID.

I was prescribed Omeprazole to combat the stomach cramps I had when withdrawing from opiates, I only took them for a few days,but I didn't like the side effects listed with them.

Our GP has taken as many patients as possible off diclofenac (we both had them on repeat prescription), so we no longer take them. I must say I am feeling it somewhat, especially with walking when my knees are painful.
Occasionally I will take Nurofen for joint paint, but have noticed that, if I do, I then get a small blood vessel which may start to be painful in my fingers or palm of my hand, sometimes resulting in a little bruise. So I am very reluctant to take them any more.

pompa I did not like the side effects listed either.

I take Ibuprofen for the pain in my left hip. I have to take them with food otherwise I burp something rotten. Needless to say I only take them when absolutely necessary.