Help me help my Mum

[milkchoc]

Hiya everybody, i really don't know if im on the right forum but i need help, well more my mum does.

Im my mum's main carer, shes 49 year's old, she used to be a nurse. She had a spinal fusion done in 1993 which went wrong (screw through nerve in her leg, fusion done in wrong place). Her first doctor got her addicted to diazapam, she came off these and was on Dihydrocodene and Co-Proxamol, she is now currently on Dihydrocodene and Paracetamol and a sleeping pill. The problem is she is taking 18 Dihydrocodene a day and 18 Paracetamol aswell as other drug's for anti depression , acid reflux , anti histemenes etc. She is not only suffering with her back but also has carpal tunnel syndrome, restless leg's, cartilladge breakage in her knee and at the minute chronic toothache.Our doctor isn't happy with the amount she is taking and we tried to reduce the pill's, these gave her chronic headache's and then she was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis in her neck, which we assumed were the root cause of the headache's as when this is under control so are the headache's. We even have a ten's machine for her but this only help's temporarily, the amount of Acid she is getting is disintegrating her teeth (this was told to us today by her dentist). We are getting knowhere with the doctor's as they can't give her any effective pill's to help her manage the pain. Does anyone on here have any suggestion's.

I too suffer from Manic depression and everytime she get's a headache or strange problem i constantly think the worst i.e Brain tumour cancer etc.

It's killing me inside seeing my mum in pain but i know the pill's are hurting her too in there own way, If anyone has any advice on what we could try and do then please let me know!

P.s We are in the UK i don't know if this make's a difference, thankyou for reading this message. Jamie

[minisini]

Hi Jamie,

First sorry to hear about all those problems often if these things arent addressed quickly but a competent physician things can get out of control.

Firstly, get your mum off the 18 paracetamol irrespective of the other drugs this is what will cause her the most damage.

Secondly, counselling I know this sounds like blah blah but honestly if you and your mum go for this it will do better than any drug can, CBT is often a good route.

Thirdly map out her condition it may sound like all these things are unrelated but there maybe a root cause, what is she eating? Is there something in her environment?

Do these and things will be better.

[milkchoc]

Thankyou for your quick reply, we have discussed going to the doctor's and maybe reviewing her drug's. Does anyone know of anything which she could have in place of the tablet's she is on, weve tried buprenorphine patch's, these worked but didnt stay on and caused skin irritation, buprenorphine gum tablets which worked the first time but nothing since. She had pregabalin too but these caused major water retention. Thank's for your help people, Jamie.

[dizzyb23]

So Sorry to hear all this Jamie. Caring for someone is difficult especially if you are on your own and having to cope with everything. Is there anyone else in your family that can step in and give you a break sometimes?? There is no shame in asking for help.....and if anyone offers their assistance, you grab it with both hands. Is there a group in your area that you can get in contact with? Where I live there is a Carer's Association. Ask at your GP's surgery. Getting help will ease things a bit for you.
As for the pain issues, some hospitals have specialist nurses that deal with pain management. This is usually something that your Mum's GP should be able to help with. If you or your Mum aren't happy with the care from a GP, you can ask to see another one. Having a second opinion does help in some circumstances. I am not a Pharmacist so am not qualified to help with the medicine issues but is it possible for your Mum to speak to a decent Pharmacist? Preferrably the one who does dispense her meds regularly.
I hope you both get some help very soon.

[Nik]

Quite a difficult situation - however I think a medication review at the very least would be extremely useful. Anti-depressants can make restless legs worse for example so some counselling/CBT here is an excellent idea. Carers for people with chronic conditions are often overlooked - have a look at what opportunities there are in your area to help you out as well.

[DavidS]

Firstly, get your mum off the 18 paracetamol irrespective of the other drugs this is what will cause her the most damage.

agreed, but taper them off, otherwise I think I'm right in saying that she'll get a really bad headache.

Secondly, counselling I know this sounds like blah blah but honestly if you and your mum go for this

Absolutely. You AND your mum. Don't be too fixed on CBT. Any type of counselling is as effective as any other. If you can't get it easily through your GP there may be other ways, check the yellow pages.

Quite a difficult situation - however I think a medication review at the very least would be extremely useful. Anti-depressants can make restless legs worse for example so some counselling/CBT here is an excellent idea. Carers for people with chronic conditions are often overlooked - have a look at what opportunities there are in your area to help you out as well.

Medication reviews can be done by pharmacists: check at your usual pharmacy first. We get paid for this by the NHS, so those of us who have signed up to provide this service will be pleased to make some time. It takes about 15 minutes, but it ISN'T a counselling session.

[Pharmanaut]

Just a couple of thoughts from my corner...
Has mum been tried on gabapentin?
I would strongly advise tapering the paracetamol dose back down to normal range - as first part of action plan.

[johnep]

Believe she had tried pregabalin.
johnep

[Pharmanaut]

Believe she had tried pregabalin.
johnep

Yes, saw that but the OP reads that it as a refractory case.

[johnep]

So, does that mean that Gabapentin is more potent than pregabalin?. Sure that is not the message that Pfizer gives re Neurontin vs Lyrica.
johnep