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Severe backache what is safe to take?

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happydog

happydog

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I have had severe back pain since last Thursday. I have tried ibuprofen (yes I know it is not recommended for diabetics) and paracetamol, (not together) but nothing has helped. It is the same burning pain on the left hand side that I had when I was diagnosed just over four years ago. Doctor said that was renal colic. I am not aware of having done anything to cause it so I am now wondering if it is related to diabetes? What other pain killers can I try? BGs have been a bit higher but then I have been stressed and not able to exercise as much. With my husband being ill I cannot afford to have anything now so I need to get rid of the pain. Any advice?
 
Have you been to your doctor? I would suggest you do go if you haven't already and, in the meantime, try a hot water bottle. As you say, you can't afford to be ill right now and maybe the GP can help.
 
I suffer with back pain, and have noticed that when it is bad it can impact on my Blood Sugar! I can't Ibuprofen as it makes my rhinitis worse! Have you tried heat or ice packs!
 
Who says ibuprofen isn't suitable for 'diabetics'? I've never had any problems with it, it's indispensable for a hangover!

AFAIK there are no pain killers off limits just because you have diabetes. If paracetamol and ibuprofen aren't helping, I'd suggest co-codamol (although only temporarily, take it for more than three days and you can get addicted), but if the pain is that bad, I'd be more inclined to go get it checked out instead of just blunting it away with drugs.
 
Ibuprofen is in fact not recommended for diabetics of any type because diabetes can cause kidney problems and ibuprofen can cause renal failure in damaged kidneys.
 
Diabeticliberty said:
Ibuprofen is in fact not recommended for diabetics of any type because diabetes can cause kidney problems and ibuprofen can cause renal failure in damaged kidneys.
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Makes sense not to take it if you have damaged kidneys, but otherwise there shouldn't be a problem should there? I must admit I had never heard of the restriction and it doesn't seem to say on the packaging.
 
I've been told that myself, but I'm allergic to Paracetamol and so, in the days before Tramadol it was my only recourse. I've never had any trouble with it and my kidleys are fine I'm told.
 
Radders said:
Makes sense not to take it if you have damaged kidneys, but otherwise there shouldn't be a problem should there? I must admit I had never heard of the restriction and it doesn't seem to say on the packaging.
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I rushed to the cupboard to check the packaging, as its my pain killer of choice. It's not under the 'do not take' list, but it is under the 'speak to your pharmacist before taking'
I'm sure last time I bought some, I'd just been handed my package of insulin, needles and test strips, and nothing was queried.
 
I would speak to the pharmacist. They should be able to advise on types of pain killer and will also know of any interactions between the pain killers and any drugs that you are already taking.
 
happydog said:
I have had severe back pain since last Thursday. I have tried ibuprofen (yes I know it is not recommended for diabetics) and paracetamol, (not together) but nothing has helped. It is the same burning pain on the left hand side that I had when I was diagnosed just over four years ago. Doctor said that was renal colic. I am not aware of having done anything to cause it so I am now wondering if it is related to diabetes? What other pain killers can I try? BGs have been a bit higher but then I have been stressed and not able to exercise as much. With my husband being ill I cannot afford to have anything now so I need to get rid of the pain. Any advice?
Click to expand...
happydog said:
I have had severe back pain since last Thursday. I have tried ibuprofen (yes I know it is not recommended for diabetics) and paracetamol, (not together) but nothing has helped. It is the same burning pain on the left hand side that I had when I was diagnosed just over four years ago. Doctor said that was renal colic. I am not aware of having done anything to cause it so I am now wondering if it is related to diabetes? What other pain killers can I try? BGs have been a bit higher but then I have been stressed and not able to exercise as much. With my husband being ill I cannot afford to have anything now so I need to get rid of the pain. Any advice?
Click to expand...
Hi happydog
I attended my out of hours doctor 2 nights ago as I took moderate pain in lower back and also severe pain in my right calf which I was more concerned about as I feared it been a blood clot .thankfully that was ruled out and doctor gave me piroxicam gel rub which was quite effective , (did more for me than the valtarol gel i was using) as she thought it was muscle strain , I am going to my own gp on Friday to get matter invested further as I need second opinion as the pain in leg is like like I am receiving electric shock
I hope you get situation under control quickly
Best regards
 
Just go the doctor. You have a pain for a reason. It's your body telling you something's up. Whatever is wrong could get worse, could get better, so rather than die wondering, get it diagnosed and get some proper pain relief.
 
Thank you for your responses. I have a doctor's appointment on 6th December but I hope it will have gone before then. The receptionist asked if I would classify my problem as an emergency. I had to say no so she gave me the first appointment that was available. The pharmacist said that ibuprofen is not a good idea for diabetics and said that Volterol ?spelling is rubbish. He suggested Nurofen which I tried. I'll try the hot water bottle too. Thanks again for all your suggestions.
 
So the pharmacist said ibuprofen is not a good idea for diabetics. He then sells you Nurofen, which IS ibuprofen, except it's ten times more expensive than the generic product, and no more effective. Ever felt conned? Because you have been. But feel free to take it, because if your kidneys are fine, you've got no worries with ibuprofen. Or Nurofen, if you want to call it that.

The hot water bottle should help as well, if it is renal colic, but I still think it would be better to see the doc sooner.
 
Hi Happydog. I believe Nurofen is a brand name for Ibuprofen. So I don't understand why the pharmacist said not to take one but you could take the other one. I've never heard that it's not suitable for diabetics either.
Im speaking from personal experience,When you are looking after someone you need to put your health first, if you don't then putting it mildly it will make it much harder for both of you. Mike is right you need to see your doctor and I suggest for both your sakes you see one pronto.
 
I must learn to type faster Thanks @mikeyB
 
I remember shortly after diagnosis that I was told not to take ibuprofen tablets because of a possible interaction with one of the other medications I was on (possibly the statin). I remember actually asking my GP about it at the time and she hadn't heard of any problems, but prescribed me some ibuprofen gel for direct application to the area of pain. It was a lot cheaper than voltarol when I later went to buy some rather than ask for more on prescription (for running-related aches and pains 🙂)

I hope it's just a temporary thing and you feel better soon @happydog 🙂 Don't wait until December 6th though if it isn't feeling better in a day or two. At my surgery you can ask to see the nurse for 'minor' problems like this, so there is usually much less of a wait - does your surgery do this?
 
i have volterol on prescription and in my opinion it's marvellous stuff for soft tissue issues, and means you don't have to pop pills because it's applied to the site of the issue. I have another condition that causes frequent soft tissue damage and pain so I'm fairly cavalier about these things, but only because I have to be or I'd be at the surgery on a weekly basis. I have observed enough normal folk to know though that they don't frequently have pain and soft tissue injury so if I were you Happydog I'd get an appointment sooner rather than later, a doctor is best placed to assess if it's a cause for concern and advise on medication. I had renal colic after diagnosis and that was super painful, so if it's at that level of pain even I would be off down the doctor, and trust me I'd rather perform surgery on myself. Your choice obviously, and I still stand behind volterol as a good anti inflammatory if that's the direction you choose to go. Hope it feels better soon 🙂
 
DeusXM said:
I'm not sure what frightens me more, the idea that a pharmacist would deliberately con you, or that they don't understand what Nurofen is.
Click to expand...

I have had a pharmacist recommending paracetamol when I asked for cocodomol. Waste of money in my case and obvious really, baring in mind that cocodomol is paracetamol and codeine. As you say Deus, Nurofen is ibuprofen. Volterol is diclofenac and good as a pain killer and ant inflammatory.
 
graj0 said:
I have had a pharmacist recommending paracetamol when I asked for cocodomol. Waste of money in my case and obvious really, baring in mind that cocodomol is paracetamol and codeine. As you say Deus, Nurofen is ibuprofen. Volterol is diclofenac and good as a pain killer and ant inflammatory.
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I asked my GP about Ibuprofen and she said it was fine. I don't take ordinary paracetamol now because it doesn't seem to work on me, although I took Co-codamol when I had foot surgery. You pays yer money and you takes yer choice...🙄
 
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