Acupuncture?

Ha, see here's another US versus UK healthcare- My sister has some back pain, she walked out with a script for vicoden, flexeral, and 600 mg ibuprofen.  I get told I can take 400 mg ibuprofen 3x a day OR 30 mg codiene/500 mg paracetemol 3x a day, but not both. I guess they really like to be stiff upper lipped here!

Yeah, it's really annoying. I even had a midwife trying to get me off the painkillers right after my c-sec, even though the doctor had just told me to take them!!

Have you tried Arnica?

Here's the regulating body for acupuncture practitioners: http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/

They have a search facility to find one in your area.

Yeah, it's really annoying. I even had a midwife trying to get me off the painkillers right after my c-sec, even though the doctor had just told me to take them!!

Have you tried Arnica?

Here's the regulating body for acupuncture practitioners: http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/

They have a search facility to find one in your area.

Thanks!!

I'll check out Arnica too. 

Ha, see here's another US versus UK healthcare- My sister has some back pain, she walked out with a script for vicoden, flexeral, and 600 mg ibuprofen.  I get told I can take 400 mg ibuprofen 3x a day OR 30 mg codiene/500 mg paracetemol 3x a day, but not both. I guess they really like to be stiff upper lipped here!

Weellllll....this may not be a US/UK thing, but rather a your doctor or your situation thing...  The reason I say that is that a year or more ago when I had a bad pain/crick in my neck (it was pretty painful but nothing near the likes of the pain you have described) - via a telephone appointment (I didn't even go into the doctor's office), the doctor asked me, and I quote 'Would you like us to maximise your treatment?'

Well I thought that sounded kind of peculiar, like maybe it's some special British doctor codespeak..??..for 'Would you like us to drug you right up?'  Anyway, I said, 'Yeah!'

I was prescribed 800 mg ibuprofen up to 3x daily, and a low-dose (but still prescription strength, not over the counter) paracetamol with codeine up to 4x daily, and valium up to 2x daily.  There weren't any refills (well other than the ibuprofen which I always have on hand anyway), but still - that sorted me right out, I tell you what!

Weellllll....this may not be a US/UK thing, but rather a your doctor or your situation thing...  The reason I say that is that a year or more ago when I had a bad pain/crick in my neck (it was pretty painful but nothing near the likes of the pain you have described) - via a telephone appointment (I didn't even go into the doctor's office), the doctor asked me, and I quote 'Would you like us to maximise your treatment?'

Well I thought that sounded kind of peculiar, like maybe it's some special British doctor codespeak..??..for 'Would you like us to drug you right up?'  Anyway, I said, 'Yeah!'

I was prescribed 800 mg ibuprofen up to 3x daily, and a low-dose (but still prescription strength, not over the counter) paracetamol with codeine up to 4x daily, and valium up to 2x daily.  There weren't any refills (well other than the ibuprofen which I always have on hand anyway), but still - that sorted me right out, I tell you what!

Oi, I may need to go crawling back then!  You must have been in great shape 

You are lucky Mrs Robinson!  I had to go back three times.  The first time I was told to take the 800 mg ibuprofen up to 3x daily which did nothing for me.  The second time I got another prescription for something stronger.  Not sure what because I didn't want to take strong pain killers. (Personal Reasons) and the third time I was finally referred to a physio.  But I have insurance which helped speed up the referral.  I don't know if I would have been so lucky if not. (But who knows)

Oi, I may need to go crawling back then!  You must have been in great shape 

I do think if what they're giving you isn't sorting out the pain, and you want something more (medicinal-wise) for it, you need to keep at 'em for something else/more.

I wouldn't have wanted to be on strong meds for a long period of time, and they didn't really give me enough (days' worth of supply) for it to be addictive...but I think it did get the pain in my neck sorted out much more quickly than it would have done otherwise.  I ended up with some of the paracetamol with codeine left over & it really came in handy this summer when I badly hurt my knee -- enabling me to manage that pain & finish walking the remaining 60 miles on a bad knee.  (yeah, stupid I know because I paid for it later, but I wanted to finish that walk!)