Retail therapies
Q
I think this is the least of his health issues. Far more important is his mental state and the depression that means he will not leave the house.
Has he had help for this? I realise his state of mind makes it impossible to get him to the doctors’ surgery, but your GP can come to him.
This must be a dreadful situation for both of you, so I suggest you go to the surgery and explain the situation to your doctor. Doctors now take mental illness every bit as seriously as physical problems and your husband, at 40, is still young. No one would want him to spend the rest of his life being afraid to go outside.
He may be distressed and angry when the doctor calls but this is not “telling tales” on him, rather it’s trying to make sure he gets the medical help he desperately needs.
MY WIFE has been diagnosed with cervical spondylosis with disc bulges at C7/8 and C8/9. When she stands for any length of time she is in a lot of pain, when she sits the pain eases. She has been prescribed codeine and paracetamol but is reluctant to take the codeine because it causes constipation.
Can she be prescribed something else for her pain and should codeine be taken over a long period? What is the safe maximum daily dose?
ACERVICAL spondylosis is the medical term for wear and tear in the top of the spine with increasing age.The joints between the bones in the neck become worn, which can cause pain and stiffness, and the discs that provide a cushion between the bones become drier, and shrink.
They may also develop tears around their edges, allowing the softer central part to bulge outwards, which can lead to pressure on the
nerves as they leave the spinal cord. This can lead to pain across the shoulder, and into the arms, along with tingling in the fingers.
Treatment depends on the severity of the changes, and if there is just minor arthritis in the joints, then paracetamol may be enough. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets, such as ibuprofen, may help too, though these should not be taken regularly in those over 75 because of potential side effects.
If the pain is more severe then adding in codeine can help, but it can cause constipation and drowsiness, even at a low doses of eight to 15mg mg, taken four times a day.
It is possible to take much higher doses, but side effects can be much worse and include nausea. It is also an opiate so it can be addictive, and you also tend to get used to it, so higher doses are required for the same pain-killing effect.
A better solution, especially if there is nerve pain from disc bulges, are “pain modulating agents” such as amitriptyline or pregabalin.These dull the pain messages from damaged nerves, but they have to be taken regularly, every day, to be effective. They are available on prescription.
Physiotherapy can be very helpful in cervical spondylosis, as stretching and exercising the neck muscles can strengthen them and relieve pressure on the nerves.Your GP should be able to refer you for this on the NHS. IF YOU suffer from allergies caused by pollen, dust or other airborne particles, check out the HoMedics TotalClean Desktop Air Purifier (£99.99; homedics.co.uk) which promises to remove up to 99.97 per cent of airborne contaminants such as mould spores and smoke particles.