I have a severe chronic pain condition (glomus tumours) and prescription of Gabapentin caused me serious side effects. I have had a prescription of codeine for pain for 2 years now. I've also had surgery which didn't resolve the pain.
A background in nursing, many years ago, means I am very aware of the risks of dependency so I have been careful to take it responsibly. However, my use has increased and I am concerned about dependency.
This year I pressed charges against someone re historic sexual abuse and it is someone within my family. I have ptsd from this immense trauma, and am awaiting a CPS decision. I will admit I am struggling to cope with dealing with this. I suffer terrible insomnia and emotional pain.
My codeine use has increased and a main reason has been my need to sleep. I also take the codeine when I get updates from the police, or after 'fall-out' moments from my loved ones. They are in terrible pain from the charges.
So my use of codeine has gone up to about 400mg a week. I top up my prescription with solpadiene max (safely re the paracetamol) and now codeine linctus which I can buy on-line.
I sometimes have 3 days without to make sure I am not getting dependent, but for the last few weeks have been suffering extreme joint pain. This pain started when I had influenza (proper one, not a bad cold: fever, bedridden, pain) 3 weeks ago. I thought the pain was post-viral arthritis and my pain fits the symptoms. I have swollen joints in my hands and my hips, arms and legs hurt very badly.
I've grown concerned though that these pains might be withdrawal symptoms on the days I stop taking the codeine, though there isn't a strict pattern.
I don't want to talk to my GP about this, because I do need the codeine for my severe pain. I do my best to avoid taking the codeine, but when it gets to 4am and I still just can't sleep, I give in and have 100mg of the codeine, and I sleep, as well as be pain free.
What do you think? Could this be the codeine? I don't think I take huge amounts.