PiP and painkillers

50Twuncle

venison wrote: »

I think confuses arises in that for DLA the medication you took was taken as proof of the problem to some extent, with PIP this is definitely not the case, my OH was turned down for mobility even though they take morphine daily.

lisyloo wrote: »

Is there a reason you can’t stay on the pain killers?
This is a genuine question as I’m not medically qualified.

My MiL has severe arthritis and she’s been on pain killers for 50 years although I note you said strong ones.

Even if you have to stop or reduce at some point shouldn’t the assessment show what you can do now?

Yes - I have no idea how long I will be allowed to continue on them by my GP. !
Codeine = Morphine

Prinzessilein

50Twuncle wrote: »

Doesn't this imply that my best way is to stop taking the pain killers for the actual assessment - so I can be seen at my worst ?

Why would you want to be seen at your worst? The assessor will want to see the way you are on an average day...for you that means having taken painkillers.

The assessor WILL want to see what meds you are on, I usually offer a copy of my current repeat prescription.

If your are on long-term opiates, the GP may well decide to reduce the dose as current medical thinking is that for many (not all) people there are more effective methods of dealing with chronic pain. ...You will not simply stop taking the painkillers, you will be weaned off the higher dose (it is important that this is done under medical supervision)...there will also be other options for your pain management which your GP or specialist will possibly consider.

50Twuncle

Prinzessilein wrote: »

Why would you want to be seen at your worst? The assessor will want to see the way you are on an average day...for you that means having taken painkillers.

The assessor WILL want to see what meds you are on, I usually offer a copy of my current repeat prescription.

If your are on long-term opiates, the GP may well decide to reduce the dose as current medical thinking is that for many (not all) people there are more effective methods of dealing with chronic pain. ...You will not simply stop taking the painkillers, you will be weaned off the higher dose (it is important that this is done under medical supervision)...there will also be other options for your pain management which your GP or specialist will possibly consider.

I have only been on Codeine for a few weeks !

Spoonie_Turtle

50Twuncle wrote: »

I am just concerned that if I am on strong painkillers - they will believe that I can walk as anyone else can (albeit with a limp) - but I can't remain on painkillers forever.
I take them 4 times a day

This is understandable, but in your application and in your assessment you need to make clear what your mobility is like throughout the day and on different days if it's variable. They assess you based on your functional ability for the majority of the time, as if you were using any reasonable aids or having any treatment you could reasonably be expected to have. You've been prescribed painkillers and are taking them, so they certainly count. However, if there are side effects that affect your daily functioning you must include those, and if there's a wearing off between doses and your functional ability drops in that time, include that too.

If you're concerned about them assessing your ability based on how you present at the assessment, that's kind of a separate issue. The assessment is supposed to be based on what you can reliably do overall - repeatedly, in a reasonable time, to an acceptable standard, and safely. If you can walk 100m once in the day but it causes so much pain you can't function for a few hours, then you shouldn't be assessed as being able to do it. If you can walk 100m with lots of little stops so that it takes you 20 mins, that's not in a reasonable time so you shouldn't be assessed as being able to do it. However, if with the painkillers you *can* actually get about okay for most of the time - repeatedly, safely, in a reasonable time - then you won't be entitled to mobility payments because you don't meet the criteria. Only you know the reality of your situation and I strongly suggest looking up the assessment info on how they decide descriptors.

Lanzarote1938

Codeine can be bought over the pharmacy counter, albeit not as strong as the prescription tablets but this would lead me to think that it isn't that strong but like most painkillers needs to be taken regularly.

antrobus

Lanzarote1938 wrote: »

Codeine can be bought over the pharmacy counter, albeit not as strong as the prescription tablets but this would lead me to think that it isn't that strong but like most painkillers needs to be taken regularly.

Codeine is a Class B drug and is prescription only. You have to ask your GP very nicely to get a scrip and avoid a criminal conviction for possession. You can buy low strength co-codamol containing 8mg of codeine from a pharmacy, but anything more and you need a prescription for that as well.

50Twuncle wrote: »

Yes - I have no idea how long I will be allowed to continue on them by my GP. !
Codeine = Morphine

Codeine and morphine are both opioids. (As indeed is Heroin.:) ) But they aren't the same thing. I should know, I've had both.

50Twuncle

antrobus wrote: »

Codeine is a Class B drug and is prescription only. You have to ask your GP very nicely to get a scrip and avoid a criminal conviction for possession. You can buy low strength co-codamol containing 8mg of codeine from a pharmacy, but anything more and you need a prescription for that as well.



Codeine and morphine are both opioids. (As indeed is Heroin.:) ) But they aren't the same thing. I should know, I've had both.

Approx 15% of Codeine metabolizes to Morphine in the liver - so whilst they do start as different drugs - they end up the same !
https://www.pharmgkb.org/pathway/PA146123006
I have been prescribed 2 * 30mg tabs - 4 times per day for pain
I have already cut this down to 1 * 30mg - 3 times per day

antrobus

50Twuncle wrote: »

Approx 15% of Codeine metabolizes to Morphine in the liver - so whilst they do start as different drugs - they end up the same !
https://www.pharmgkb.org/pathway/PA146123006
I have been prescribed 2 * 30mg tabs - 4 times per day for pain
I have already cut this down to 1 * 30mg - 3 times per day

Actually what that source says is that;

Between 0 and 15% of codeine is O-demethylated to morphine, the most active metabolite, which has 200-fold greater affinity for the MOP compared with codeine. This metabolic reaction is performed by CYP2D6

Which is not "approx 15%". Besides that, the debate over whether or not morphine causes liver damage is hardly the point, it's what it does to your head before it gets that is more to the point.

Codeine is a painkiller, that can be misused and cause deaths, which is why it's a Class B drug. But morphine is happy land, step into another world, which is why it's Class A.:)

poppy12345

I've taken 30mg Codeine a few years ago. I now take morphine and have done for 4 years, they are definitely not the same.

KxMx

I'm currently on Gabapentin only, in part because I have a bad history with oral pain relief and there isn't much left I haven't failed with, for varying reasons!