Howdy all

I've had back and hip pain for as long as I can remember, a fall from a hammock about 20 years ago, working on a lurching train for 13 years then 7 years sat on my arse in an office job didn't really help matters. Since my mental health deteriorated I've been experiencing more pain in lots of different parts of my body. My hands, feet and back in particular are very stiff and sore in the morning. I've been munching cocodamol for years and not really had much in the way of investigations (apart from an MRI scan in 1998 that confirmed a damaged disc) until my new GP sent me for loads of blood tests and an X-ray on my hand. All came back normal, which is a relief but doesn't explain the pain I have. The GP has just prescribed my BuTrans patches which I'll start tomorrow- they're a 7 day slow release pain relief but just wondered if anyone here had tried them?

Also, do you think physical pain is exacerbated when your mental health is poor? My tests have shown no abnormalities or degenerative tissue/ligament/bone issues so I'm not sure where it's coming from. I used to have a very high pain threshold, have endured a couple of 3-4 hour tattoos without too much bother. I hope this new stuff works as it does increase my depression feeling so stiff and sore all day.