Pain makes you miserable. And you should know. For the past 15 years, I have suffered from sciatica: persistent or sometimes stabbing pain in the buttock that extends up the entire leg and makes walking or standing for a period of time unbearable; lower back pain, hangover from the fractured vertebra I suffered a year ago; as well as arthritic fingers that make writing a pain in the ass (very bad for a writer, of course).
Not forgetting the swollen ankles and feet, caused in part by arthritis and the medications I take for my heart.
I had resigned myself to taking two paracetamol twice a day with codeine on hand for when the pain was more intense. I had also gotten into the habit of turning down invitations to parties because I was embarrassed to be the woman who sits in the corner like a wallflower.
My friends have accused me of being arrogant and of just sitting back and waiting for people to come see me. It’s not like that.
But now I’m starting to hope that in the not-too-distant future I’ll feel safe enough not only to attend events but also to move around and stand around like everyone else.
After all, over the last six weeks, I’ve been able to give up codeine completely, taking paracetamol only as a comfort blanket and not out of necessity.
As miraculous as it may seem, the pain from sciatica has completely disappeared. And the surprising cure? Mounjaro, the new weight loss drug that I have been taking for two months.
As miraculous as it may seem, the sciatic pain has completely disappeared. And the surprising cure? Mounjaro, the new weight loss drug I have been taking for two months, writes JENNI MURRAY
I haven’t had any of the problems I encountered when taking Ozempic a year ago. I hoped to lose the three stone I had gained, knowing that losing weight would take the pressure off my joints.
But Ozempic gave me constipation, terrible headaches, and made me sick almost every day. I couldn’t continue.
I was reluctant to try another medication that had to be injected once a week, was not available on the NHS except for those with type 2 diabetes and would cost me a few hundred pounds a month.
It was my physiotherapist, who knows everything about the pain I suffer, who suggested Mounjaro to me. I had been reading research on the drug using a different GLP agonist than Ozempic and Wegovy. It’s tirzepatide instead of semaglutide.
He told me that it would reduce appetite like the others, but that Mounjaro also has an effect on inflammation in the body and therefore relieves pain. Several of their clients were using it and reported that their pain had definitely been reduced.
Intrigued, I asked the GP if it might be available on the NHS as a pain reliever. She said, ‘No.’
It was surprisingly easy to purchase without a prescription at a pharmacy. They say they have a team of doctors who evaluate who is suitable and who will benefit from taking it. I filled out a form with details of height, age and weight and sent pictures of myself and my scale. I listed the medications I take for my heart and pain and it seemed like none of them would react badly to Mounjaro.
I hope it’s their concern for my wellbeing and not the £230 a month that got me approved so quickly by the High Street pharmacy, but the first packet of pens, needles and a sharps container arrived with admirable speed.
The first month, with the lowest dose of 2.5 ml, it certainly reduced my appetite. I stopped thinking about food all the time, eliminated sugar completely and after four weeks I had lost half a kilo.
But by far the most significant effect was on my pain levels.
Within two weeks, the sciatica pain was gone. I couldn’t believe it and waited for him to come back. It wasn’t like that.
The pain in my lower back began to decrease, the pain in my fingers began to disappear, and my hands appeared less swollen. My ankles and feet returned to normal and no longer hurt.
Now I only take a couple of paracetamol for occasional back pain. It is truly extraordinary.
During the second month, I increased my dose to 5 ml on the recommendation of my doctor. My appetite dropped a little more and some of the cravings I had had for the chocolate brownies and beautiful bread that used to be regular fare began to disappear completely.
Only once have I given in to temptation. Five weeks after taking the medication, a friend recommended what he called “the best pizza place ever.” I ordered a garlic margarita.
It arrived and smelled wonderful. I opened the box with great anticipation, telling myself that an occasional gift wouldn’t do me any harm. I managed to consume a quarter of it. It was delicious, but my body refused to let me eat more. What a waste.
My consumption of expensive cakes, delicious breads and Deliveroo takeaways has become a thing of the past. I started cooking again. Chicken soup with carrots and celery is my favorite and the only expensive food I buy is a steak that I fry once a week in butter and garlic with broccoli on the side.
I’ve eaten out twice in the two months I’ve been taking it and I’ve chosen small, healthy meals, no chips or puddings. I think my friends fear I’m getting boring, but I have no doubt that the reduction in my food bill easily offsets the £230 I spend each month on medication.
Oh, and now I’ve lost half a stone more, making me a stone lighter. However, it is not the weight loss that will convince me to continue taking Mounjaro. It is pain relief.
I hope to strengthen and straighten my hunched back and regain the upright structure I was once so proud of. As the pain in my knees and hips begins to ease, I’m even tempted to put my dogs on leashes and walk them instead of relying on others to do it for me. Not yet, but hopefully soon.
I already feel a little like before. I can easily get up from my chair and walk around the house and garden. I can climb my own stairs without fear of the pain it would cause me.
I didn’t expect Mounjaro to lift my spirits so quickly, but it did. Next month’s dose will arrive this week and will further ease my pain and misery. Losing weight will be an advantage. Pain relief is the most welcome surprise.
Think about Margot’s mother-in-law
New parents Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley go for coffee with their mother in California
This is Margot Robbie dressed neatly but beautifully in a practical outfit to take her new baby out in her stroller. I wonder, however, how your mother-in-law, Mrs. Ackerley of Surrey, copes with the treatment expected in California. It must be a little painful having to be a pretty movie star for the paparazzi when you’re there to be the helpful, rolled-up-your-sleeves-busy granny.
A judge, who supported Greater Manchester’s Robert Ogden in his claim for unfair dismissal for insulting a colleague, suggested that people in the North swear more than those in the South. It isn’t true. But I’m sick of hearing the F-word in every TV show or movie I watch. The word loses its power if it is just a talk.
That’s my Sunday night sorted!
Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell and Damian Lewis as Henry VIII in the new Wolf Hall
Wolf Hall’s new series, based on Hilary Mantel’s novel The Mirror And The Light, starts this weekend, so that’s my Sunday night sorted. I spoke to Hilary about the time it took her to finish the last installment. Was it, I asked, because she had fallen in love with Thomas Cromwell and couldn’t bear to take him to his execution? He paused and then said, “Hmm, you might be right.”
There have been proposals for councils to ban fireworks in the home and only allow public displays. It’s time for it to happen. It’s been like the Blitz here in North London. Too many fireworks and too many terrified pets.
My Madge is back on her feet…
Jenni’s beloved chihuahua companion Madge is recovering from cataract treatment
Madge, my 10 year old chihuahua and I are still busy morning, noon and night delivering drops to his now cataract free eyes.
He moves effortlessly and on Sunday he removes the plastic collar. The veterinary ophthalmologist said he was making great progress. “She’ll just have good vision,” he added. “If I were to get glasses, I would need strong lenses: 59 and older.”
“Don’t worry,” I said, “I don’t think she’ll mind not being able to read.”