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| any experince of Gabapentin??; Medication for nerve pain | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 19 Aug 2010, 12:51 PM (344 Views) | |
| dblondon | 19 Aug 2010, 12:51 PM Post #1 |
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Since my ADR nearlly a year ago I am still suffering from severe nerve pain. Mr Lam has suggested I try Gabapentin however after just a couple of doeses I felt totally out of it and knackered! Can anyone tell me if they have taken it , how they felt on it and whether or not it helped? Many thanks Derek Bennett |
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Had two level ADR performed at Guys by Mr Khai Lam 29th October 2009 Male Regular user of Cross Trainer (mentioned as possible cause due to twisting) 7 Years Golfer, probably bad technique. Skier 3 years Chronic back pain .. 3 years snapping hip/clicking hip or ITB clicking tried Pilates/Chiro/Osteo/Tens/Heat/Physio...everything. Epidural - No help Two disograms , positive DDD L4 L5 | |
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| Tony L | 19 Aug 2010, 01:58 PM Post #2 |
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Hi Derek I used to take gabapentin but stopped after my body became immune to it even at a very high dose. Some people get on well with it others dont. The initial side affects do wear off after a couple of weeks, so you do need to persevere with it. If you persevere with it you should get very good nerve pain relief. The dose can be increased by your GP if needed but this is done slowly as with most meds. Hope that helps regards Tony |
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| lovecatz | 21 Aug 2010, 02:10 PM Post #3 |
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I tried Gabapentin prior to my lumbar ADR, I was taking 4800mg a day with not much effect on the pain. I did feel spaced out but I was also taking Amidtrityline and Tramadol with a morphine patch so not surprising really. The only other side effect was aching joints which the GP investigate for RA which was negative. This went when I weaned myself off it. Everyone is different. Karen x |
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DDD S1/L5 L5/L4 L4/L3 Lower Back Pain Since 2003 Fusion L4/S1 & ADR (Pro Disc L) L3/4 07/01/09 Mr Lam Posterior Fusion with instrumentation 14/01/09 Neck pain diagnosed with bulging C5/C6 Jan 2010 Cervical ADR booked for 11/08/10 Further neck/back pain Nov 2011 | |
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| ajj1001 | 22 Aug 2010, 03:27 PM Post #4 |
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I've been on it for 2 years, it takes a few weeks for your body to get used to it and by then you should know if it is going to be any use in controlling your nerve pain. If it doesn't work there are other medications. I think most people get prescribed a slowly increasing dose to help with the side effects when you start taking it. |
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Std Meds Gabapentin, MR Tramadol, Paracetemol, Laxatives 2011 Sept PLIF L4 - S1 2010 May Discogram L2/L3 & L3/L4 both looking ok. 2009 May PLG Fusion L5/S1 Charite in situ April Dismissed 2008 Caudal Epidural failed to work 2007 Deterioration L5/S1 Facet arthritis, Loss of disc height. 2004 Returned to Work 2002 Aug - physio March 2 level ADR Charite L4/5, L5/S1 2000 Broadbased disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1 | |
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| Gilly | 23 Aug 2010, 10:35 PM Post #5 |
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Hi Derek, I, too am still suffering nerve pain 6 months after surgery and was wondering how long this will go on for so was interested to read your post. So sorry you still have it - it is horrible!!! I don't know about Gabapentin, as I use Pregablin, which for me works really well. It took the nerve pain away straight away without any side effects which were major. Just a thought if you need to try something else. Mrs R another member said she fared better on Pregablin than Gabapentin, but of course everyone reacts differently and it is worth trying it for a while to see how it goes. Good Luck Gilly xxx |
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1990 MRI - disc protrusions levels 4/5 - fusion offered but declined due to poor prognosis. 2007 MRI - disc protrusions Level 4/5 level5/S1 2010 2 level lumbar ADR Mr Ian Shackleford Warrington General 2010 MRI - disc protrusions at levels C4/5 C5/6 2011 27 June 2 level Cervical ADR Mr S at Spire (on NHS) | |
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| yalapj | 17 Sep 2010, 01:09 PM Post #6 |
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Hi Derek, Sorry to hear you are having to struggle with nerve pain still. I am in the exact same position. I was taking 3200mg of Gabapentin daily - made me forget my words (I would call a car a brush or say I liked the taste of a certain smell etc ) I was like a zombie. At the same time I was taking up to 400mg of Tramadol and 150mg of Diclofenac (75mg twice daily) so as you can imagine I was no use to man or beast! Still the pain persisted. It was as if nothing was helping - and this was 9 months after 2 level ADR. The pain management consultant suggested I reduced my Gabapentin to 2100mg per day gradually over a two week period. Instead I was prescribed diazepam for muscle spasm and breakthrough pain but whilst it worked for spasm, it did nothing for breakthrough pain. I am now taking 7.5mg of Oramorph when needed up to 4 times daily for breakthrough pain. Finally, something that works! It has been 9 months since my surgery and I am still on 2100mg Gabapentin and 200mg Tramadol, also 2000mg Codydramol and 75 mg Diclofenac twice a day. At one time I stopped Gabapentin overnight and within a couple of days my memory returned and I could speak normally again rather than like a 2 year old. Problem is the pain got to breaking point after less than 48 hours so I resumed taking it. I reckon it works for some but not for others. I have been taking it since November last year with the only problems being loss of memory and speech/ spelling/ higher conceptual thought. I feel there is no way I can return to work until I have healed and not on any medication as I would make a total and utter fool of myself - apart from not being able to walk/ drive/ go out alone due to continuing pain... I hope this helps and wish you well. Take care, Yalah x |
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2005: Accident while deep sea fishing Four years of lower back and leg pain Two years with Chiropractor, then two years with physio, tried acupuncture and core exercises, all to no avail August & Oct 2009: 7 spinal injections November 2009: Discogram, positive December 2009: 2 level ADR L4/5 L5/S1 Meds: Gabapentin, Tramadol, Diclofenac, Oramorph, Paracetamol, Laxatives 2010/11:Several lumbar epidural injections to no avail Jan 2012: Revision Lumbar Fusion L4/5 L5/S1 | |
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| dblondon | 23 Sep 2010, 01:07 PM Post #7 |
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Hi Yaleh, Thank you for your pain meds story...it's very much the same for me , I haven't found a pain killer that males the pain go away , they dont make you feel better , just different. I've come off them all accept Tramadol and can use that to get through the day with the odd bit off eupohira followed by thoughts of jumping off a bridge! All in all , I have found meds to cause more problems than they purport to solve. I've just had a ganglian nerve root block, I got some good benefit two days later followed by a return to the original pain + hot and cold flushes , irritable behaviour , hallucinations and restless sleep! So , on Friday I will see the pain specialist , she is going to investigate burning the nerves around the discs , see if that can help. I can't face being off work , whilst I have a lot of pain I find that when I'm at home I pay it too much attention & play with it , stretching it , prodding it , hoping that one last twist or crack will fix it! I would recommend going back to work on pain killers and at least get some stability back in your daily life...as hard as that sounds , it is a good thing If you can... Derek |
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Had two level ADR performed at Guys by Mr Khai Lam 29th October 2009 Male Regular user of Cross Trainer (mentioned as possible cause due to twisting) 7 Years Golfer, probably bad technique. Skier 3 years Chronic back pain .. 3 years snapping hip/clicking hip or ITB clicking tried Pilates/Chiro/Osteo/Tens/Heat/Physio...everything. Epidural - No help Two disograms , positive DDD L4 L5 | |
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| dalhousie | 24 Sep 2010, 11:10 AM Post #8 |
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I'm about 17 months post 1 level ADR & I still have nerve pain requiring Pregabalin & Amitriptyline but fairly low dosages. I've heard through the grapevine that it can take up to 2 years to go but my one fear is that I may get stuck with this for longer or permanently, but I try to stay positive. I can't tolerate high doses of Pregabalin so for those having problems with Pregabalin/Gabapentin isn't it worth trying it at a low dose - in my experience it's worth it, as some pain relief is better than none. |
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2005 Anterior fusion L1/2 with BMP & floating rib removed. 2009 ADR (activ L) L4/5. 2010 Chronic pain from Facet Joints T10-L2 with lots of muscle pain 2013 Attended Walton PM Programme: not much help. 2014 Chronic Pain - Facet Joints L4-S1 2017 Nevro SCS for thoraco-lumbar & lower lumbar facet joint pain | |
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) I was like a zombie.