I've tried what seems like countless medications to try to alleviate my neuropathic pain - amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin, carbamazepine, baclofen, topical creams and ointments, cannabis, capsaicin cream - and none have worked. Literally the only medication that has been effective at all is Percocet, but I don't want to have to take that very frequently or long term.
For about the past month I've been trying Lyrica, 100 mg three times a day. I know it works for others - my own step-grandfather takes it for his diabetic neuropathy and he claims it works wonders. So far it hasn't done anything for me. There is absolutely no difference in pain prior to taking, and an hour after, I take a pill. Fortunately, I haven't experienced any of the negative side effects (anorgasmia, extreme weight gain, increased drowsiness), but so far this drug seems to effect me no differently than a sugar pill.
So, for those of you taking Lyrica, how much do you take, how frequently, and how long did it take you to start experiencing pain relief? How quickly after taking a pill do you notice the pain relief? The neuropathy in my feet is killing me. This morning, I had to check the sole of my left foot to make sure I hadn't stepped on a nail, because it literally felt like I had. I can't tell you how frustrating it is that all of these drugs that have worked for others are useless for me. Why aren't there better medications for us? My primary care physician is happy to prescribe Percocet for me to take on the really bad days, but why should an opioid really be my only option? This is ridiculous.
I apologize for venting my frustrations here, but there's really nowhere else to do it. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, and I'm sure you all can relate.
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Aaron98
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i am prescribed 300mg Lyrica per day and 2400mg Gabapentin.
And I take the lot.
There are scientific reports (I'll link later) about how the combination of the two is better than either alone.
You have to dose up. You talk about taking a pill. What dose?
I have had Lyrica in capsule and tablet form. Capsules hit hardest.
When i was in hospital, they showed me how dosing every hour, on the hour really gets you there. All to do with bioavailability.
In my experience, if it isn't getting you stoned, it isn't helping the neuropathy. Double edged sword, but I can live with being stoned.
I usually start around 6pm. Take Lyrica+Gabapentin either on the hour or half hour.
Go to bed 1, 2am. I am usually pretty far gone, but not out of my mind.
Thing is, by then, my legs feel like lumps of concrete. Sleep like a baby, wake up still mildly stoned, but not spasming or in pain at all.
Modafinil+4AP and I am ready to hit the day.
Last weekend, I stopped the Gabapentin+Lyrica just to see the result. Spasming, legs felt awful, took Clonazepam to sleep, woke up spasming, etc, and so on.
Back on it now, no plans to stop.
If it isn't working for me, I just take more. Go back to my doc, ask for more, he gives me more. Doctor feelgood.
Pharmacist never comments either. All milking my insurance.
Hi monkeybus - 100 mg, three times a day, in capsule form. It doesn't get me stoned at all, and neither did gabapentin, even when I was taking 2700 mg a day last summer. I don't desire the "stoned" effects, but what you mentioned about its efficacy for alleviating neuropathic pain being tied to the mental effects is probably very true. And for me, it just doesn't do it. Neither Lyrica nor gabapentin did anything to reduce my leg spasms, either, for what it's worth. Like I said, absolutely no different than a sugar pill.
Having oxycodone/Percocet be the only drug that has alleviated my pain at all is a difficult truth, especially with all the associated stigmas. I can't read the news online without seeing three articles about the opioid crisis in America. My docs tell me that I am at extremely Iow risk for addiction, but I still worry about building a tolerance or dependence. It feels I'm running out of other options.
I've thought of trying some Oxy. The addiction aspect isn't such a concern, losing my supply would be.
See all those Americans who lost their opiates and turned to that plentiful, strong, Mexican black tar Heroin.
Most peoples issue with opiates is generating X hundred dollars per day. I knew plenty of junkies in London. Not the life for me. No, thank you. But then,
My gran was on Heroin before she died. You can actually get that prescribed. Terminal cancer, though. The hospital raced round to collect it when she died.
My shoulder hurts at the moment, I'm sure it's related to my spasticity. Muscles all tightening up. Really hurts, weeks now. Not to take anything away from your foot pain. You win.
Just about to fire up my TENS machine, see if I can get any relief.
Neuropathic pain. Does it go away? Do the nerves die off and stop aggrieving you? Does anyone know?
But if it came down to it, if that's what eased my suffering, I'd be demanding whatever it took from my doctor. Even Fentanyl.
Some people take Gabapentin, lyrica and Baclofen together. Be hammering your GABA receptors there.
That's my monologue finished. We'll see who else chimes in on this thread. Take care Aaron98 Before you get into the dope I'd recommend upping your Lyrica dose. Like 600mg. Plenty of dosage guidelines on the web. Lyrica.com for starters. I've just checked pubmed as well
Edit: one hour into the TENS on my shoulder and the pain is down 90% (as long as the juice keeps flowing). Worth every penny, this machine.
The only "Drugs" I am taking currently are my Hydrocortisone 20MG per day which is for my addisons. Baclofen 20MG as needed. I normally take one pill during the day and one pill at night before bed. I also use cannabis whether it is edibles or smoking. It is the only thing that takes my mind off of pain and stiffness.
Normally if I take 20 - 30 MG of edibles per night I can sleep without waking up once or twice during the night..
My doctors have not prescribed any other drugs to help. I am only seeing my general physician now, as no other doctor really has any other answers.
I am moving forward with trying out Stem Cell treatment. I am going to go to this place in Miami Florida. They have been working with Stem Cell treatment for 18 years. They do not have any promising results or no results at all. They have never treated anyone with "AMN" but they believe it will help and work as that is what Stem Cells do is repair the body.
My general Physician is going to call this place in Miami to try and "make sure" I am not getting scammed for around 20,000 US dollars for a year's worth of treatment.
I figure this is the only option for "trying" to figure something out. I do not want to wait for 2 - 3 years for "something" to arise for treatment. I am still able to walk and I do not want to lose that ability. If I just sit here and wait for 2-3 years I am afraid I will not be able to walk.
Hydrocodone did nothing for my pain, either, mvruggink. I was on a pretty low dosage (5 mg). How about you? Oxycodone 5 mg reduces my pain a bit, but not substantially (maybe 30%). I'm seeing a new pain management specialist on Wednesday, but I have no idea what to ask for next. I've tried all of the standard medications for neuropathic pain, and low dose opioids, as mentioned. Apart from ramping up the dosage of opioids, which I'm not eager to do, I don't know what else to try.
I've been reading a bit of Norman Doidge's books on neuroplasticity and the brain "healing" itself. It's basically about tricking your brain into not acknowledging pain (I'm oversimplifying this, to be sure), but I'm not so sure that this is truly effective for our type of chronic, intractable pain.
Please let us know what you find out about stem cell treatment. Maybe begin a new post about this? Cheers!
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