Hello All,
I'm not a regular user on here, but I've now been suffering with chronic pain for nearly 3 years, I'm 32 years. I have a bulging disc at L5/S1 and a Tarlov cyst, I've had a failed nerve root block Aug 2016, pain clinic dismissed me, had my last one hope at Southahampton Neurology for possible spinal nerve stimulation. They wanted me to complete chronic pain course( Which I'm currently on, 3 weeks in a lot of contradicting themselves, cannot get mindfulness, too much talk science side of things) and change medication. I take 60mg Zapain x4 a day, 300mg Pregablin x2 a day, and 75mg Amitriptyline a day and laxido sachets when I remember. So I am now on maximum pregablin and neurology suggested a patch or tapentadol slow release, they said and other gps have to wean myself slowly off zapain and slowly build up tapentadol at same time. Now my GP who I like to deal with same one said I can change straightaway stop zapain and move to tapentadol!?! He says they are similar meds so won't matter he also said they don't like to give out tapentadol.
Now has anyone chaged from zapain to tapentadol or similar especially stopping zapain instantly. When I came off of naproxen they said i could stop but i had to re take and wean myself off as I felt terrible.
Thanks
Diane