Alternative to gabapentin?

[Sunrise58]

I have what I think is nerve damage in thoracic spine. I've tried gabapentin and pregabalin and antidepressants, all things that "mess with your head". I have bad reactions to them all. Does anyone know of anything other than these that help nerve pain ?

[catno1]

Hi,I've used both. Quite honestly they gave zero help. And caused the most horrendous nightmares. I had three compression fractures in thoracic late 2019, one in my lumber spine and a diffuse disc rammed into a binary nerve which caused huge problems and left me with soft tissue damage all over my back.

Apart from trying not to do too much and make the pain worse I still believe my usual co-dyramol helps the most. Amitriptyline at the end of the day also. I use oxycodone when it gets too much during the day. I have osteoarthritis in my lumber spine as well as Lupus, APS, and osteoporosis obviously.

Tell your doctor and get some more help. I received zero support after the fractures and do believe we need better care coronavirus or not.

You take care.

[Pte82]

Sunrise, do a study of TTFD thiamine, sublingual methylcobalamin, vitamin B6, magnesium glycinate and boron for your nerve damage.. Pain causes the body to loose magnesium and magnesium glycinate is a well absorbed form to replentish. Magnesium plays a major neurological role in addition to creating enzymes needed to activate vitamins such as thiamine and vitamin D. TTFD thiamine passes the blood/brain barrier easier than many other forms. Always consult with your health care professional before using any supplement.

objectivenutrients.com/insi...

nootropicsexpert.com/vitami...

selfhacked.com/blog/boron/

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Pacificview in reply to Pte82]

I have had thoracic pain for twenty years that I started taking 10/325 hydrocodone 3 times a day two years ago. Dealing with tolerance, withdrawls and inadequate pain relief. It was time to start to look for alternatives.I went to a neurologist and a ortho back specialists a few weeks ago. They both recommended pain management and injections of some type. As a degenerative disk disease and a couple slightly bulging discs was not a candidate for a surgical fix.

After further research I discovered the Radio Frequency Ablation procedure as a viable fix.

They do couple spinal block test to see if a particular branch nerve is the culprit. Once it is confirmed then they do the RFA. I had the rfa on the left side two weeks ago. In a few days they do the right side. All my thoracic spine pain eminates from the right side that was not done yet. No pain from the left, so the procedure works. The nerve block tests are no big deal. The RFA is done with larger needles and some form of sedation is recommended.

Check it out...Radio Frequency Ablation

[Sunrise58 in reply to Pacificview]

Thank you, I am waiting for a spect scan , which has been put on hold because of the virus. The neurologist that I'm now under wants this to look in more detail as he,s seen a twist in my spine which may be causing my pain. The pain management team did radio frequency ablation on me a few years ago but it had no effect. Iv had all sorts of injections etc but all efforts just make it worse.

I will mention this though to the consultant when I get to see him as I wonder if it was maybe done in the wrong place last time.

Thanks again for your reply.

[Pacificview in reply to Sunrise58]

I am sorry that the RFA did not work for you.It sure appears that it works for many in spine pain.

I grew tired of the side effects of taking hydrocodone and its weakening effect on reducing spine pain.

The old tolerance issue. Having to take more opiode for the same origional benefit.

[Pte82 in reply to Pacificview]

Pacific, many medications including hydrocodone have a nutritional impact that may worsen the condition being treated and lead to other health issues. It's always good to keep a weather eye out for possible impacts. Is the injections you mention involve bone marrow aspirate concentrate? The second link is about a trial using it for degenerative disc disease.

iwpharmacy.com/blog/prevent...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/287...

[Sunrise58 in reply to Pte82]

Pte82, do you think that dihydrocodeine 30 mg might have a detrimental effect ? I'm taking 1 ,3 times a day to try and ease my pain but iv heard before that these could be making my nerves more sensitive.! Iv spoken with the pain clinic but they don't seem to help and just say they,ll call me in 6 mths !! Your thoughts on the dihydrocodeine would be much appreciated.

[Pte82 in reply to Sunrise58]

Sunrise, I'm not qualified to answer your question. Your pharmacist is a good resource to turn to for indepth answers for dihydrocodeine. It may be compounded with other pain relievers the pharmacist can better explain to answer your concerns..

[Pacificview in reply to Pte82]

The term injection was meant as generic for Needle interventions like steroidal type. In my case RFA nerve block test worked on the branch nerves thereby signaling an RFA procedure would work to interupt pain signals from branch nerves to the brain. This wednesday the 31st the right side of the thoracic spine will be done. Based on the benefit of the left side RFA, I may end up with no more thoracic spine pain. Or at least for a long period of time.

Hydrocodone is not very good at eliminating spine branch nerve pain. But apparently Radio Frequency Ablation is.

No bone marrow aspirate involved in an RFA.

[Sunrise58 in reply to Pacificview]

I hope after Wednesday you,ll be pain free. That would be wonderful for you as we all know only too well how hard dealing with chronic pain is. Take care

[Pte82 in reply to Pacificview]

Pacific, my wife too found hydrocodone ineffective for a different medical condition. All the best for that RFA procedure.

[Sunrise58 in reply to Pte82]

Thank you, I will look into this.

[cj75s]

Hi, Sunrise 58.

I have chronic nerve pain in lower spine and legs. I am on 30grms of gabapentin per day plus 50 to 100 grms of naproxin as and when I need it. I find this just about makes it liveable with except for walking on hard surfaces like pavements or concrete floors. I'm lucky to live in the country.

I too found cocodamol made me very woosy and had no pain relief.

As someone said we are all different so go back to your docs and tell them it's useless as it is.

[elizabeth1975]

Amitriptyline don't know if that's the right spelling but I was prescribed them helps a bit ask your doctor hope you get the relief you need stay save 😊

[Summermist]

Hi I can understand your pain as I've been through quite a lot of tablets and didn't help until now. Ive found a magic pill as I call it as its dulled my pain down and can now walk . Its from my Gp and it's called Nefopam. I take 3 tablets a day. I hope it works for you

[Sunrise58 in reply to Summermist]

Thank u so much, I will ask my doctor about it.