After months of physiotherapy and doctors visits I have been tentatively diagnosed with a trapped [pinched] nerve somewhere in my lower spine[ MRI scan 16 weeks wait to confirm] I am now taking Gabpentine300. but I don't know that it is doing any good,
The big problem is Sleep, or the lack of it. I go to bed, fairly comfortably, go to sleep but wake about 1 1/2 hours later in agonizing pain when I move. It takes a walk round the flat and 20min. standing to get the pains in my upper thighs and spine to go away. Then back to bed for a couple of hours then it is all repeated, until I finally give up and get up.
Unfortunately this means I fall asleep several times during the day. This is destroying my life. I do not go out and have stopped most social activities, put on weight and am so depressed.
Any suggestions out there?
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lubarr
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Hi there I have very similar problems I didn’t find any benefits from gaberpentin I take amitriptyline which I find helps with sleep.With bad flare ups only manage to sleep on my back with pillows wedged under my knees this but I still get very little sleep and I still have 19 years to work before get a pension I’m just exiting permanently exhausted but without amitriptyline I wouldn’t get any sleep
Have you tried the full dose of gabapentin? 12 x 300mcg. With such pain hopefully you are. I find a tens machine, heat pad, full dose of gabapentin and co-codamol and low dose amitriptilyne work for me. Hopefully they can give you injections too.
If Gabpentin isn't working it is worth going back to whoever prescribed it.
Something that doctors rarely explain to patients is that not all drugs work on all people in the same way. We all have genetic differences that mean some drugs might work really well for some people but not at all for others. This is measured in something called the Number needed to treat. The NNT for gabapentin 7 which means for every one person that it works for, 7 will find it doesn't work for them.
There are other drugs you could try such as amitriptyline which Rafrac found useful. So go back and have another discussion with your doctors and see if you can try something else.
Dear Lubarr Gosh I thought I was reading a replica of my experience. I have had chronic pain in my hands and fingers sometimes both hands -sometimes just one. I have had three MRIs showing pinched or root compression in C 4 5 6 of the spine ( buy not enough to cause the pain. I have seen a spine surgeon and a neurologist and am pregablin 50mg day and 75 mg at nightIt doesn’t really help. Why oh why does nobody ( except me and possibly you) why dies it only happen at night??? Surely it must be positional. I am becoming increasingly depressed and now the neurologist says take 300mg of pregablin and consult a pain specialist😞😡
I am so glad [not the right term] to hear from someone in a similar place as me.
The Spinal physio recommends Steroid injections but the MRI to confirm the diagnosis befog this can happen has a 16 week waiting list so my GP had added Oral morphine to take at night along with the Gabapentin that I am already taking, So will see if it helps.
I am sorry to hear about your back pain and struggles with sleeping. It sounds like you are having a difficult time. I have found some resources that may help you.
You mentioned that your difficulties sleeping are having a large impact on you. Many people living with chronic pain report sleep struggles, as pain makes staying comfortable in bed harder and can prevent you from remaining asleep throughout the night. We have a resource on sleep here, which gives some guidance on how to get better sleep when living with chronic pain: painconcern.org.uk/product/....
If you would rather listen to information on sleep, here is a podcast that we offer called Airing Pain 104: How Sleep And Chronic Pain Interact: painconcern.org.uk/airing-p....
You mentioned feeling depressed as a result of your pain. Living in pain can be a huge amount to cope with and it must be really tough for you. If you feel like your thoughts are becoming persistent and overwhelming, please do reach out to organisations such as the Samaritans (samaritans.org) to support you when you are feeling low and get the best help possible.
I hope you find this information useful. If there is anything else we can help you with please get back in touch or contact our telephone helpline, which can be found on our website painconcern.org.uk/.
If you would like to fill out a quick pain concern satisfaction survey, please follow this link to complete: forms.office.com/Pages/Resp...
Sorry to hear your story, it is the same as my own, more pain at night even with pregabalin. Like you say getting up and moving is better than lying in bed but I do catch myself nodding off during the day. I have been using CBD tincture 20 drops under the tongue to get off to sleep and then take zopiclone after the effect of the CBD stops to at least get a few short hours of sleep until the pain kicks in again. I am seeing a surgeon tomorrow so will see what that brings. Michael - Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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