8 replies to this topic

[Lucky]

When I go to bed, I awake a few times in the night and if my legs are bent, I have to straighten them and vice versa.
They don't half burn and ache and become very stiff.
Doc says try the usual suspects for nerve pain but I'm on Morphine, Oxycontin, Diazepam plus others and don't want any more pills.

Any surgestions?

[khoac6]

hey Lucky, i see from ur posts that the docs have you on all these narcotics that probably dont do much for sci nerve pain symptoms rather than make u feel euphoric and highly constipated.. and my guess is that the euphoria is not as pleasurable as it was in the beginning but the constipation is not going away.. now i know that u've seen time and time again pple talking about Neurontin (Gabapentin) or Lyrica (Pregabalin).. i havent tried Lyrica but have been taking Neurontin for almost 9 years and it definitely helps to ease the burning pains, especially when lying on side for hours.. its not gonna take it ALL away but i know i'd be in a much deeper level of hell without it.

my dosage:
900 mg. Neurontin 4 X's daily every 6 hours (max dose)
20 mg. Baclofen 4 X's (for spasms)
1 gram of marijuana (as needed)

sorry this doesnt solve your "wanting to do away with pills" issue, but i think its worth a try for sanity sake..

Edited by khoac6, 23 August 2009 - 06:34 PM.

[Scribbler]

I also had severe nerve pain, plus the backs of my thighs feel like the skins been ripped off. I've been on Gabapentin for 2 years, had no side effects and its worked for me.

I have full feeling so its hard sleeping in one position all night, but I manage.

I take 1 300mg Gabapentin in the morning 1 300mg at lunch and 2 300mg in the evening.

If the pain returns, I increase my morning and lunch time dosage.

I still get aches and pains, but that's the ageing process.

[khoac6]

Scribbler, on Aug 23 2009, 11:04 AM, said:

I take 1 300mg Gabapentin in the morning 1 300mg at lunch and 2 300mg in the evening.

If the pain returns, I increase my morning and lunch time dosage.

wow scrib! that low of a dose huh? i've been taking the max allowed dosage since first injured nearly 9 years now. it has lost a lot of its effect but i still cant imagine life without it.

i too take a little extra when the burning gets too severe.. usually when the weather is cold.

Edited by khoac6, 23 August 2009 - 06:26 PM.

[wheeliebear75]

Sometimes when I get the restless legs using my TENS unit can help, but it's not for everyone (some people's nerve pain increases with the TENS unit.....I was lucky enough to get some help from it).

[partygirl]

i agree that the opiates will do nothing for your neuropathic pain. I get that burning too and I also take Gabapentin for it. My dosage is 300mg x3 times/day, it's quite low but I can always add an extra if needed at night. The burning is so nasty it feels like I have been painted with chilli oil.
Wean off the opiates and get on the gabapentin. you can also try low dose amitryptiline which is a type of anti depressant that is used at very low dose for neuropathic pain, i also take it, just 20 mg at night.
I used to be on oxycontin and found it harder to function in the blur of the dopiness. I didn't realise how much it affected me until I got off it.
good luck.

[carole338]

Last night I took my usual Ambien and Gabapentin 400mg but my legs were in severe pain and kept me up anyway. I should have taken an oxycotin at some point but when it got so late I knew it would put me in LaLa land in the morning.

Tonight I will include the oxycotin with my usual cocktail and try to get a good night sleep. I also take the Gabapentin in the morning. I eliminited it during the day unless it pain gets really bad. I find it takes so long to work on me, usually 2 to 3 hours.

good luck,
Carole

[allister]

Just as the others have said....Gabapentin will help. I was once on 28 pills a day, managed to reduce to 6 plus a fentynal patch, but now they are on the increase again, back to 14 a day plus the fentynal patch. Its just a game of give and take. I want the sleep, I take the pills ! I want a tolerable quality , I take the pills, don't like them, but they sure make life easier.

Edited by allister, 05 September 2009 - 12:28 AM.

[jane]

lycia for me - gabapentin didn't work. Lycia has helped.