6 replies to this topic

[D. Smith]

I, like many others on this site, am on some type of neuro-pain med. Mine happens to be gabepentin (sp?). However, the question I ask is could being on this med actually limit recovery from my spinal cord injury? Could the fact that I'm blocking out the pain actually also be blocking out getting feelin, control, or both back? Thoughts?

[Iain]

D. Smith, on 15 November 2010 - 08:33 AM, said:

I, like many others on this site, am on some type of neuro-pain med. Mine happens to be gabepentin (sp?). However, the question I ask is could being on this med actually limit recovery? Could the fact that I'm blocking out the pain actually also be blocking out getting feelin, control, or both back? Thoughts?

My own off the cuff thoughts are that recovery needs physical change to the nerves themselves. I guess it possible that gabapentin might reduce your awareness of any very low magnitude sensations. Not being aware of those sensations until they reach a higher magnitude wouldn't reduce the rate of further underlying change, but may delay your being able to use those changes until such time as they are of sufficient magnitude for you to be aware of them.

So what to do? Well firstly I have to say that I am lucky enough to experience minimal pain and require no medication at all for pain relief at present. However, if my pain was sufficiently bad that I needed to use gabapentin to control it then I think I would stick with the gabapentin. If I was desperate to know that I wasn't missing anything then I might stop it now and again for a couple of days to see it there's any subtle sign of change, and if not restart it PDQ.

I am not a neurologist, nor an expert in SCI, so please interpret this as little more than an informed guess!

[jenny407]

My link to another thread

D. - I guess you might have seen this thread anyway. It's a different question, though.
I posted it just in case you didn't read it. And it puts you in contact with members who take gabapentin. You might pm them if you wish.

[Angela250153]

Iused to take Pregabalin and changed to Gabapentin on a fairly high dosis. As that did not do anything for my burning pain down my leg I reduced it slowly and am now on a minimum.

In that I have found that they caused considerable muscle weakness and balance issues. Being a walker it was somewhat dangerous for me and caused me to have several falls as my in particular my right leg just buckled.

On Dec. 1st I will start treatment with external neuromodulation as St Thomas's Hospital and I so hope that it will work. The consultant is a specialist in that field and he is convinced that it will help me lol.

[D. Smith]

I appreciate the replies. I think Iain hit exactly where I was going with this... Luckily for the most part the side effects of gabapentin don't hit me too bad. I was curious as to if the fact that I'm (in a sense) deadening my nerves to the sensation could actually impact any recovery to be had. However, its either take the meds and be relatively comfortable or be off them to see if there is any improvement and be in agony. Sorry Jenny, I hadn't seen your post on it... Here's to thinking I had looked around enough!

Edited by D. Smith, 18 November 2010 - 01:35 AM.

[jenny407]

D. Smith, on 16 November 2010 - 04:53 PM, said:

Sorry Jenny, I hadn't seen your post on it... Here's to thinking I had looked around enough!

Actually no need to say sorry. It wasn't my thread, BTW, but TBs. And it's fine - I was wondering if I should have put down this link anyway. OK then. Good luck! Do pm members if you wish to know more.

[edlee]

I was just looking on WIKI,, from what an uneducated dolt, like myself, can tell,,, Gaba's mechanism isn't one that should mask sensation. It's affect on the synthesis of certain chemicals in the brain that have something to do with "over excitement" is what made it useful as an anticonvulsant. It is something in that process,, they think,,, that makes it effective in some people for the treatment of peripheral nerve pain.

What I mean is that it doesn't deaden sensation,,, it just reduces the "over stimulation". If you are like me, that means that it doesn't remove the pain,, it just "takes the edge off" of it. If you have some return of sensation,, Gaba won't hide it,,, but it might make you sleep through it. That is my real bitch about Gaba,,,, makes me tired,,, a lot.
ed