7 replies to this topic

[Simba]

Well I have finally gotten around to beginning to enquire about my ongoing back issues and have been given a prescription of nortyptiline (very low dosage) to assist as a muscle relaxant and to ward off nerve pain while in limbo land of waiting for an urgent x-ray (in NZ this could take 2-3 months).

The problem is it seems to be helping with what is it supposed to and has removed some of the muscle & nerve pain but is also making the other associated pain in my psinal column seem much worse. The symptoms of numbness in hands and pins and needles also seem to be getting more frequent so was wondering what you all thought on here given the vast amount of experinece.

I can not say whether my condition is genetic/hereditary or injury related as I can't obtain my records from germany and was too young to remember or have suppressed memories of anything that may have happened to me.

The main question is how have others found the nortryptiline, useful? any side effects experienced? Thanks for the info.

[catmint]

Hi Simba

I was taking Amitriptyline for pain but had some unpleasant side effects. My GP wanted me to persevere but just last week I managed to see another Doctor in the practice and she prescribed Nortriptyline.

I am supposed to be taking it 'as and when' rather than every night so I have only taken it once so far. I didn't find it as effective for pain releaf as Amitriptyline but then again I didn't have any nasties.

Still it's good to know someone else is taking it and we can compare notes.

[Hapahowlee]

Hi Simba ~ ~ I suffer from migraines and was put on Amitriptyline as a preventative. The neurologist I was seeing then told me she wanted me to be in a "Zombie-like" state. Kinda scary for a doctor to say. So I gradually worked up to 210 mg. each evening.

The only thing it did for me was cause me to gain weight and I'd also have a difficult time waking up in the morning no matter what time I'd take it.

I've been an enigma to every doctor I've seen about my migraines. Back when I had HMO insurance my primary care physician sent me to every type of doctor she could think of who might find a cause for my migraines. I've been through every type of test and taken so many different drugs for preventatives and pain since I now cannot take any OTC pain meds b/c they trigger migraines.

The last neurologist I had before I moved to Arizona put me on Nortriptyline (75 mg.) as a preventative as well as some other drugs that he would switch around and still no relief except when I took very strong pain meds.

There were times I had backaches too, but neither the Amitriptyline nor the Nortriptyline helped in that regard either. All the preventatives caused me to gain weight, which I was able to take off every time I was taken off the preventatives.

I had my blood checked every 6 months and I eventually had to see an endocrinologist b/c something was off with my thyroid. Further testing showed the preventatives I was taking slowed down my thyroid, thus the weight gain.

One thing I didn't like either was the fact that many of the preventatives I had taken such as the Triptylines are also anti-depressants. I never had a panic attack until I became a guinea pig and began taking these meds. It scared me b/c I'm actually a pretty calm and rational person. I haven't taken any preventatives since 2004 b/c the doctor I see now who is just a GP cares about my opinion and I told him, none of the preventatives worked, so all I need is something for the pain and that's what he gives me. I only take the pain meds when I feel a migraine coming on.

One thing rather odd about me too is that the pain meds don't work for all types of pain. One of the meds I take is hydrocodone 10 mg., but I remember back in 1993 I broke my right foot and was given hydrocodone and it didn't help my foot at all, but it helped with head and neck pain. Also, some stronger meds like Percocet and even Demerol doesn't work at all on me for anything.

Has your doctor put you on anything considered an anti-inflammatory? I know most are hard on the stomach. I eat ginger everyday, which is an anti-inflammatory and it's also good for the stomach and I like the taste. I've noticed it helps when I injure my back.

I hope you find some relief soon. Take care ~ ~ Hapa

[smg]

I've taken Nortryptiline for nerve pain in my legs. It didn't do much for me. I read somewhere that a B12 deficiency can cause nerve pain so I had my B12 checked and sure enough, I was very low (most likely due to my vegetarian diet). I take supplement every day now and after a few weeks the nerve pain was gone. Maybe it'll work for you?

[Simba]

Hapahowlee, on 26 June 2011 - 08:54 AM, said:

Hi Simba ~ ~ I suffer from migraines and was put on Amitriptyline as a preventative. The neurologist I was seeing then told me she wanted me to be in a "Zombie-like" state. Kinda scary for a doctor to say. So I gradually worked up to 210 mg. each evening.

The only thing it did for me was cause me to gain weight and I'd also have a difficult time waking up in the morning no matter what time I'd take it.

I've been an enigma to every doctor I've seen about my migraines. Back when I had HMO insurance my primary care physician sent me to every type of doctor she could think of who might find a cause for my migraines. I've been through every type of test and taken so many different drugs for preventatives and pain since I now cannot take any OTC pain meds b/c they trigger migraines.

The last neurologist I had before I moved to Arizona put me on Nortriptyline (75 mg.) as a preventative as well as some other drugs that he would switch around and still no relief except when I took very strong pain meds.

There were times I had backaches too, but neither the Amitriptyline nor the Nortriptyline helped in that regard either. All the preventatives caused me to gain weight, which I was able to take off every time I was taken off the preventatives.

I had my blood checked every 6 months and I eventually had to see an endocrinologist b/c something was off with my thyroid. Further testing showed the preventatives I was taking slowed down my thyroid, thus the weight gain.

One thing I didn't like either was the fact that many of the preventatives I had taken such as the Triptylines are also anti-depressants. I never had a panic attack until I became a guinea pig and began taking these meds. It scared me b/c I'm actually a pretty calm and rational person. I haven't taken any preventatives since 2004 b/c the doctor I see now who is just a GP cares about my opinion and I told him, none of the preventatives worked, so all I need is something for the pain and that's what he gives me. I only take the pain meds when I feel a migraine coming on.

One thing rather odd about me too is that the pain meds don't work for all types of pain. One of the meds I take is hydrocodone 10 mg., but I remember back in 1993 I broke my right foot and was given hydrocodone and it didn't help my foot at all, but it helped with head and neck pain. Also, some stronger meds like Percocet and even Demerol doesn't work at all on me for anything.

Has your doctor put you on anything considered an anti-inflammatory? I know most are hard on the stomach. I eat ginger everyday, which is an anti-inflammatory and it's also good for the stomach and I like the taste. I've noticed it helps when I injure my back.

I hope you find some relief soon. Take care ~ ~ Hapa

Yes my medical stuff is quite a mystery still I am afraid i have now had three lumbar spine x-rays done this week, first ones I can ever remember having actually to see what is going on structurally with my spine & discs so am waiting to hear back about that, hopefully this will be pursued further with an MRI eventually although NZ is sooooo slow on health related issues.

Think the nortryptiline was prescribed as a preventative measure for muscle relaxant and nerve pain. The issues I have been having have caused flaring up of nerve pain, possibly some referred type kidney pain (widespread chronic pain) and loss of sensation in hands & legs. it has helped with the muscle related pain so far but has made me a bit more dopy than usual. Waking has so far luckily not been affected but then I have contended with CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) for most of my life anyway so am used to function on well below average energy levels long term.

Bloods cam back the other day no sign of any inflammation or blood cell disorders or vitamin deficiencies which was surprising as diet is quite poor currently. Radiolohist is writing a report on x-rays at the moment to pass on to doctors but havn't heard anything yet.

[rjwheelz]

Simba, on 26 June 2011 - 05:48 AM, said:

Well I have finally gotten around to beginning to enquire about my ongoing back issues and have been given a prescription of nortyptiline (very low dosage) to assist as a muscle relaxant and to ward off nerve pain while in limbo land of waiting for an urgent x-ray (in NZ this could take 2-3 months).

The problem is it seems to be helping with what is it supposed to and has removed some of the muscle & nerve pain but is also making the other associated pain in my psinal column seem much worse. The symptoms of numbness in hands and pins and needles also seem to be getting more frequent so was wondering what you all thought on here given the vast amount of experinece.

I can not say whether my condition is genetic/hereditary or injury related as I can't obtain my records from germany and was too young to remember or have suppressed memories of anything that may have happened to me.

The main question is how have others found the nortryptiline, useful? any side effects experienced? Thanks for the info.

I didnt find it useful at all no effect really...

[ajl338]

It didnt help at all. Its not designed to help nerve pain. I was getting pins and needles as well as electric shock type pain when i moved. I went through lots of pain killers getting stronger and stronger ones each time until all I did was sleep.
I came off of everything and then started again with something called gabapentin, it was originally an epilepsy drug as it inhibits neuro transmitters so your brain doesnt get every signal the body sends it therfore in my case i hurt less.
Its a really old drug and the new version is called pregabalin but that doesnt work for me at all.

[Simba]

Think the idea is to prevent further injury until he finds out what is causing the problem, I have had input from a friend who is a very good rehabilitative doctor that she suspects nerve pinching somewhere. It seems to be taking some of the extra tension out of the mid-lower back area so far reducing some of the more widespread muscular pain and lowering the pins & needles frequency i do get with relation to nerve pinching. As for nerve pain i still get that some so not very good in taking that away.

Will have to see where I go to from here, ideally would like a diagnosis to clarify what the problem is exactly, dealing with some random disorder is not constructive in finding ways to address the issue. Still hopeful it will be a fixable problem. One thing i do note that even on the nortryptiline I still have back & leg spasms daytime when active and noghtime when sleeping which is kind of odd.

The lumbar x-rays was of absolutely no value at all as it did not identify any problems with spinal bone structure - they tried to tell me it ruled out disc problems as well I laughed and told them they were dreaming there is no way they could tell from an x-ray. So back to square one again...

Thanks for the input people.