4 replies to this topic

[tonygsxr]

Hi thought i'd introduce myself after sitting on the side lines i'm a t5 t6 incomplete got knocked of bike last july looking for help to answer what i'm feeling THE PAIN i don't understand what type it is . got 2 rods in my back got calipers on both shins to walk but still need sticks for reasurance cos sometimes stumble well alot of the time really the pain on my back is like a tight burning with stabbing pains and on my chest it feels tight feels like broken ribs The spasams in my legs and the streching cramps i cope with but the pain no doctor keeps giving me paracetamol and naproxen but they don't even do anything so have now given up on taking them need to sort out some pain relief as i'm really quite chirpy but now i'm just fed up is what i'm feeling nuro pain or is it from the op 1yr on

[Trinity]

Hi Tony

If paracetamol and naproxen aren't helping then I think you're right to stop taking them, long term use of drugs like naproxen can harm the stomach. I took naproxen about 5 years ago after knee surgery and it was wonderful, however it is an anti-inflammatory drug and if inflammation is not the problem then it won't work. It does sound like neuropathic pain though and there are drugs that you can try for these for example gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) are both anticonvulsant drugs that work well for neuropathic pain and amitriptyline and nortriptyline are antidepressant drugs also used for neuro pain. Personally I take pregabalin and nortriptyline and find it helps, the pain never quite goes away but it is much more manageable (although I still have bad days when nothing seems to help),
Every drug has side effecs though and you need to decide if the side effects are more tolerable than the pain,
Speak to your doctor, every SCI doctor will be more than aware of all of this.

Trinity X

[tonygsxr]

cheers Trinity will go back to the docs and ask about them got nowt to lose back at spinal unit next month for check up don,t think my local gp understands sometimes

[Trinity]

That's true! Skip the GP completely, generally they're rubbish! (to be fair to them it's not the run of the mill coughs and colds that they're used to dealing with!)
T x

[Avocado Baby]

Just wanted to say hi and I hope you get some decent pain meds sorted soon.