To ask about gabapentin and nerve pain/sciatica success stories?

That’s great about the cycling I’m really pleased for you.

I know what you mean about the toilet! 🙈😥 it’s awful.

I personally don’t think naproxen has done much for me. I’ve run out now and replacing with ibuprofen every 4 hours just to keep an anti inflammatory in my system.

Spam codeine is strong stuff; I gave up breastfeeding over the weekend to be able to take it and I do think it enabled me to push through the pain a bit more.

I find the same as spam with walking although since the improvement from acupuncture I’ve been able to walk further. I do have to crouch down every few yards and wait for the pain to pass.

Unbelievably I just went on a short cycle ride to collect my 3 yr old from nursery and it was SO much easier than walking - obviously whatever muscle is aggravating my nerve isn’t used for cycling.

Is anyone else struggling with the toilet? I find it hurts so much to sit on the seat that I can’t even wee, never mind poo . So I’m constipated and also heading towards a likely bladder infection

Well I’ve just been to the GP to get more codeine. I really really dislike him.
He wouldn’t look at me & is so flippant
His 2 sweeping statements were:

• well you never know you are going in a giant magnet when you get your mri it might fix you, people wear stupid magnets & you will be in one, you never know

And when trying to discuss Gabapentin & if it was a temp fix or long term solution he said

• well we don’t really fix things do we, we just put sticky plasters on

So I’ve come out in tears with a Gabapentin prescription that I don’t want but I’m in so much pain I think I need 😥

Can I ask Has it made anyone sick?

I have a massive phobia of feeling or being sick & I am genuinely scared of taking it.

I’ve had a couple of good days in a row and feel the tide is turning. I’m still using my Tens machine and I have some heat pads too. But I managed a short walk around the block only having to stop once for the spasm. I’m on naproxen daily but I’m not sure it does much-. Maybe it’s the Amitriptyline. It’s taken a long while - since December- but there have been points I thought it’d got better before only to relapse. I have second hydrotherapy appointment tomorrow.

Daft I had the same experience with my physio - I was in a lot of pain during my appointment and could not bear the exercises she gave me. I hit rock bottom later that week when I got stuck on my floor, I had a friend coming round luckily, my 3 yr old had to let her in and she had to pick me up off the floor and sort his breakfast etc. I honestly thought that was it, my life forever.

Almost a week later I’ve had acupuncture and I think the pregabalin is starting to take effect. Like others I don’t want to mask the pain but these have enabled me to actually walk (slowly) which I understand is key to recovery. I also feel a lot more positive as I’m not at the point where I get stuck on the floor, although when walking I have to crouch down every 50 steps or so to wait for the pain crescendo to pass.

I’ve also had diazepam every day for the muscle spasms but it makes me so dozy, I’ve not taken it today and am ok.

I’m hopeful my second acupuncture session will reap further reward.

to everyone suffering - I don’t think anyone realises how horrific it is until it hits them!!!

Anyone take duloxetien?

its been wonderful for me. i'm on 900mg daily (over 3 doses)

It doesn't fix it, what it does do is kill the nerve pain so I have been able to learn my limits on my mobility!

I've not needed my walking stick in the last year, and before Gabapentin I was frequently having to rely on it!

Hello, can I join ye

I’ve had chronic sciatica since Nov

MRI showed minor stenosis L5S1 had caudal epidural in Jan -no change.
Referred back for facet joint injections- numbness and spasm gone but pain in my calf still excruciating.
Referred to neurologist, he saw no nerve compression.
Sent for pelvic MRI to check sacroiliac joint- waiting on results.
Am on Arcoxia having give up tramsdol and lyrica, don’t like being dopey.
I’d prefer another injection to more meds, I’m back to the doc on Tuesday 🤞

Hopefully we’ll be fixed soon Xxx

Thanks. I was worried about masking it & not getting to the route of the problem. Hopefully the mri will show up how bad the problem is
I’m still really reluctant to try Gabapentin though. Just reading this thread & the idea of being on something so strong for a long time is very off putting.
I’ve heard of the stretching type exercises but unfortunately my physio didn’t get that far & stopped treatments as I was in too much pain.

Gabapentin won’t hide the problem it will work on the nerve pain to give you relief
Often once you get some relief or are less stiff with anti inflammatory you can move more and have a better chance at recovery
If you have referral for MRI then that is good
Has anyone seen a physio and had the exercises they give you to stretch your spine? The theory is you can open up the spine and it will encourage the bulge to go ‘back in’ so to speak

I’m so glad I’ve found this thread! But so sorry that so many people have been in so much pain.

12 weeks ago I injured my back exercising & it started off with a sciatic pain in my bum & down my leg to my knee with the electric shocks when I moved & it was bad but tolerable.
I’m now at week 12 & it’s just getting worse. I’m in agony, mornings are especially horrendous & it’s so painful. Unless I’m lay completely still I have the pain in my back, hip & the sciatica goes right down & into the top of my foot. It slowly moving around into the front of my hip now too.
I’m eventually going for an MRI & my gp suspects a prolapsed disc.
I’ve been surviving with codeine & paracetamol but I was prescribed Gabapentin.
My concern is that it just masks the pain but doesn’t actually put right what’s wrong??
I’m really reluctant to take it as I’d prefer to resolve the problem not hide the pain (& risk side effects & addiction) I wish alternative remedies would help but I feel like I need to know what’s wrong & fix that

DH was making me drink turmeric lattes Eggbert which were not pleasant! The supps I have been using were from FutureYou but have found an organic one on Amazon which is cheaper with the black pepper extract and ginger which is supposed to make it better absorbed. I'm also taking Joint Ace by Viabiotics but looking for a cheaper alternative for when I run out.

Thank you Queen my midwife recommended turmeric so I’ll definitely look into this, and the others you mention. Midwife suggested turmeric tea which sounds (not envy) so if there are tablets available that’s great.

I've been on turmeric supplements for the last month for my lumbar spondylosis, as well as Glucosamine with Chrondroitin. The chronic pain I was constantly in for over a year is 95% gone, the 5% is only a slight twinge if I stand in one place for too long. I could hardly walk a month ago. It was like I had a burning hot poker stuck deep in my left buttock and all the way down my thigh to my calf.

Not sure which of the supplements are working or whether it's the regular exercise I'm doing, or all 3 working together but it's bloody amazing. I was very despondent about it just getting worse and worse and eventually being wheelchair bound just weeks ago.

From what I've read the supplements are highly recommended for sciatic pain. Hope this helps someone.

I’m not a gardener but I am an avid house-cleaner and currently it’s pretty grim, the thought of just getting up to clean the bathroom is too much for me.

I also feel naproxen not doing much, I will run out on Monday so I’ll find out!

I stopped the codeine today after the acupuncture success; I am sore again today but not nearly as much as before. My pain before acupuncture was probably 9/10 and now it’s about 6. I’m going back to him on weds so hopefully more treatments will build up the good results for longer.

I’m still taking diazepam and pregabalin - the results being I’m very dozy at the mo!!

Definitely try the osteopath - the one I’ve seen was helpful and I think more visits will produce results.

On the acupuncture question, my mother has been plagued by sciatica (they have operated three times and she may need another op - every time they sort out one nerve root another one flares up) but acupuncture really works for her. If you can afford it, definitely try it.

That’s exactly how I feel spam. I had PND with my first, but my new DS is a pretty chilled and easy baby and I feel like I’d be really enjoying it without this pain. I’ve got to the point a few times where I’ve been crying so much and feeling like my whole maternity leave will be lost because of this problem. I won’t get this time with my new baby back.

HOWEVER. I have just had an accupuncture session in a little Chinese clinic near my home. And I cannot describe the relief it has given me. After he’d finished the session I felt same as usual, pain down my leg etc. But then I walked up the road and the pain began to reduce. I’m now sat in a cafe in absolute shock because I can walk and stand. I really hope it’s not a temporary feeling. Have you tried accupuncture?

Spam I’m really sorry to hear that. I hope you have some support nearby?

My heel is numb as is the skin on the back of my thigh. The chiro / osteo / physio I’ve seen all said this is normal and will probably be the last thing to resolve. I also thought it was my overuse of my TENS!!!

Obviously if genitals / undercarriage gets numb you need to go to a&e xxx

After having a good day yesterday, managing to stay upright for most of the day and only stopping to gasp every now and then, the pain has hit overnight and I can’t get comfortable and have resorted to my emergency diazepam. Blast it. I’ve not heard of kratom. I’ll look it up. bogstandard lying on my back with knees bent wouldn’t work for me because it seems to bend the spine at the wrong point. I need to lie flat with some sort of padded lumbar support underneath at the sore point. I’ve tried alternating between ice and heat too. And have also tried CBD oil.

Thank you Spam my DH has been amazing, he’s doing everything for me. My poor DS who is three has hardly had a look in from me I’ve been so caught up with sciatica and his baby brother.

Today was a “good” day - I’ve took 5mg of diazepam and codeine in the day, along with my other drugs (Naproxen, pregabalin) and I actually managed a little walk to our local shop (about 200 yards away but still felt like a huge achievement as I’ve been in the house for three days now!) I used the baby’s buggy to steady myself but managed to walk upright for some of it.

I’m in pain now but the spasms are not as excruciating as they were - maybe 6/10 instead of 9/10 for pain. I’m also feeling pain in my ankle now but not sciatic - more like it is strained from the funny walking I’ve been doing for 4 weeks. My hope is that maybe the sciatic pain is reducing so I’m more able to feel other pain IYSWIM?

Just realised my naproxen runs out this weekend, not sure they were doing anything, hope the GP will prescribe more next week!!!