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

Hello fellow sciatica sufferers!

I'm bumping this back up to ask your advice / experiences... I've had back problems for over 20 years now. The latest flare-up has been the worst by far, but looking back they always follow the same pattern. i.e. my back is generally a bit painful (2/10) all the time, and always feels fragile. I have to be careful how I move / bend / sit etc. Eventually I move wrongly or do some gardening or do something that "triggers" it (this time I stepped down off a kerb and the road was much further away than I thought so I really jarred down onto my left leg - by the next morning I was immobile and in agony 9/10). I suffer, lie on the floor, take painkillers, etc. Eventually, the pain subsides and I get back to "normal" after 3-4 weeks. Then it all just begins again at some point...

My question is, I guess, how do I tackle this when it's so variable? Do I have to just accept that I have a "bad back" and live with these periodic episodes of agony? Since it's not constant pain, should I be looking at self-help i.e. losing weight, doing back / core exercises etc before considering anything more drastic? I don't know what the reasonable expectations are - should I be aiming for / insisting on being totally pain-free all the time?

As far as diagnosis goes, I have a slight scoliosis, bulging discs l4-l5 and l5-s1, sciatic pain in both legs / hips, and some signs of arthritic damage. This has come from X-rays - I haven't had an MRI, which I suppose is the next step. I have a rdv with a rhumatologue / spine specialist today, and I guess I am worried about presenting with my current 4/10 pain level rather than my peak 9/10 one, and not being taken seriously as a result.

Haha love a bit of Daniel

Yes I’m finding my back and various other parts of my body are getting tired / achy from overcompensating with my leg :(

So glad you found codeine so helpful! Must’ve been good to get moving properly and you probably did some good moving about so much. Codeine is helpful for me too, I have been taking one dose every now and then when I really need to be moving.

My GP said he was referring me to the musculoskeletal clinic but the same GP forgot to sign my prescription so I’m going to call tomorrow to make sure the referral happened.

Have had more acupuncture but little results, but maybe you’re right and I need to continue to see the full benefit. I am still so grateful for that first appointment where he relieved the pain because since then it has been more manageable. It’s just these damned burning spasms when I walk! If they stopped I’d be happy to deal with the butt pain etc.

I hope your physio second opinion is fruitful :)

I’ve just re-read your OP Spam - so it’s been three months already you poor thing. I hope they refer you for the MRI and then maybe next steps are the injections - my friend had these; she said it took three weeks but she was pain free after that and has been since (about four years ago).

spam who is your second opinion with? The GP? I hope they send you for an MRI so you can see what’s going on. I’ve found my GPs and a&e don’t refer unless it’s been 3 months with no improvement, or you’ve lost bowel/bladder functions. You’ve had it a while though now right?

I actually looked into a private MRI - £350. A lot of money but was seriously considering it until I started feeling some improvements recently.

I definitely can’t stand long enough for the concert right now. But I think I’m going to have a few drinks and go for the beginning and see how I get on. I can always leave early if it’s too hard. A walking frame would probably help - or one of those sticks that turn into a stool, is that a thing?!

I had more acupuncture this morning. It was odd - during the session I felt that the pain had significantly reduced (he made me walk around the clinic mid-treatment) but when I left it was back. So frustrating!

I had sciatica in last week of pregnancy - looking back it was a mild episode, it was much more manageable than now! Then in labour I was pushing a long time, and after labour the sciatica was suddenly a lot worse. So the thinking is that I had a bulging disc and then maybe I made it worse when pushing. And I still have a lot of the relaxin hormone in my body which means my muscles won’t be as supportive for my back as usual. I keep being told “be patient, your body takes time to get back to normal.” But that’s no good when I have a baby to care for! DH goes back to work next week.

“Tiny” human is good thank you for asking Spam - but he’s not so tiny! He’s not even one month old yet and is already in 3 month clothing. He’s very long and he has a big head, which is possibly where my issues started!!!

Nope Spam I was fit when I booked last year and so it’s standing room only - basically the mosh pit not that I expect much moshing to spice girls!!

Yes I don’t think my TENS would help me now like it did at the beginning. Perhaps we will have the same journey with our pain and recover at the same time - hopefully very soon!!!

I take pregabalin which is similar. It definitely helps but it never took the pain away completely. Maybe about a 50% reduction.

Spam I know I was disappointed. However it is very relaxing which I think helps with my muscle spasms (particularly as I’m not taking the diazepam I’ve been prescribed due to breastfeeding).

My pain has changed a lot since the beginning of the sciatica. It’s now less like toothache and more like a burning sensation that builds up as I walk, eventually crescendo-ing to an unbearable level. It’s also moved down my leg, even my ankle hurts now (although that may be due to the way I’ve been walking). Although this burning pain is pretty bad, I do prefer it to the initial toothache-like nerve pain I started with. But ideally I’d like no pain! My biggest issue is the inability to walk. I’d put up with background pain if I could just walk through it, but I can’t.

I asked GP for Tramadol today as it’s ok to breastfeed on but he said no, I’m already on too much he also wouldn’t let me increase my pregabalin.

I am back on naproxen now though. I think on days where I really need to move (e.g. Spice Girls concert!) I’ll take my codeine and give the baby formula for a day.

Hope everyone feeling ok today x

I have taken all of these drugs over a 15 year period for bad pain which began with severe Symphysis pubis disorder which continued for years and was later joined by herniated discs as well as ongoing pelvic and leg pain. I've had a lot of foot surgery for compressed nerves too.

I have gradually weaned myself off the lot as i found side effects / dependence too horrible. I gained a huge amout of weight which it took me 3 years to shift (at least now the HCP's cant blame that!)

But i still have the same amount of pain joined now by really bad 'tailbone pain'. Does anyone else get this??

@daisypond I went off at the end of March, had surgery in May and returned end of July

My mum takes it for the same reasons sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't depend how much pain she's in at the time but good luck OP with getting the help and right meds.

daisy I’m on maternity leave but I would have had to take at least three weeks off for this as that’s how long it took for me to be able to actually walk further than a few feet!

Hi @PookieDo I’m definitely not trying to brave it out - I asked for the crutches as I thought they would help. However I can’t use them very much - I have a 3 week old baby, I can’t wear him in a carrier as that would exacerbate the back problem, so I need to push him in a buggy. I can’t do this and use crutches at the same time. I’ve been using the buggy as support when walking which does help.

I haven’t really been out without him yet but when I do I will not be afraid to use the crutches if they keep me upright.

I’m doing the exercises, seeing osteo and acupuncturist every week and I’m now able to more consistently walk upright so things are improving.

I am keeping as mobile as possible now I’m over the worst pain - in fact I’ve discovered cycling is relatively pain free.

Home working isn’t allowed at my place of work so that’s a no-go. I use public transport to get to work, a mix of buses and trains and walking. I’m dreading it and not sure how possible it is going to be.

@EggbertHeartsTina

Why do you have crutches and not using them.... Why on earth??That is crazy
You are going to make it worse IMO and give yourself a lot more issues. Don’t try to brave it out, use them

I was able to work because I used crutches, work helped make the environment suitable. I work in the NHS so it was more practical. If I couldn’t drive they let me work from home. I just tried everything but when it got too much I was signed off
But I used crutches all the time, did all the exercises (even if hurt), saw a physio every week, had acupuncture and moved around every hour (to help prevent DVT if nothing else)
You have to stay mobile

@daisypond good question and one I was wondering too. I’m halfway through my second week, and signed off till the middle of next week - so that will be 2.5 weeks total. Whether I go back depends on what happens at my rheumatologist rdv next week.

But I only work part time - 16 hrs a week.

Can I ask those of you who have a job, how much time, if any, have you had off sick with this? I’ve had two weeks off and I’m technically on leave now, but I don’t see how I can go back next week. My working day including commute is 12 hours long. I’m concerned what my work will say.

Ah I see spam - I’m only on 150mg a day of pregabalin. My pain is now more of a burning than a stabbing. Still struggling to walk more than say 100 yards without sitting.

Just had second acupuncture session and this time the relief has not been as forthcoming, which is disappointing. Perhaps later. I am just sitting down after hobbling up and down the high street!

Am also finding myself getting into hunchback of ND pose as it’s more comfortable, but not good for my back obviously. I do have some crutches, perhaps I need to use one when walking longer distances.

I’m supposed to be seeing the Spice Girls on 15 June, I can’t imagine standing for that long!!!

Ah un-mumsnetty hugs to you spam. I too am feeling happier day by day, I can’t believe how low I felt, and totally unable to comprehend that I would improve.

Just to clarify I don’t want to increase my dose of naproxen, I want to up my dose of pregabalin (similar to Gabapentin). I’m on a very low dose (75mg twice a day which I am reliably informed by google is incredibly low). Just called the doc but they have no phone consultations left today so I might have to wait 48 hours and be in pain today / tomorrow. However I have more acupuncture tomorrow so that will hopefully work miracles again!

Had osteo this morning and my posture, pelvis, sacrum etc. are all buggered - because I’ve been walking funny and compensating, and because of the labouring on my back in stirrups . I think total recovery will be a while - and more ££££££