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

[SpamChaudFroid]

After nearly 3 months of sciatic pain, (it's bad, I need a stick to be able to walk, well shuffle really) and many different drugs, (codiene, amitriptyline, diazepam) my GP has prescribed gabapentin. I am seeing a physio who has made an appointment for a second opinion as to whether it needs further invstigation, (eg. steroid injections or material removed).

Has this worked for anyone? please someone tell me it works

It has made a huge difference to my best friend’s sciatica. Other things weren’t touching it. I really hope it works for you.

Worked for my nerve pain. :) good luck xx

Thanks Prosecco, that's v. reassuring. This is only the second time as an adult that I've actually cried tears of pain! I have no idea how people with permanent chronic pain manage, it's so draining and bloody depressing.

domtom, thanks. Had the GP tried other routes, ie. amitriptylene, before prescribing the gabapentin? Ooh, and how long was it until you felt it working? NHS website says a couple of weeks. I'm on my starting dose of one a night which will increase to 3 a day.

I was prescribed it when I suddenly developed arthritic pain in my hands. My hands are a bit better, but it's improved my sciatic pain massively.

It also made me feel a big high for the first few days, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sadly, that side-effect wore off after a few days. [

I’m on 2400mg gabapentin a day (over 3 doses) for back and nerve pain. It definitely works enough for me to function properly and carry on working but I still end up pacing the driveway, barefoot at 3am a couple of times a month in pain.

So it hasn’t completely worked but it’s definitely more tolerable. I do find it works a lot better when I take 2 paracetamol with it than not.

When the injury first happened (herniated disc) I had amitriptyline as well as the gabapentin and paracetamol and that was brilliant at managing the pain. I stopped taking the amitriptyline after a while though. I had 3 corticosteroids injections too but they were pretty useless to be honest.

It’s worth a try though and I hope it works for you.

It was an absolute game changer for me!
Mine was Trigminal Neuralgia and the pain was excruciating. I was on 2400 at first like a pp, and was totally zombied for a couple of weeks (not safe to drive) but then it stopped the pain and while I am still on it, I'm on a very small dose now in comparison.

And contrary to some stories I didn't gain wait or any other side effects.. it just stopped the pain. It's definitely worth trying, but be aware it may make you dopey at first!

I was very ill using gabapentine. Pre-gabaline is better (its a newer drug so “cleaner”)

Would also recommend looking into CBD oil from CBD brothers. This worked better for me for nerve pain than gabapentine, pregabaline and amytriptyline.

I used it for shoulder pain and pain after shingles and it was amazing. The only thing that’s worked for me.

It's wonderful for my sciatic pain ! I was almost immobile when I first got the pain, had to buy a walking frame to get around the house, it was terrible. Gabapentin cured it in a couple of days, I couldn't beleive how good it was. I'd highly recommend it.

Pregabelin was a life saver for me. I still had pain but it wasn't was horrific and I could move and start doing Pilates. I currently have no nerve pain

My friend had had all the drugs you mention before gabapentin was prescribed.
She’d had tramadol too.
She felt a difference within a few days and steady improvement as she increased it. She still has pain but it is manageable. Before she was prescribed gabapentin, she was crying tears of pain when she tried to move and crying out as she shuffled around holding onto the walls for support. She’s been able to walk around town now.

She was dopey at first but that eased. She can drive on it now.

So far it’s working for me 2 years in, although i’ve Had to increase the dose slightly, am now on 1200mg a day. It’s for facial pain (constant nerve toothache). I still get flare ups but it has made a significant difference, if I miss a dose I notice it. And no side effects.

I’ve had sciatica for about 14 years due to prolapsed disc (now healed but left with some residue pain at times) and these days it’s easily under control as long as I don’t do high-impact exercise or lots of bending in the garden etc.

I’ve had 3 steroid injections, an operation (IDET), years of physio, Pilates, stretching exercises, but no drugs other than ibuprofen or co-codamol. Reason for this is no GP or consultant would give me anything, preferring to recommend the other strategies listed - I guess it’s different these days.

I have been prescribed gapabentin for nerve pain in my arm but I have refused to take it as it can interfere with tinnitus, however my late MIL had it for nerve pain and it worked wonders for her.

If you are walking with a stick then it’s definitely time for further investigations such as an MRI and not just rely on drugs to relieve pain.

This is most cheering to read!

I'm on a tiny starting dose of 100mg at night for 3 days, increasing from there.

User, I already use CBD. Been great for my meno symptoms but doesn't do a lot for pain for me.

I do intend to strengthen my core muscles once I'm able to move to try to prevent this from happening again.

As a PP mentioned, I was also on it for Trigeminal Neuralgia along with amitriptyline and tegretol (all at the same time!). It worked well for me.

I've been on it nearly 2 years...I have peripheral neuropathy caused by an autoimmune disease called vasculitis, which has attacked the blood supply of my nerves
I was in agony before now the pain is tolerable, but still have some days when tingling is worse...especially when I've been standing or walking too long
I now only take 300mg at night but was on 3600mg day at my worst
It did make me feel a bit spaced out and drowsy when I first started it, so make sure you follow the guidelines for increasing dose slowly

Tegretol - I'll make a note of that just in case the gabapentin doesn't work.

It's funny - It doesn't hurt if I keep still, ie. sitting or lying down. It starts hurting after about 10 paces, then it feels like I've been stabbed in the buttock and kicked by a horse on the outside of my knee. Then everything starts to spasm and cramp.

I take 600mg pregabalin for sciatica. Leaves me still in agony but not sobbing out loud on the bus

I take 900mg 3x a day, 1800mg In total and have been for 8 years. Does wonders for me and can’t rate it enough. Good luck X

My cocktail when I had sciatica (herniated disc) was gabapentin, naprixen and cymbalta. I had to take the maximum dose of gabapentin but it did help. I eventually had surgery to repair my disc after I stopped being able to wee and couldn’t even sit. I have permanent nerve damage in my leg but the pain went away as soon as I had surgery.

Is that still a fairly low dose though littlewhitething? Won't your GP increase it if you're still in agony? You shouldn't have to live in agony!

I should say it doesn’t take away all the pain, and the silliest smallest movement, can having me sobbing. But compared to lying on the floor crying my eyes out, with my partner and children just watching as they can’t do anything- it’s a massive difference! I’ve had my 4th round of injections this year too, plus I’m on MST, oramorph, amitrptline and zapain.

Sorry! No I’m not on 1800mg, I’m on 2700mg daily. I apologies it’s first thing in the morning my mathematical brain hasn’t woken! (I’ll blame the Gabapentin!)