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

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!!!

Eggbert, I don't mean to be a killjoy, or god forbid, a fun sponge, but do you think you'll be physically able to stand for that long? Walking frame as a one off? (I'm actually not joking)

I'm really not sure about the codiene - I took 60mg yesterday and although they made me feel quite buzzed (which I really don't need) they didn't seem to make any difference to the pain. I'll try once more, but am thinking about binning those.

I have my second opinion this coming Tuesday, am hoping so hard they elect for me to have an MRI.

Forgive me if you already said Eggbert, but is the opinion that you injured your back during your recent childbirth? I do admire you for shambling along, babe in arms. How's the tiny human doing?

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!!!

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).

Thanks Decomposing, these GABA type drugs do make the pain so much more manageable.

Morning Eggbert ha yes, I've had it 4 months now . It's my physio who's asked for the second opinion, (from his colleague). I think then they'll advise my GP? It's all so shrouded in mystery isn't it though, no-one will give a straight answer.

I had a really good day yesterday though, I was practically tearing about and was hardly relying on the stick. I had taken paracetamol, they weren't dulling the pain so I took 60mg codeine. Bloody fantastic! Do you find your back gets tired very quickly because your posture's so different? I do.

How disappointing the acupuncture's not having the effect it was for you, perhaps there's a cumulative beneficial effect from the whole series of sessions? I hope you're whisked way for injections or something soon, surely a woman who is primary carer for 2 tiny children is given priority.

Anyway, here's a very apt, (yet possibly THE worst record of the Noughties) song just for us on our pain odyssey from singing christian Daniel Bedingfield.

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 :)

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.

I know what you mean Belle, on the days I have appointments re. the sciatica it always seems to fall on a "good" day and it makes me feel a bit of a fraud. I'm not going to take pain meds for my appointment this week.

I felt like the HCPs really began to listen when I told them the pain was impacting on my mental health, (it was). Constant 4/10 pain isn't something you should have to suck up, surely? Are you being prescribed anything for it? Gabapentin is working very well for me, I have almost no pain apart from when walking or standing, and I'm able to walk further before it starts. I'm on 900 a day which isn't a giant dose at all. Saying that, I wasn't offered any drugs, I had to ask for them all except the gabapentin which my GP suggested after 10 weeks and many appointments. And like I've said before, I don't think women's pain is taken as seriously, plus sadly female socialisation causing us not to want to make a fuss.

How are you and your Eggbertito today Eggbert? Any closer to being able to mosh to The Spice Girls?

Hello all!

Belle I’m sorry you have been suffering so long. Sounds like you need an MRI to see what’s going on and perhaps treatment such as a steroid injection? You shouldn’t have to live like that. I feel that if I continue as I am now, it will wear me down mentally. Before pregnancy (and a bit during) I relied on running for my mental health, I was doing half marathons and now I can’t even run for a bus.

Spam I had a good weekend and yesterday was also good, I’ve been getting by on 60mg codeine once a day. However this morning I woke up in fairly severe pain. It’s like a burning all down my leg - it’s like my leg wants to give way under me. I had osteopath at 9am and she’s helped it slightly, she’s also managed to get my spine straight. Hoping I can keep it that way.

If Saturday is like yesterday I’ll be able to go to spice girls. If it’s like today I would really struggle. Fingers crossed!

How are you Spam? It’s awful that you feel you have to avoid your pain meds for your appointment but I agree, women’s pain is played down. I feel like I have to lead with “but I gave birth twice without pain meds so this pain is really bad!” But I shouldn’t have to say stuff like that, they should see if for what it is. Spam when is your appointment?

I’ve been referred to this nhs musculoskeletal clinic who are calling me on Monday and my osteopath has advised me to really ham up my symptoms in order to get the care I need

I would take his advice Eggbert, and bollocks to suffering politely. I've found I've constantly had to state I cannot walk, but was only given a stick when I asked for one. The last couple of days have been awesome pain-wise, thanks to the gabapentin doing its thing. Do you think upping your pregabalin might help you? And if it gives you any hope, the last place my pain's settled is in my leg, which felt as you described, (including it just collapsing under me) and now it's much more manageable, so maybe you're on the cusp of it getting better too? I can give my legs a good stretch out now, which was too painful before, so that feels amazing. So pretty good all in all, thank you for asking . Ooh and I have my physio appt on Thursday. I hope they send me for a scan, even though a lot of the pain's manageable, I can still feel there's something wrong, because of the odd way I'm carrying myself and the muscles tiring so quickly.

Slightly low mood today, and I don't know why! I've been feeling so much better all round, so not sure why, perhaps it's the rain? Stuck indoors and too much brooding?

@SpamChaudFroid I thought I'd check with with how you're doing. If you have the funds, or possibly a policy that covers or refunds physio, maybe going private might help, as they have lots of tools that the NHS don't.

I've had back issues since I was a child, growing up my parents seemed physio a waste of time, as it had little impact, plus was time consuming.

I've seen a private physio a few times, usually 6/8 sessions. They have stronger machines that are essentially tens machines, they also used sonar or something like that, anything to loosen up the surrounding muscles, usually the pain is nerve and muscular.

Last time I went you got 45 minutes for £30. I did this once a week, it was bliss. Ooh I got a rather painful, but ultimately pain relieving massage. It was superb.

I think I've said I have diazepam for spasms, baclofen is another drug similar to gabapentin / pregablin. So it might be worth looking up that. Also maybe starting a collection of hot water bottles, as mentioned before getting a tens, as both really help.

Thank you for the support! I saw the spine specialist today, and it went well. She thinks I have a herniated disc plus the beginning of arthritis in several lower vertebrae, and the l4-l5 disc is looking very thin and dessicated. She has upped my painkillers (steroids (anti-inflammation) for daytime, diazepam (muscle relaxant) for night time) and signed me off work for another ten days. Also I have to go for an MRI so she can see clearly what the issue is.

I feel vindicated - it’s not just a «bad back» and me being a wuss ;-) I’m determined also to lose weight and increase exercise in the future.

Yay, I have been referred for an MRI!!

Excellent news spam! Hopefully you’ll get some progress now!!

Any idea on how long you have to wait?

5 weeks he said Eggbert. It was such a relief when I heard him say it. I was going to push for it though, if it wasn't offered. And you're having one too Belle, MRIs for all, yay!

Thanks for the suggestions Squirrel, I have a TENS and the gapapentin seem to be working pretty well for me. The giant sonar TENS machines sound like bliss!

Excellent news@SpamChaudFroid.

Mines set for the 13th July, so I’ll report back then.

I missed a diazepam last night (it seemed to be keeping me awake all night then sleeping really heavily btw 5-9am), but I feel much stiffer today - and I still slept like crap, so that must just be down to me.

A friend brought me a back brace yesterday, and I have to say it helps - though it would have been better two weeks ago!

Morning Sciatica Sisters

I am now Googling back braces.... Would you mind very much linking to the sort you have please Belle? There seem to be 2 types, ones that look like rucksack straps and the ones that go around the waist. They look like they'd feel like Spanx, (one of the most unpleasant feelings in the world).

I wish I could trust myself with diazepam, but I really don't with my predilection for certain substances. A poster said upthread if you used gabapentin in a certain way you can get high off the stuff, and yup, I Googled it and it sounds marvellous. Was sorely tempted to "experiment" myself tonight, but have changed my mind after thinking through all possible consequences - the most problematic is that I will want to do it more than once and the sticky path that leads to. Also I'd be letting my brilliant GP down who's shown me some trust where many wouldn't. That's the thing about being an addict - that small secretive voice that just pipes up out of nowhere and learning to live with it without acting on it.

How are you today Eggbert? You probably do this anyway, but I always think about what I want to ask or say to the HCP and write down pages some bullet points. Otherwise I go off on long floriferous descriptions of what the pain's like (a chicken wing when you pull the bones apart and you can see all the tendons when first describing the pain to GP )

Hmm it’s quite a basic one - basically a big stretchy Velcro bandage with some metal vertical stiffeners on the back. It’s a french brand, I’m sure you can find UK version. I find it comforting - it feels supported and stops me making wrong moves...

Interesting what you say about the diazepam and you are wise to be wary. I’m actually very glad that I don’t seem to be getting any kind of buzz from them (very low dosage). My mum - who has had multiple back / hip problems over the years, including arthritis and two hip replacements, is thoroughly addicted to prescription strength Solpadol. She’s in her 70s now, and clearly zoning out every afternoon / evening doesn’t bother her. But it makes me very, very wary - I don’t want to do that.

I bet the amount of paracetamol she's ingesting is a lot for an elderly liver to cope with. Surely her GP would be better off prescribing codiene Belle? TBH I'm not sure I'd mind zoning out a bit when I get to my dotage.

...meant to ask Belle, does the back brace feel very restrictive, like Spanx? And does it feel........sweaty? Or say compared to the discomfort of an underwired bra. Corset?

(Now I sound like the underwear troll )

I love “sciatica sisters” sounds like a band

I’m ok, just getting more and more cross that I’ve plateaued again. After that first acupuncture I improved significantly but since then I’ve woken up every day feeling worse or the same.

I find mornings are horrendous - I suppose it’s the lack of movement and medication overnight. I am usually in tears by the end of my shower.

However movement seems to make it more bearable which is different to how it first started when any walking was virtually impossible. I just get these awful pains which might be spasms, I don’t know, but again I still have to keep crouching in the street to overcome them

You’re right Spam a list or something is a good idea for Monday to prevent me missing stuff / going off on tangents. The chicken wing comparison is good - I normally tell them my leg “feels sick”

Belle so glad you’re getting an MRI too. I wonder if I should look into a back brace as I keep finding myself stooping.

Spice Girls tomorrow (Saturday) eek! Fingers crossed I make it through!

👋🏽 can I join!

Currently sat in a&e after a cauda equina scare. I'm 3 months into a horrendous episode of sciatica caused by 2 herniated discs. Just got the mri results and they think it's okay but really borderline so I need to be careful with my bladder/bowel and come back immediately if anything changes.

I haven't found anything that touches the pain so really grateful for some of the tips here!

Also sorry that we are all in this situation. It is literally the worst isn't it?!

@EggbertHeartsTina I'm sorry to hear that it's not going as well as it initially was. I think you're amazing dealing with this and a newborn too! I honestly couldn't imagine! How are you finding it doing day to day stuff with the kids? I have an 18m old and I'm really struggling tbh. I feel like a failure as a mum because I can't properly care for her. I can't lift her up when I need to and she's bribed so much with snacks to get her to do what I need. She's definitely started to pick up on it in the last few weeks and she's playing up more for me. I feel so bad that my stupid pain is contributing to her behaviour and that she's missing out on things like I can't really take her to the park etc sorry this turned into a massive monologue about me. I really hope you make it to the spice girls!! Could you take a little fold up camping stool or something just to give yourself a little rest? I can't stand for longer than 5-10mins without being in agony.

Wishing everyone a pain free weekend!

That drug is addictive. I also think it made me sick when I missed a dose (I had withdrawal systems within hours) and ended up with an unplanned pregnancy.

I’ve come off the gabapentin completely and I’ve found my pain is less.

It interferes with my work massively and I could have lost my job. Try and get off it as soon as you can.

@avocuddl hello! So sorry to hear about your sciatica. What are they doing for you? Surely they aren’t just leaving you to deal with it when it’s so borderline? Haven’t you been offered steroid injections? I feel so sorry for you. Has it happened before? The thought that this could go on for three months actually makes me want to cry

I could have written your “monologue”. I’m so upset that I can’t do what I used to with my 3 year old. He knows my leg is bad because he sees me crying almost every day. I feel so guilty for being like that in front of him . I also can’t lift him but sometimes I do when it’s not feeling too bad which means I’m probably making it worse.

I can’t stand long either so I’m pretty sure the spice girls will be a write-off. I’m hoping I can easily leave if necessary. I’ll report back afterwards!