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

Meh I’m having a “two steps backwards” day after thinking things had improved. I went out and met a friend for coffee and had lunch in a pub with DH... and rested all afternoon. I felt ok, had my brace on etc. And this morning - not quite back to square one, but the sciatica has come back on both sides and everything feels very fragile and like it’s ready to “go” at one wrong move. So I’m back on my back, taking as many painkillers as I can, and rethinking a return to work on Monday :-(

It’s possible that the comfort of the back brace made me do more than I should have - beware!

Yep I totally got cocky too and thought I could walk more than I could 😒
Got an important meeting next week but it's 2-3h away by train so doubt I'm going to make it. Will be gutted if I can't though

Hope you had w nice lunch and coffee out though!

I had sciatica for nearly a month. I was rolling around on the floor in the worst pain. It was unbearable. I couldn't sleep or sit or walk. The hospital gave me some anti-inflammatories, which did nothing. Paracetamol and Asprin did nothing, including very high doses. Exercises did nothing.

Then I tried co-codamol and I was finally was able to sleep and started to get better. I also ate lots of turmeric at the same time, as this is an anti-inflammatory. Within 3 days my agonising pain was almost gone. I cannot recommend co-codamol enough.

@BogstandardBelle sorry to hear that. The whole I’m feeling better so I’ll do stuff definitely happens to me - I feel like I have to carefully plan what I’m doing at the moment

@avocuddl oh dear re meeting. Any chance of going first class to make life easier?

Just been speaking to surgeon on the phone. Booked in for surgery next Wednesday . It’s a microdiscectomy so a fairly routine op as far as things go. In his words it’s “reasonably urgent”. I have always thought of myself as a strong person so it’s hard thinking of myself as needing an operation sooner rather than later.

Wow @Bloodybackpain that is quick. I hope it is an immediate relief for you. Need urgent surgery doesn’t make you less of a strong person! Just means you buggered your back up worse after your epic run!!!

@BogstandardBelle sorry to hear things have gotten worse again

@avocuddl do you struggle sitting down then, hence the difficulty getting to the meeting? I hope you find a way to make it!

I too have probably overdone it. Today we went to the cinema and had to park half a mile away. I struggled so bad with the walk there and back, I ended up in tears (again) on the high street.

I just feel like my life is on hold and worried I’m never going to get the “old me” back again

I'm sorry eggberts I feel exactly the same 😔 Ive forgotten what it's like to just walk a few steps without being in pain :( I wish there was a quick fix. I hope that the surgery is a quick fix for you bloody. What have they said about recovery times? Are you in the uk?

I'm okay-ish sitting so the actual train would be okay, it would be the little connections in between that would be a struggle.

Gutted that I felt so good going to sleep last night but in total agony again now. One step forward 2 steps back for me as well.

Hugs to everyone and hope we all wake up in better condition.

Not sure this will help much OP because I haven't had gabaoentin but I was on amytriptylin for nerve pain and it didn't work. What did help me was acupuncture. It really helped me turn a corner after over a year of pain. I was able to get it on the NHS so it's worth asking for. Really wishing you well because being in pain can really just make your life feel crap x

Hi everyone, I had sciatic pain off and on for about 10 years.
Then after giving birth 2.5 years ago it came back permanently down both legs I was in constant pain. I was finally given an MRI a year ago plus standing xrays and a ct scan.
I was diagnosed with Spondylolisthesis at l4-s1.
I had spinal fusion and decompression surgery 16 weeks ago. It was an 8hr surgery, and I'm now fitted with lots of hardwear.
The nerve pain was completely gone the minute I woke up from anaesthetic, it's been a slow process recovering but the pain is gone. I actually have my life back.
I guess what I'm saying is push for answers, push for scans. I left it for 10 years effectively making my slip worse.

Wow @spinalfusiongirl i am glad it has worked out ok. I agree totally worth pushing for the scan.

@avocuddl I am in the uk. This is all happening privately. Thank god I kept my private medical insurance up, I had thought of getting rid a while back to save money! I realise I am extremely lucky to have had access to the mri and a specialist so soon

How are we all? Did you have nice pain free weekends?

@Bloodybackpain I had a discectomy and laminectomy for cauda equina (15mm herniation at L5/S1) so feel free to ask any questions
The recovery is really important - don't bend at all, lift or twist and my surgeon said no sitting for longer than 45 mins, so either stand or lie down. Lots of walking. Once I was over the initial recovery my physio and PT gave me some exercises. Walking on different surfaces like cobbles and grass. Standing on one leg while cleaning my teeth, basic balance exercises

I still get back pain but no leg pain and my surgery was an emergency so no choice whether to have it or not. I have a loss of feeling in my right foot and leg but minor in comparison to what it could have been

@YesQueen thank you that’s really helpful. I’m going to have to pin myself to the sofa in the next few weeks. Have ordered a granny grabber so I don’t have to bend over to pick stuff up. Sorry to hear you had cauda equina, I have had all the warnings about this, but it’s good to hear it was a success

@Bloodybackpain grabber is definitely good! It's all the small things like cleaning your teeth, not bending over to grab a dropped bottle in the shower etc etc. Try to plan as much as you can and get some food in etc
I had my op at 10am, came round at 4pm (op was 5hrs), walked to the toilet at 5pm and was demolishing food by 6pm. Discharged 1pm the next day with the surgeon telling me I was stubborn and wilful and likely to have an excellent recovery

@YesQueen good to hear you were up so quickly! I think mine is a smaller op, only 1.5 hours. I was not looking forward to being stuck in bed , hopefully they’ll get me up and moving quickly

Oh yeah they want you up and about as it's best for your back so I wouldn't expect to be stuck I couldn't sleep after the anaesthetic so I did a lot of pacing the hospital, going outside to vape etc
Mine was meant to be fairly quick but they said it was really tight in my back because of the size of the herniation, I have a larger scar too (about 4-5 inches)

Will you have someone looking after you @Bloodybackpain? I really hope it goes well. Saw the chiropractor today and she thinks surgery might be my best option. I have a physio specialist to get through first before I see the orthopaedic consultant which should be around 2 weeks 🙄

Fully back to my original pain now after my rest days. Did have a nice weekend though round a friends for a bbq. My DH is being great with looking after my lo but I think it's getting a bit much now. Just want to be back to normal!!

@avocuddl yes my husband should be around. I hope you get some answers from the physio- it was a physio I saw originally who sent me off quickly to a spinal surgeon.
I’ve had to stop taking ibuprofen in advance of the operation - I think it was keeping my pain levels at bay, as I’ve had a lot more pain today. I can take paracetamol but that’s not cutting it really, can’t sleep. Plus too much going round in my head

Good luck @Bloodybackpain will be thinking of you xx

Thank you @avocuddl. At the hospital now, I think my husband has done his back in trying to help me put my surgical stockings on!

Hope it went well!!

Thanks @avocuddl. Apparently it all went ok, surgeon said it was a big bulge of disc so I am happy I decided to go for the operation.
I can’t really tell how the sciatic pain is, haven’t really got up yet, and taking lots of medication.