Gabapentin

  • Thread starter Thread starter SpineAZ
  • Start date Start date
Pooby you really shouldn't jump to conclusions until you know what our conditions and situations are. For some people, surgery is their last hope for a normal and pain free (or pain reduced) life. These people, including myself and Spine, have tried all other conservative treatments and they have not improved our quality of life.
For most, surgery works really well. They just don't post on here anymore because they are out living their lives. The people who post on here are the ones still having problems, so thats why you only read about bad news usually.
I wont go in to my personal story, but for me, having another surgery is literally my last hope for a normal life. I am only 28, have a 2 year old daughter, and want more children. I have a lot of living left to do, as does everyone else on here who is in horrible chronic pain.
 
Gabapentin helps tremendously with my nerve pain. I am on a relatively small dose of it too, but for now, it is working. One question though, is it supposed to help with nurabness too? I have not found that it does.
 
I’m happy it works great for you and many others. Maybe my sciatica is just too severe and chronic for Gabapentin to have any real noticeable effect. I take an occasional Tramadol or Xanax when things get really bad; but for the most part I just live with it drug free. Most of the time the pain is tolerable, and after twenty years, I’ve learned to tune it out. I only get severe episodes about two-three days/month. I wish Gabapentin worked for me (tried it for weeks several times), because there are really no side effects to speak of, and relatively no withdrawal, even when you abruptly stop taking it. Shame; would have been perfect.

By the way Fiona Jo, is your nerve pain sciatica also?
 
Thanks Megss, you said that very well. Truth be told without my upcoming surgery I lay on the couch most of each day even with strong pain meRAB. With the possibility that surgery may work I hope to return to a better level of functioning and maybe get back to work. I'm blessed that I have good disability benefits from my employer - but I'd rather leave those behind and someday return to gainful employment and back to enjoying life instead of just enduring. I will always seek out ways to improve the quality of my life, even if it means ongoing surgeries.
 
Just goes to show how everybody responRAB so differently to meRAB, even if it is the same problem. Gabapentin did nothing for my sciatica, but I've heard otherwise from people who have the same condition. They said it worked wonders for them. Everyone is uniquely wired I suppose.
 
Pooby I'm sorry I wasn't trying to be rude. I got the impression from your post that you were accusing me of chasing a surgical solution. I am sorry you need a cane and a scooter. I hope you feel better soon.
 
Fiona:

How long did it take to get past the side effect of loopiness/diziness? I am going to try gabapentin again and I don't want to give up too soon if the loopiness returns.
 
Usually takes a couple of weeks to get past the dizziness but depending on the dosage it could continue. I take 2100mg a day and still get some dizziness at night when I take 1500mg at bedtime. Obviously my heavy dosage at bed poses no problem with side effects because it helps me to sleep.
 
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