Marie,
You've got two issues here. Yes, I have been prescribed Gabapentin for sciatic pain and it really helps. I don't like the foggy head side effects, but I like the sciatic pain less. I had an L4/L5 fusion 7 weeks ago and they had me wean off of it, and I spent two completely sleepless nights due to the leg pain. I talked to my surgeon's nurse and I am back on it now. I really noticed how well it worked when I went off of it for a few days. My surgeon has told me it could take 1-2 years for the sciatic pain to improve considerably. However, the Gabapentin helps a lot for the pain but does nothing for my leg jerking/spasms.
Second, for the leg spasms/jerking, I started having this in just my left leg about 3 weeks after my sciatic pain symptoms first appeared about a year and a half ago. I basically had a phycho left leg that would jerk and flair uncontrollably when I would sit or lay down but not when I would stand (yes, I did a lot of standing!). It was almost impossible to get to sleep some nights. I got a lot of varying opinions from different doctors, but finally one said it was due to a squished nerve and he put me on Baclofen which has been a miracle drug for me. Baclofen is a muscle relaxer and antispasmodic and is commonly used for MS patients. When you talk to your doctor, ask him/her about Baclofen and tell him/her about your leg jerking/spasming. I found it is best to use the language jerking instead of spasming as they better understand what you are going through. I was also told to wean off the Baclofen after my fusion and when I got to the lower doses my psycho leg returned and I had to go back on Baclofen. My surgeon said I may need to be on it for life. The only major side effect I have had with Baclofen is tiredness, but none of the foggy brain symptoms like from Gabapentin or other bothersome side effects. When I was first put on Baclofen I had to ramp up my dose until my body was used to it after a few weeks as it initially makes you really feel out of it. Also, it immediately help with the leg jerking but it was about 6 weeks before the leg jerking mostly disappeared.
Have you already had back surgery? What level(s) are your back problems at?
Best wishes and you are welcome to private message me for more information about this.
He told me if they get bothersome he would put me on some medication for it. Right now, the charlie horses only come a few times per month and the twitching does not keep me awake. So, for now, i am just living with it. But it's good to know that someone here had some good luck with that other medication.
