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Awaiting MRI for sciatica type symptoms, now on Gabapentin

Posted , 21 users are following.

craig26478
craig26478

Hi all and thanks for reading this. I have suffered with back pain for many years but what i thought was standard aches and pains. I have quite an arched back and am quite tall, working a desk job, so put it down to this. At the start of this year, things changed and i started to get shooting pains in my leg leg. To cut a long story short i was diagnosed with sciatica. I have been to physio, seen a private chiropractor and also another specialist physio who referred me for an MRI. Up until then, i had only been prescribed standard painkillers which did nothing. The specialist recommended Gabapentin to the GP and i have been on them since Tuesday. Just one 300mg capsule has made me feel quite spaced out and about 90 mins later when trying to speak with clients on the phone at my work, i lost my train of thought and struggled. I am worried about the long term effects and given that i am still in pain, i feel like i don't know what to do for the best? Do i stick with them, it's obviously very early days? Should the pain be gone? Range of movememt is no better. I'm strong willed but this is really starting to get to me. Any info / advice is appreciated and welcomed.

Regards to all, Craig.

1 like, 76 replies

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  • Jayive
    Jayive craig26478

    Posted

    Yes, stick with them Craig. I have been on them for over 1 year, it will make you a bit spaced out to begin with but eventually you should feel the benefit. You have to build up very slowly to eventually take a much higher dose. If necessary get yourself signed off work until you feel the benefit.

    I've also been for an MRI, had physio and also acupuncture which didn't help at all. Hope this helps you.

    • craig26478
      craig26478 Jayive

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply. I mistakenly took two the first day...and boy did I know it! I've taken one a day since and will stick with it. It's hard as I feel like I burden friends and family, it's a constant pain. Having an outlet such as this helps. Thanks again 
  • avril01821
    avril01821 craig26478

    Posted

    Hi Craig

    I have just been put on Gabapentin 600 gm`s aday and I am now eighty years of age.  At first I thought that I could not take these as they made me so spaced out and really confused.  I would suggest that you stay with them and eventually you will get used to them.  (Well at least they have not stopped me driving).  They are very good for nerve pain and I could not get any sleep without them.

    So stay with them Craig, nerve pain is a very sad place to be.

    • craig26478
      craig26478 avril01821

      Posted

      Hello and thank you for your reply. It's comforting to not feel alone and I will continue to stick with the medication and post here. Your words have helped, best wishes to you.
  • plushly
    plushly craig26478

    Posted

    If you only take one per day, try taking it in the evening instead of the morning.
    • craig26478
      craig26478 plushly

      Posted

      Hi there. I have tried this and still seem to be groggy. I am hoping as i get more used to them, the negative effects will start to reduce. It seems to be a case of side effects or pain and i have to pick!
  • craig26478
    craig26478

    Posted

    Update: after checking things over with the GP today he has recommended that i actually increase the dose and do so every few days, at least to the point whereby i'm taking them morning, noon, then night. I am apprehensive of this but will try and suggested. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
  • Jayive
    Jayive craig26478

    Posted

    Hi Craig,

    I remember when I was first offered Gabapentin that it sounded far too high a dose. I started on 1 x 300mg capsule three times a day, gradually increasing it. Eventually I went up to 3 capsules x three times a day but found I was too sleepy and have now (slowly) cut back to taking 1 x  300mg capsule at breakfast, lunch and dinner followed by 3 last thing at night (together with paracetamol and  codiene several times a day) this, I find, gives me 4/5 hours of solid sleep each night which does seem to make the remaining hours more bearable.

    I know how severe pain can make you feel but, believe me, once your system gets used to it, gabapentin really does help make life more bearable.

    I hope this helps you in your quest.

    • craig26478
      craig26478 Jayive

      Posted

      Hi Jayive. Thank you for your reply, it is very informative and useful. I'm going to increase from tomorrow and see how it goes...I feel more encouraged now. How long have you taken it for, can I ask? Thank you 
    • Jayive
      Jayive craig26478

      Posted

      I can't quite remember but it is over 1 year now and has not done me any harm so don't worry about it.
    • snowycat
      snowycat Jayive

      Posted

      Hi just wondered worth asking your gp for amytriptaline for night time I have also and get eight solid hours.
  • william65598
    william65598 craig26478

    Posted

    I have has a history of herniated discs, had lumbar surgery 12 yers ago, with success.  in April 2013, my back symptome prior to surgery returned. My MRI did not show severe herniation as my MRI did when I had lumbar surgery. Have been using Gaberpentin, prescribed by an pain doc, and have has good results. Although recently, my nerve pain has returned from buttocks area to left foot. I have been a lifelong swimmer, and what ever I am doing to agrevate the nerves has continued, unless I stop swimming. Have had side effects of some dizziness, that seems to be all. Plan to increase usage, because the last time I saw the pain doc, he said the goal is to get up to 1600 milligrams a day. Sure sounds like a lot. Has anybody else increased their dosage and had sucess with managing the nerve pain?....Thanx,  Will
    • plushly
      plushly william65598

      Posted

      Hi William

      3600mg is generally the max therapeutic dose; so 1600mg is not that high.

      Many people on gabapentin comment that the dose often has to be increased over time to maintain effectiveness.

    • william65598
      william65598 plushly

      Posted

      thanx plushly, I plan to see the pain doc again, or at least and call for advice on increasing dosage. It is a result of a work comp injury, and am considering asking for anotjher MRI to see if further deteriation has occured since last MRI, Feb.this year
    • Jayive
      Jayive plushly

      Posted

      Hi Plushy

      I take gabapentin and have found that my weight has increased dramatically I'm now trying to cut down to see if I can lose the weight again, but with less gabapentin I find it more difficult to control my pain - its a win some lose some I guess.

    • plushly
      plushly Jayive

      Posted

      Hi Jayive

      With any drug you have to weight the benefits vs the side effects and pick the lesser of two evils.

      Yes the weight gain can be a problem. I am currently on Lyrica and have been astounded at how quickly I put on weight. I cut the dose in half, but have still put on 12kg in 3 months. I must add though when I went of Lyrica for a short stint and went back onto gabapentin and cymbalta, I lost 6kg in 2 weeks. So I guess a lot of the weight gained is fluid retention.

      The extra weight is starting to have negative side effects on my health; loss of energy, reduced strength, sleep apnea (for which I require CPAP now). Prior to the weight gain I rarely even snored.

      I've read a lot of people seem to have success with Topamax for neuro pain (off label) and apparently people generally lose weight with it if anything. I will look into this with my doctor to see if it is a viable alternative.

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