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Does gabapentin treat a nerve injury or only reduce the pain temporarily?

Posted , 4 users are following.

red-devil
red-devil

Hi I had injured my right foot while playing cricket couple of months back and CT scan revealed a minor metatarsal fracture which was treated by putting on a fibreglass cast. However I was unable to walk and then my doc guessed I also had a soft tissue / nerve injury in the foot and prescribed gabapentin. After about a week of taking 100mg gabapentin twice daily, my pain has reduced substantially and I am now able to walk properly.

What I want to know is that does gabapentin TREAT a nerve injury or only reduce the pain till the time one is taking the medicine? Will the pain come back once I stop taking it?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • plushly
    plushly

    Posted

    It only treats nerve pain. If you stop taking the meds the pain will come back very quickly.

    Your injury may or may not heal with time; if it does heal it is not from the gabapentin.

  • frances_rachael
    frances_rachael

    Posted

    I am prescribed 900 mg of gabapentin for nerve damage to my arm. It really eases the pain but doesn't treat the injury. I would take extra care to rest your foot as although the meds are reducing the pain, they're not contributing towards healing your injury.
  • red-devil
    red-devil

    Posted

    So the gabapentin is not doing anything to treat the nerve damage?
  • red-devil
    red-devil

    Posted

    ok thanks - I guess I need to be more careful with my foot.
  • lorraine09531
    lorraine09531

    Posted

    I had shingles in October 2012 and seem to have retuned with pain in middle of back. I have been prescribed 400gm gabapentin one at night, I am concerned about side effects,is this a very high dose and should I be concerned?

  • plushly
    plushly

    Posted

    Hi Lorraine

    400mg is not a high dose. Typical max dose is 3600mg per day. Only be concerned if the side effects are particularly bothersome. In fact, 400mg is more of a starter dose. I suspect it has been prescribed to help you sleep better. Just see how it goes.

    All drugs have side effects. Just need to weigh that against the pain relief benefit.

  • lorraine09531
    lorraine09531

    Posted

    Thank you for that very reassuring, hopefully it will help with my shingles problem too.
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