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In desperate need of help!

Posted , 3 users are following.

james711
james711

Hello all.

A month ago I saw a pain specialist at a clinic in Harley Street, London. He determined me to be suffering from neuropathic pain as a result of a chronic back condition. He put me on a month's trial of various drugs including Naproxen, Tapentadol and Pregabalin. The Pregabalin dose was to be increased on a weekly basis, starting at 50mg a day to 200mg a day on week four. After a week I was suffering from severe stomach pains believed to be a result of the Naproxen so I stopped taking them and it eased a little. By the end of week two I noticed a very positive improvement in the pain that has been ruining my life for the past 18 months. The improvement was around 30%. No drug thus far had helped. I started to feel positive and my mood lifted as a result, then week three came along and things started to change. As I'd increased my Pregabalin to 150mg a day I started to notice more side effects and nasty ones. Firstly I noticed I started getting stomach pain again, along with severe trapped wind that stabbed me. The stomach pain is low down, around belly button and intestine area, this has been accompanied by diarrhea. I have also felt very faint, dizzy and spaced-out. I stuck with it but as I got into week four and increased to 200mg I have felt awful. I have a scary feeling where I cannot seem to wake my body up in the morning. I am in such a deep sleep that I literally cannot move, it's frightening and takes a while to actually wake up! Also, my stomach pain by now has become sporadic but when it hits it is crippling. Cramps and low intense pain that has me laying down sometimes. I saw my pain specialist again yesterday and mentioned all of the above and he was ready to take me off the tabs and put me on Gabapentin but I told him I'm worried to do so as my neuropathic pain has improved by 40-50%. I am in a quandary and don't know what to do?? He also mentioned that the stomach pain could be a side effect of the tapentadol (opiod) rather than the Pregabalin. So he has given me a prescription for Oxycodone if I want to try that instead. I would really appreciate anyway's advice or feedback on Pregabalin, Tapentadol or any of the side effects I've mentioned above.

James

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • duracell_dave
    duracell_dave james711

    Posted

    hi james just a quick one,i started on every thing for chronic nerve pains in both legs,anyway ended up on 3600mg gabapentin and 400mg tramadol,my point is the gabapentin for me after amitrypiline,pregabalin etc has been a life saver my pain as long as i walk little and lay down all day iwas minimal,if you can ask about spinal cord stimulation .its by medtronics and after some people from high dosage of mentioned drugs to low or nothing at all,in a nutshell,2 wires(i have ,one for each leg) 9 year battery (with memory )in arse cheek ,recharge wirelessly ,remote,etc and you have the most powerful tens machine on the planet and it works not on all (you do a 7 day trial) but with me i must take meds and use it as pain is severe,but i get to do more,walk,sit more than 20 mins,great,sorry i did say quick didnt i. cheesygrin
  • duracell_dave
    duracell_dave james711

    Posted

    sorry james i forgot ,im in germany and they do the op all over uk but dont broadcast it for some reason,look on youtube for medtronics
  • jules46010
    jules46010 james711

    Posted

    Hi James.

    I've been on Pregablin,Tramadol and Trazadone for the last 3 years for neuropathic pain that I've been left with after major surgery.

    I was on 300mg pregablin twice a day. From day one the pregablin made me spaced out. I would loose my balance,slurred speech, no concentration.....pretty much a space cadet.

    In December I decided to wean myself off of it as I realised I was no longer living.....just existing !

    Doc gave me Zomorph for pain (opioid) which is a slow release pain killer. I took one and have never felt so ill, stomach cramps were hideous along with the vomiting and hallucinations.

    Off everything now.....and in great pain. Interestingly I escorted a patient this week to a hospital that performs nerve blocks which had fantastic results. So this I am hoping will be my next course of action.

    Doc has just referred me back to the pain clinic to see if this an option.

    Someone once told me that no one should be in pain....sadly here we all are.

    Best wishes

    J x

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