Peripheral neuropathic pain, sometimes unbearable

Have you tried lyrica or cymbalta I couldn't take either one but everyone is different

I had a stroke at age 41, a few months later I started having tingling and thumping in my foot, then after that I began to have the feeling you describe as if someone put a rubber band around my leg. Tingling then pain. The neurologist said it was central pain syndrome/ thalamic pain syndrome/ post stroke pain syndrome. I have dealt with this pain for 10 years now. I too take gabapentin in addition I take baclofen, noritryptiline and methadone. When the weather is bad it seems to hurt worse, I have found a Ted hose sock helps sometimes.

Good luck I can sympathize with the pain.

Blessings Kim

Have you tried Lidocaine patches. They have been very useful to me especially if I put on an hour or so before I am going to do something I know is likely to make pain worse. You can cut it into small strips as well and can be kept on for 12 hours at a time. I use it on soles of my feet.

Finally after 8 years severe pain, found relief with understanding pain doctor who recommended spinal stimulator implanted in back. With gabapentin, carbamazaapine and morphine drug schedule along with stimulator, my feet are almost pain free after 1 year post op. Best thing I ever did. I went within vicodin for so long they quit working and quite honestly, was ready to end it. Neuropathy pain is no laughing matter. Now my hands have the pain but not ready for more surgery.    Good Luck Chris

 

Your situation sounds similar to mine. I have a rare neurological disorder called Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, which causes neuropathy in both arms and both legs. And the pain has become much more severe in my arms and hands, 6 to 7 on a scale of 10 on a good day. Tramadol barelyy takes the edge off and I am hypersensitive to any medication with sedative side effects. There is no way I can get through the day without using my hands. So I am tolerating the pain. I have a high pain tolerance since I've lived with this disease for 32 years. But the neuropathy is reaching new levels. Spasticity is also a major symptom. Botox has been somewhat effective and relaxing my hip muscles and reducing the pain. So that may be an option.

I live in New York State in the US, where medical marijuana has been approved, though with many constraints. I have been approved for the program and am awaiting my first appointment. So I have not started taking the medication yet and have no idea how well it will work, if at all. The law also requires me to pay in cash, which is going to be very difficult, but worth it if it works.

Aside from the pain itself, tasks like writing and typing have become very difficult. I constantly feel the stocking effect and have now lost my awareness of how my feet are positioned. I am learning to use speech recognition software, so I can dictate letters and emails. But I'm still trying to understand how to use the software to manipulate the mouse. I need to be constantly focused on some activity to distract myself from the pain, but that's the best I can do. If I took any narcotic medication, I would be absolutely nonfunctional. Right now, getting dressed, shaving, brushing my teeth, writing, and holding onto objects are all a struggle. I don't know what the answer is. But I have to keep looking for answers. People find it hard to believe I can be in this much pain and that there is no treatment I can tolerate. The rapid remedies for minor ailments on TV drive me absoluetely crazy. So I've barely mentioned my pain to others, who freak out over a headache.   Just thought I would add to the discussion.

Your story is mine. Mine just this month went to my chest and head. That's not as bad as hands. Neck is uncomfortable.

I had to break down and go on Buttans patch - pain patch every week. It's nice because there is no loopy feeling.

I'm just curious how far does this thing go?