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Pregabalin for back pain

Posted , 6 users are following.

Pedro9007
Pedro9007

Hi All,

Have been taking pregabalin for the last 6/7 months but have found I am not getting sort of pain relief. I have a partially herniated disc in my lower back which is pinching the nerves around it.

I'm currently on 600mg Pregabalin (300mg morning & night), 50mg Amitriptyline, 20mg Citalopram, 15mg Mirtazipine, 2x 10/500mg Co-Dydramol 4 times a day, 500mg Naproxen 2x a day.

Even with taking all of the above I am in constant pain. I've been seen by my local pain management clinic and they have referred me to their psychologist, but I now have to wait 3 months to see him.

My question is does anyone know of anything else I can ask my doctor to give me, as I am fed up of being told there is nothing more he can do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • valerie94214
    valerie94214 Pedro9007

    Posted

    Hi Pedro. Well I have recently been prescribed PREGABALIN though a low dosage with the proviso that I can take two instead of one if in more pain. I have also had pain relief injections. To be honest, I have felt no difference at all. My problem differs from yours in that I have osteoarthritis of the spine so there is nothing they can do apparently. I am going back to see if my Osteopath can help later today. Have you tried this route yet? My husband gets a pinched nerve and it helps him. I hope you get some relief soon. This kind of pain just drags you down doesn't it?
    • Pedro9007
      Pedro9007 valerie94214

      Posted

      Hi Valerie,

      I've tried pain relief injections into my facet joints & osteopathy but found that both made the pain worse. Was offered more pain injections recently but the last lot made me bed ridden for almost 2 weeks!

      I totally agree with you. I've had this for almost 18 months now and I really can't remember the last time I was happy in myself. Have suffered with severe bouts of depression in that time and have had no support from my GP whatsoever. They generally just give me more drugs to take, which then make me ill, which then brings me down again. Just feels like a vicious cycle!

      I hope you get some sort of help from your Osetopah this afternoon.

  • valerie94214
    valerie94214 Pedro9007

    Posted

    I know how you are feeling. I cannot sit anywhere or stand for more than a few minutes before my pain returns. If I am walking fairly briskly it is ok. As you say, the doctors are no good at all. Shame they do  not suffer back  problems, as they may be more synpathetic if they did. More research is desperately needed. Fingers crossed for us both!
  • paulhalo
    paulhalo Pedro9007

    Posted

    Robaxin,loratabs, relafin, oral moriphine. 

    They all bandaid  you till you fix with surgery. Could try nerve block ..I too was sent to see psyche. .gave me Cymbalta for depression and pain relief..worked 1 1/2 years..down side I gained 25 Lbs...now I'm taking Lexapro  which doesn't cause weight gain..it gives me a screw it all attitude  which is great now along with xanax..pain is now more tolerable but in long run you will need surgery. 

  • STD
    STD Pedro9007

    Posted

    Personally, I hate taking loads of tablets.  I just don't like the idea.  You could ask your doctor/specialist about trying spinal injections.  Not everyone finds that they work, but I did find that they helped a lot (let's say for a period of a few weeks/months).  At least then you won't be having to take loads of oral medicine every day.  If you've got a partially herniated disc which is pinching the surrounding nerves, then you ought to at least consider trying spinal injections - and they also ought to be offered to you.  
    • paulhalo
      paulhalo STD

      Posted

      Another worthless bandaid  prior to surgery it justs buys time eats up your  deductible of out of pocket I've probably had 20 or so..might buy up to 4 months of relief..but in long run the surgery table is the way to go.
  • n8ster
    n8ster Pedro9007

    Posted

    Yes, probably start off with an MRI and then an operation to repair the herniated disc . If it is squeezing your nerve, it will only get worse .And eventually you are going to be eating handfuls of pills to try to relieve the pain .I don't know why you would need a psychologist , you're not crazy , you're in pain . I think the doctor who said you need a psychologist needs to see one .
  • Pedro9007
    Pedro9007

    Posted

    Hi All,

    Thanks for the replies.

    I've had numerous MRI's over the ast 18 months, all showing the same problem. Docs keep telling me that it is a result of Degenerative Disc Disease (I think that's right) but have no eveidence of it elsewhere.

    I think the last letter I had said I was being considered for a procedure called Radio Frequency Rhizotomy but haven't heard anything since (roughly a 1 1/2 months...).

    I'm already eating handfuls of pills at the moment! My GP won't give me anything else because, and I quote, "I don't want to turn you into a drug addict"... This is the same GP who told me that I was ok to immediately stop taking 400mg Tramadol after 6 months of use...

    I know there are other painkillers out there but everyone seems to be reluctant to actually prescribe them.

    • n8ster
      n8ster Pedro9007

      Posted

      I just had the same thing, well I had stenosis also but the disc and stenosis were pressing on my nerve . My feet were going numb and was getting worse . You may be able to get a simple fusion and be pain free .Have you talked to a orthopedic spine surgeon ? I would suggest at least talking to one. With the amount of pills you're taking , it will take a toll on your liver .And they are pretty good at this repair now .I would not have a gp treating me for my spine . They are not specialist in this. Thats why they just give people pills and send you on your way . Degenerative disc don't get any better and you could have some real problems if it gets worse . The first doctor I seen said my back looked normal . It was way past normal . He wanted to give me injection periodically . And I didn't want that . I wanted it fixed . Now it is and I am recovering . And the feelings in my feet are slowly coming back . I will just say one thing, ok I guess more than that but . When it comes to your medical care. You have to be pushy and direct the doctor what you want . Because to a lot of them if they can't fix it they lose a customer to someone else that can and if they just give you pills and don't fix it they have a customer for life . This is fixable .there is a website called spinehealth and you can watch videos of operations . animated  but you get the point .
    • valerie94214
      valerie94214 Pedro9007

      Posted

      I have spoken to someone who had the Radio Frequency Rhyzotomy and she said it was highly effective for her when nothing else seemed to work. She has been pain free for months.

       

    • Pedro9007
      Pedro9007 n8ster

      Posted

      When I was first reffered to the pain management clinic, I was informed that fusion would not be an option as the disc in question was too far down my spine (L5/S1). I did speak at length with the surgeon who gave me my facet joint injections, and she was of the same opinion. My condition has deteriorated significantly, as I am now experiencing involuntary leg movements, so i'm hoping that when I see her next, she may consider something else.

      I do worry about the damage i'm probably causing to my liver but I'm certainly not going to be stopping/reducing my intake of meds in the near future, as I tried to go without and lasted all of 2 weeks before I crawled back to surgery to ask for them again!

      I've tried to be pushy but it's not got me aywhere as yet. I'd love to be able to turn up at my drs everyday and keep asking, but I can't afford to not be working.

      I have looked at the spinehealth website in the past but I'll take another look as it may have the answers!

    • n8ster
      n8ster Pedro9007

      Posted

      I was just reading a post from paulhalo that had those fused . Personally if it were me I would go else where . Some doctors don't like surgery . I understand the pain your in though . I am still on oxycontin and when I try to get off the pain kills me .
    • Pedro9007
      Pedro9007 n8ster

      Posted

      Yeah, I just saw that myself. I'll bring it up the next time I see someone. I'm moving soon so need to change my drs. Hopefully that will bring better results.
    • n8ster
      n8ster Pedro9007

      Posted

      Ya , it really sucks that some of these doctors can't feel the pain people are in . Then maybe if they couldn't help you they would at least tell you , that someone else may . I really think that some of these doctors just want to line their own pockets and not actually help . I really think someone can help you . You will more than likely need to go to a large city for a good surgeon . Smaller towns just don't get quality doctors .And a lot of doctors only want easy cases, but hey when you need surgery, you need surgery .
    • Pedro9007
      Pedro9007 n8ster

      Posted

      I would totally agree with you on that! I've only ever come across 1 dr who genuinely seemed to care and wanted to help, but he retired and I was left with the inconsiderate **** (i'll let you decide)...

      I've been seeing Drs in and around Southampton, so relatively big, just trying to find the right one. And trying to remain positive, that's always difficult.

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