Some advice and questions
Posted , 3 users are following.
First I want to let everyone know about a simple thing that can greatly reduce pain but many people don't know about. If you have been prescribed painkillers, opioid or otherwise, it is vitally important to take them regularly. For me this means takes tramadol and paracetemol every 8 hours. This is because there is a big difference in acute vs chronic pain.
Most prescriptions or treatments are based on acute pain, where you are expected to take the medication whenever you feel pain. There is some relief after 1-2 hours but then it slowly tapers off according to each drugs half-life. By taking the medication every 8 hours the half-life slowly starts to improve so that after 4-6 weeks, the pain relief is much more constant. This small change has dramatically changed my experience of pain and greatly improved my ability to function.
What is shocking is that most GPs and even some specialists are not aware of this. I was only told about it by a specialist pain clinic. So ask your doctor about it as soon as you can.
Question wise, has anyone had a nerve block injection? Was there much relief, how long did it last?
0 likes, 7 replies
babs99203 Geezee
Posted
Any doctor SHOULD know the proper dosing recommendations, but many don't. It's always good to check with your pharmacist or lookup to see if they're prescribing it properly. Gabapentin is often given from PHN and has a very short half-life so it's to be prescribed 3-4 times a day. As it wears off some people develop interdosage withdrawal.
FYI, gab's side effect and withdrawal are so detrimental to physical an mental health that I'd NEVER recommend it. Sadly, there really isn't much effective medication for PHN. I've been dealing with it for 3 years and some meds help somewhat. That's about it.
ashok1082 Geezee
Posted
How many mg Tramadol do you take. And do you know that it can be additive and ( I may be wrong here) it effect will reduce as the usage becomes regular.
Has anyone tried Tens or IFT physiotherapy?
And do any of the medicines particularly Lyrica give swelling of the feet?
Is there anyone who has not been able to wear a shirt for more than a year?
Thanks and regards
Geezee ashok1082
Posted
I'm on 100mg tramadol 3x a day and been on for about 5 months. The acute effectiveness does decrease over time but the chronic effect increases over about 4-6 weeks and then stays at that level. Which is why it becomes important not to miss a dose otherwise the effectiveness starts to decrease again.
I'm not a pharmacists, but I think this may be a contributing factor to the opioid crisis as people are using acute doses to treat a chronic condition. So the short term effectiveness seems to weaken so people take stronger and stronger doses, rather that what they should be doing which is to take smaller but more regular doses.
I was on Lyrica for awhile and I also noticed swelling of my feet after awhile. Amongst many other side effects.
ashok1082 Geezee
Posted
Thanks. The info about feet swelling and Lyrica was useful. I am relying on Lyrica plus Tegritol.
babs99203 Geezee
Posted
Gabapentin and Lyrica are close cousins and have nearly the identical side effects. Gab can cause swelling in hands and feet and all over edema (fluid retention). If you mean the PHN prevents comfortable wearing of clothing, I have your answer. Yes. I had shingles, have PHN in my back/shoulder area and now have ultra pain sensitivity called allodynia. I've had to change almost my whole wardrobe, no bras, nothing with a hood, yoke (seam across the shoulders) etc. I wear Lands End fleece, one size larger than I need. And struggle to find other comfortable clothing. I had no idea what this was until the pain from the PHN diminished, then I realized I had it. I avoid reaching, bending, twisting as all these set it off worse for a while. I got shingles 11/2016 and am seeing great improvement, but it still impacts my life.
ashok1082 Geezee
Posted
So what medication do you take?
I have been prescribed everything from Lyrica, Gabapentine Tegrital to Tryptomer over the last 2.5 years with little relief.
Glad to know you have a reduction in pain.
This is the device I use to avoid Allodynia . The white plastic on the shoulder can form at hot water temperature and moulds to the shoulder to provide a good fit.
babs99203 ashok1082
Posted
Ashok, if you're asking me what I use for meds, here it is. I'm down to 300 mg of gab, down from 2700 3 years ago. I've been tapering since just a few weeks after I got the highest dose, 2700. At that point the pain finally leveled off so my doc stopped increasing. Little did I know the problems the dam drug would cause me. I was off on medical leave, but had to get back to work, but my brain fog and memory was so bad, I knew I had to start getting off it.
I've been on an Rx NSAID, nabumetone for 25 years, took extra strength Tylenol 3-4 times a day (still do) and OTC Aspercreme with Lidocaine 3 times a day (still do). Unfortunately your ingenious device won't help me. It's pressure on my neck area, upper back that sets off the allodynia. It's absolutely how ridiculous how little it takes to set it off. Sometimes I change my top 3 or 4 times a day, but I've gotten better at knowing what I can and can't wear. Thank you for sharing, this can be a lonely, self-absorbed journey.