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3 replies [Last post]
October 24, 2009 - 9:59pm
Anonymous
Dopey and still in pain

In August, I was (finally) diagnosed with a ruptured L5-S1, central rupture. I had been suffering from horrible back pain and even worse radiculopathy for almost a year. I saw a pain doc on Oct 1, and he did an epidural injection. It took about three days for the injection to work and lasted about another 8 days before it was kaput. The pain doc also put me on Neurontin and naproxen. I called last week, after giving the meds a full two weeks to work, and said that I was still having quite a bit of pain. He upped my Neurontin to where I will eventually be taking two capsules three times a day (300mg capsules, I think) and switched the naproxen to diclofenac twice daily. I don't know which medicine is making me an absolute idiot, but one of them is! What's worse is that they are neither one doing a real good job at managing the pain. I am still working on getting the Neurontin to the full dose he recommended.

I am a teacher and need to be on my toes, and quite honestly, I hate the way I feel. I had better luck with Advil and hydrocodone. Those never made me feel dopey. I go back on November 11, possibly for another injection, but in the meantime, I just wanted to ask...will my body adjust to these medications or am I destined to feel detached, fuzzy, and dull the entire time I take them?

Thanks for any and all advice!!

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October 24, 2009 - 10:55pm
#1
meydey321
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Joined: 06/26/2008
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Hi Melanie

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. For me, it was Neurontin that made me feel out of it and detached, like I was on autopilot. I hated that feeling and it also tore up my stomach so I could never take more than 200mg a day. Mercifully my doctor switched me to Cymbalta and I find it works better for my nerve pain than Neurontin ever did. I also took Naproxen 500mg which is prescription strength and it made me a little drowsy at times. Of course everyone reacts to meds differently so I can't say for sure if it's one or the other. Personally I would put my money on Neurontin Wink Maybe your doctor will put you back on Hydrocodone and another nerve pain medicine like Cymbalta, Lyrica, Topamax, etc. Take care

_____________

PLS,nerve damage,facet arthropathy,severe DDD,DJD,scar tissue; Fibro
Back Surgeries: Microdiscectomy/ laminectomy,2 level TLIF/Laminectomy w/ hardware, Synchromed infusion pump
Meds: Dilaudid,Oxycodone,Lyrica,Robaxin,Cymbalta,Elavil,Plaquenil
Spineys Rule!

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October 24, 2009 - 11:13pm
#2
charry
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Hi Melanie

That's rough you're having so much pain. I had some relief after my 2nd epidural and then some(I had 5 total over 20 months). I also found Cymbalta was more effective the same as Meydey. I also took Lyrica similar to Neurontin for a short while after that. I still use my infrared platinum heating pad and it helps while siting especially. Take care and hoe you keep looking for more Neurosurgeon or Orthosurgeon opinions. Charry

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Any answers I have is not medical advice only a Doctor can help you with that. Just sharing my personal experience as a fellow Spine Health member only. Mild DDD of complete lumbar area with recent healing of L5-S1 HD and annular tear.Leg &foot weakness nerve compression L4-L5.Mod. disc changes C5-C7 nerve impingement sore elbow and numb hand. Sept. 2011 MRI L4-L5 disc bulge and L5 facet joint and narrowing. Meds-Oxycontin 80mg,Cymbalta,Lyrica, Flexeril,Naproxen,Serax. Platinum Infrared heating pad. ER and Oncology trained and Cardiology RN on Disability. Keep the faith.

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October 25, 2009 - 2:01am
#3
patwhite101
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Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 1078
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Hi Melanie

I too have problems with Neurotonin and Lyrica. Can not take them at all because of the horride side effects. My brain was in such a fog and could hardly talk let alone walk. I only took one pill but that was enough for me. I could not function at all. It took two days for it to wear off.
I know a lot of people who swear by them. My vision was so blurred I could not call the ambulance
to take me to the ER. I thought it was going to kill me...i really did. Do bot let my experiane scare you. As I said, a lot of people get wonderful relief. I am just one of those people who has ptoblems with meds. The brain fog was just one of the problems I had.
Best of luck to you.
Cheers
Patsy W Wave

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I am not a Doctor but I do watch House and Doc Martin on TV.

Never give up HOPE..June 18,2010 I had a pain pump implant....I now free of pain.

My thoughts and opinions are just that, my thoughts and my opinions, based on my experiances.

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