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01-14-2025 06:55 PM
I have a pinched nerve and arthritis in my lower back. I've had a complete med workup. I've had an MRI and X-ray diagnostic testing.
I've seen a spinal surgeon, pain mgt specialist, PT and consulted a pharmacist.
I've had one epidural injection and it was ineffective.
I'm going for another injection on Friday focusing other areas of my back.
MY PROBLEM: I can't sleep. When I get into bed, my left leg starts burning from the back of my knee down to my toes. This burning is sufficient to keep my up because the pain is too severe to ignore.
My doc told me I could use 3,000mg Tylenol and 2 Gabapentin pills per day.
Each med provider, including the pharmacist, suggested various dosing schedules. I admit I've never used 3000mg of Tylenol. At the most I've used 1750mg. I've used the Gabapentin for about a week, 1 pill AM, 1 pill before bed.
I weigh 140 lbs. NOTHING I'VE USED REGARDLESS OF DOSING SCHEDULE HAS WORKED TO ALLOW ME TO SLEEP.
Anyone have a suggestion as to how I might be able to dose the Tylenol and Gabapentin so I can avoid the buring that prevents me from sleeping? Thank you!!
01-14-2025 07:21 PM
@pdlinda. I've had severe lower back pain for 40 years. 8ve had all the usual treatments including one summer with a pain mgmt specialist where he did injections all over my back trying to find the "sweet spot". Never found it.
I chuckled at the thought of Tylenol and Gabapentin relieving my pain. Even the milder narcotics don't help, so I. take nothing and stay off my feet which aggravates it.
For years I took a NSAID, which helped a lot, but eventually it affected my kidney function (as will Tylenol) so I was ordered off of it.
Have you seen a rheumatologist for arthritis? Most are expert at prescribing meds for joint and back pain.
01-14-2025 07:27 PM
That's a issue that should be discussed with your physician when you see he or she on Friday. I was on Gabapentin for about 1 yr with no significant improvement in my back pain so my MD d'c'd it. I have been on Tramadol as needed which helps my back pain. Arthritis is the worse one of those ritis boys !! ( have you ever heard of that slogan?) I sincerely wish you a speedy recovery from your pain and discomfort. I know it's no fun being in pain !. Keep us posted.
01-14-2025 07:40 PM
I cannot take NSIDS. Only Tylenol.
I spoke to the spinal surgeon last week. He described a small surgery to remove the nerve thats causing the problem and cleaning out some debris that arthritis has caused.
My granddaughter is getting married in March.
I hope the injection works to give me some pain relief until after the wedding.
I'm giving some very serious consideration to getting the surgery in early April.
01-14-2025 08:18 PM
@pdlinda wrote:I have a pinched nerve and arthritis in my lower back. I've had a complete med workup. I've had an MRI and X-ray diagnostic testing.
I've seen a spinal surgeon, pain mgt specialist, PT and consulted a pharmacist.
I've had one epidural injection and it was ineffective.
I'm going for another injection on Friday focusing other areas of my back.
MY PROBLEM: I can't sleep. When I get into bed, my left leg starts burning from the back of my knee down to my toes. This burning is sufficient to keep my up because the pain is too severe to ignore.
My doc told me I could use 3,000mg Tylenol and 2 Gabapentin pills per day.
Each med provider, including the pharmacist, suggested various dosing schedules. I admit I've never used 3000mg of Tylenol. At the most I've used 1750mg. I've used the Gabapentin for about a week, 1 pill AM, 1 pill before bed.
I weigh 140 lbs. NOTHING I'VE USED REGARDLESS OF DOSING SCHEDULE HAS WORKED TO ALLOW ME TO SLEEP.
Anyone have a suggestion as to how I might be able to dose the Tylenol and Gabapentin so I can avoid the buring that prevents me from sleeping? Thank you!!
@pdlinda what was the diagnosis by the spinal surgeon after the reading of your mri and is that the doctor that prescribed the epidural
mrshckynut
01-14-2025 08:27 PM
@pdlinda wrote:I cannot take NSIDS. Only Tylenol.
I spoke to the spinal surgeon last week. He described a small surgery to remove the nerve thats causing the problem and cleaning out some debris that arthritis has caused.
My granddaughter is getting married in March.
I hope the injection works to give me some pain relief until after the wedding.
I'm giving some very serious consideration to getting the surgery in early April.
@pdlinda i can only tell you about my husband having a similar surgery which the spinal surgeon did in his office
it took about 2 hours and the surgical opening was covered by a small bandage he went there with similar pains you described in his left leg and he left the office pain free
mrshckynut
01-14-2025 08:52 PM
@mrshckynut Diagnosis was: Spinal Stenosis and, yes, he was the one who ordered the Epidural. The Epidural was administered by another doc who is a Pain Mgt Specialist.
01-14-2025 08:58 PM - edited 01-14-2025 09:01 PM
I had a similar injury ( it was a ruptured disc in lower spine), and I felt the same thing- including burning leg pain and no sleep- It was nightmare for 3 weeks. Mine was due to the burst disc inner stuff leaning on the nerve, activating the leg muscle. Nothing helped, not even strong pain meds ( nerve pain does not always respond to pain killers, but gaba is a drug for nerve pain). The gaba worked, but it takes a few days to work up to the right dosage.
Yours sounds like it could be sciatic nerve also, activating the muscle (and causing the burning sensation).
I would call the doc and tell him about the burning pain that is preventing sleep, and ask if you should increase the gaba- You could also try ice packs on your back to deaden the nerve impulses, but honestly, ice did not work for me- BEST WISHES. These usually get better but takes time...
01-14-2025 09:26 PM
@mrshckynut What wonderful news! Thanks so much for giving me some HOPE!
My doc said the surgery would take about 1.5 hrs. and he also mentioned the small incision. He did mention he'd keep me in the hospital (I insisted on having it done in a hospital...pardon my aprehension; however, since the death of Joan Rivers when she had a surgical procedure done in a "surgery center" I'd prefer a hospital), overnight because I live alone and he wanted to make sure my vital signs were normal before I went home.
My surgeon has done hundreds and hundreds of these surgeries throughout his 25 yr career, so, after what you report, I'm closer than ever to getting it done! Thank you!
01-14-2025 09:32 PM
@Skyegirl21 Yes, the doc did mention the sciatic nerve and he said I could take 3 Gabapentins a day (morning, noon and night) He said I should start with one and then titrate up to 2 and if that didn't help I could take a third one.
I agree about the ice.
I didn't help me, and Tylenol doesn't do much.
I did take 2 Tylenol about 1 PM today because that burning and "prickling pins and needles" was getting up to "7" on the pain scale so the Tylenol help tamp it down a bit.
As an aside, when I sit on my laz-e-boy recliner I get no burning; however, I tried putting a pillow under my leg when I went to bed last night to try and mimic the recliner position, but the burning was still prominent and I couldn't sleep.
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