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Respected Contributor
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Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Update from my Dr appt today


@We rescue cats wrote:

That sounds encouraging, Smoochie, is the Gabapentin working well for you? 


it has not. But that's because I only take it sporadically. Doc said take it regularly like three times a day and it should work. 


Harmonize the World
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Registered: ‎01-09-2016

Re: Update from my Dr appt today

I will pray for lessening pain and that you continue to heal...

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Registered: ‎05-09-2010

Re: Update from my Dr appt today

Good news from your doctor.  My husband takes 4 Gabepentin a day for severe arthritis in his neck and shoulders.  He really gets relief.

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Registered: ‎10-23-2011

Re: Update from my Dr appt today

@

 

I have an ongoing problem with pain from my hamstring and back of my knee from back problems. 

 

I've had an MRI and X-ray.  The spine surgeon went through a number of steps in trying to deal with the situation short of surgery.

 

He sent me to a Pain Mgt doc.  He gave me an Epidural injection.  Both docs were clear that there was no guarantee it would work.  That was 2 wks ago.  There was no improvement.  I had a follow-up visit last Friday with Pain Mgt doc.  He suggested we try another steroid injection more focused on the area that's giving me the most pain. He also prescribed Gabapentin, 100mg, at bedtime.  He said I could increase dose to 200 mg. after a week depending on how my body tolerates it.  I think it's helping me sleep; however, regardless of what I'm doing(also use topical cream to dull the pain), I cannot sustain this level of pain or its treatment (3,000mg Tylenol a day) for a long period of time.

 

I'm returning to the back surgeon on Friday to discuss options.  Kind of discouraging that with all the good care I take of myself, I'm stuck with this level of physical dysfunction.

 

 

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Re: Update from my Dr appt today

 


@pdlinda wrote:

@

 

I have an ongoing problem with pain from my hamstring and back of my knee from back problems. 

 

I've had an MRI and X-ray.  The spine surgeon went through a number of steps in trying to deal with the situation short of surgery.

 

He sent me to a Pain Mgt doc.  He gave me an Epidural injection.  Both docs were clear that there was no guarantee it would work.  That was 2 wks ago.  There was no improvement.  I had a follow-up visit last Friday with Pain Mgt doc.  He suggested we try another steroid injection more focused on the area that's giving me the most pain. He also prescribed Gabapentin, 100mg, at bedtime.  He said I could increase dose to 200 mg. after a week depending on how my body tolerates it.  I think it's helping me sleep; however, regardless of what I'm doing(also use topical cream to dull the pain), I cannot sustain this level of pain or its treatment (3,000mg Tylenol a day) for a long period of time.

 

I'm returning to the back surgeon on Friday to discuss options.  Kind of discouraging that with all the good care I take of myself, I'm stuck with this level of physical dysfunction.

 

 


you poor woman. That kind of relentless pain makes life miserable. I feel bad for you. I am concerned about the amt of Tylenol you're taking. 3000mg daily is over the safe recommended limit. It causes liver damage. What a shame the epidural didn't work. I totally relate to your comment about the level of dysfunction. It smacks us in the face when we realize that our aging bodies are going to have medical problems whether we like it or not. Let me know how your next appt goes. 


Harmonize the World
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Re: Update from my Dr appt today

@smoochy Oh, I assure you my doctor reccommended the 3K mg Tylenol and said it was safe (it used to be 4K mg but in 2019 when I had my right knee replaced, they revised the safe dose to 3K mg). 

 

Anyhow, I have IBS so I cannot take any other pain killer, like NSAID's or any of the "benzos" so if my pain is over "5" out of 10 I must tamp it down.

 

Friday will tell the tale of where I'm heading with this situation.  I've had 3 joints replaced (2 hips and 1 knee) and in those cases, the surgery was "guaranteed" to fix the pain I was having (similar to what I'm experiencing now).  In every case, the replaced joint did the "trick" and I was pain free. 

 

HOWEVER, the back situation is quite another matter, unfortunately.

Respected Contributor
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Re: Update from my Dr appt today

@pdlinda  I want to apologize for misspeaking about the Tylenol dosage. I realized after posting and researching that your dose is within accepted safe range. When I was a working RN it was less. Shows you how being retired for six years has put me a little behind. 


Harmonize the World
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Registered: ‎10-23-2011

Re: Update from my Dr appt today

@smoochy   Understood and thank you for clarifying.

 

I am EXTREMELY CAREFUL ABOUT TAKING PAIN MEDS, and as I said before, Tylenol is the ONLY pain med my body can tolerate.  That said, however, this cannot continue indefinitely so I'll have to see what other options the spine surgeon has to offer me to resolve this "mess."  

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Registered: ‎11-08-2020

Re: Update from my Dr appt today

@smoochy That is encouraging!  Best of luck with the recovery!

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Registered: ‎05-10-2010

Re: Update from my Dr appt today

Good news.  I take gabapentin for nerve pain in my spine.  When my back pain isn't bothering me, I take 300mg an hour before bedtime as a sleep aid.  Some people have issues with it but for me, it's been a life saver.