Hey all. sort of a new-be here. but I was reading over this topic. and wanted to share a little as well. I had a 2 herniated disks in my back from a injury in 86. but did not realize it till 2001 when I was working,. then within 15 minutes. I could not walk.
So in May of that year, I had a operation on the disks. I don't for the life of me know the procedure name. but what they did was to shave off the inside of the disk to make the main nerve pass through it easier, and I would walk again.
well, they accidently scared & damaged the main nerve in my back between L4-6. I was able to walk again. so the doctor took care of me till the insurance ran out, then I was forced to go to the VA. bad move on my part. they did not do anything for me, for a entire year. So you can imagine what happened to me.
in any case. I didn't realize that workers comp would cover all my medical needs. so went back to the same doctor. she told me that I had RSD in stage 1 progressing to stage 2. (because of the VA's neglect. also my spine shifted, it became scoliosis, then RA set in during that time. Fibromyalgia reared its ugly head as well. I had several falls in that time, which gave me 2 more disks in my neck that became herniated.
The whole time. I was on Gabapentin, and Naproxen, Vicodon, Ultram, yadda yadda yaddda stuff. the medications that they said worked for everyone else, did not work for me. heck even Oxycodone did not do anything for the pain at all.
The Neurontin does make me a tad bit sleepy, but I cannot be without it. mostly at night, when my legs try to do the tango, and the cowboy waltz at the same time. even through in my trailer, I added to the queen bed 4 inches of that therapeutic memory foam. I still need the meds to sleep at night. through when I am camping. I do seem to be more relaxed and comfortable. and can move more than I can at home.
RV'ing has been by far a God Send for me, physical therapy has not worked. But the camping does let me move more. I guess it is the setting up, and tearing down, the little walks to the camp store or to the beach that really helps me move all of my body. Which I do need. So that my muscles do not freeze up or become sloppy. Then I will be in a wheel chair for sure.
I can agree with the other persons mentioning about the burning pain. And also the instant sharp pains. That go through my entire body. At times there is a total numbness of my lower body. Or the entire right side of my body. It is not fun. And those who do have it. Are in more pain that anyone can ever realize. They say cancer patients suffer the worst. I do not agree. What we have is pure hell. With no relief at all. Also I had found out, with the medications I take, it causes short term memory loss. I can lose months at a time.
I know I went off topic a bit. But I do understand what others who share this nasty un-treatable thing. (unless it is caught early enough) I, as well as my friends, do not understand how I make it through each and every day. Sometimes I just want to sit down and cry. And at times I can feel very well, and do things I need to get done, and can make it through a day without the pain distracting me.
47 years old, and this had to change my life forever. But through all of this. I had to un-learn just about everything I learned in my life living a full life. Then learn again a new & easier way to do things. But I tend to keep going. And doing it all myself. Well with my 2 cats that is.
My rheumatologist prescribed it for me as I has having intense hip/back pain which was primarily due to my weird walk after breaking my knee. Went to my Ortho and he immediately did x-rays and saw evidence of Bursitis (sp) - gave me a cortazone shot and I've been fine since. I'd had the RX filled but never took it.
My wife and I both take it. I take it for Diabetic neuropathy and she takes it for chronic back pain. It works well for both issues. I can be sedating until you get used to it so be careful.
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