Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Smith
Hi doublehippy,
Nice handle, & welcome.
Did you happen to try it before giving it the heave-ho?
1. Not everyone responds the same or suffers all those SEs.
2. Many of the side effects are temporary and dissipate after a few weeks.
3. Some folks need a lot less (and have less/fewer SEs) than the prescribed norm.
Then don't go back to him until then. In the meantime, get into pain management. IMO, from what you say, this guy is pressuring you for more surgery, and surgery should always and only be a last (third tier) resort.
Narcotic pain meds are not first-line treatments for neuropathic pain, but everyone is different in what works/doesn't, and often, narcotic and neuropathic pain meds work better in conjunction than either does separately. Again, everyone responds differently.
Did anyone mention Lyrica? It's supposedly very similar to Neurontin, but without so many SEs (for some). Personally I have heard worse stories about Topomax (a.k.a. Dopamax, Stupamax) than Neurontin, but again, everyone is different.
This is a process - a journey. There are many roads that can be taken; some can be backtracked/rerouted - others (surgery) are one-way.
You might give this a read too:
Best wishes,
Doc
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Thanks for your response.
You're right...this is a journey and I haven't tried all of my options yet. I plan on calling the pain management doc (a wonderful woman, top notch anesthesiologist, professor at our medical school) to see what else she may have in her "bag of tricks" for me. As mentioned, I got no relief from the ESIs. She originally prescribed the Neurontin because most insurance doesn't cover Lyrica, which is very expensive. However, I will call my insurance co to get the scoop before asking for a script.
No, I did not try the Neurontin at all. I've heard it referred to as "Morontin"...same as "Dopomax" for the Topomax. I know we all react to drugs differently and I will have to give one or the other a try.
I suppose my focus was on the surgery because of the wonderful results I had with my hip replacements. After much reading and research, I realize that back surgery is so "iffy" - and, given my luck, I'd be trading one problem for multiple others.
Again, thanks and I'll keep you all posted as it goes!
Linda