Hi ~ I'm no doctor, but the rule of thumb is that if it has been going on for 18 months or longer, the damage is usually permanent.

I've had severe sciatica for 27 years, so obviously the sciatic nerve is permanently damaged.

I have found personally that Gabapentin is pretty worthless. For one thing, I had to take a very high dosage, and for another I retained loads of water to the point where my ankles and feet were always swollen! Plus it always made me feel "loopy" -- as if I were on a permanent "high." I didn't like that feeliing at all, so I did some research on that kind of drug, and I came up with Topamax. At the time, it was fairly new -- but I asked my doctor if we could try it and he said yes. It has been GREAT and i do NOT have to take a high dosage either! Believe it or not, I'm only on 400mg. per day. Plus, I do not retain water nor do I feel loopy. I have NO burning in the legs, no "zapping", no symptoms at all. It's amazing!

Now since I still have sciatica, I obviously still have the PAIN. But I'm on other medications to help deal with that.

I wish you the very best. Take care and God bless. Hugs, Lee