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Originally Posted by IWantToCutMyLegOff
Hi! I shared a similar path to yours. I was up to 1500 of Gabapentin a day. It seemed like it worked less and less and I had to increase the dose more and more. The amatriptyline was a godsend to me but the BIGGEST help to me was my round of Capzasin cream. It was a pain, and even painful at times but it worked! A very thin film on the painful area of the leg five times a day for one week, then three times a day for a week, then wean down as necessary. This was recommended to me by a neurologist at Northwestern University after trying EVERY medicine possible. I cried because I did not think it would work. It did..I still have it...but now I have dropped the gabapentin completely and only use the amatriptyline at night. At first the amatriptyline made me completely zombified. Now, it has no effect on me. I do occasionally drink alcohol with no problem. I do notice the dry mouth, but it is nothing compared with the MP pain that I had.
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I know the feeling of wanting to cut off your leg. I had my first "attack" of MP in 1977 following abdominal surgery. For serveral years, the pain only happened occasionally, especially when standing or walking for prolonged time period. As the years went by, the frequency and intensity progressed. For years I was ignored, dismissed, mis-diagnosed, etc. One orthopedic surgeon wanted to operate on my spine for a disc problem but I refused since the area was not related to my leg pain by basic anatomy. The disc healed on its on but the pain in my thing remained. The severity of the pain became debilitating by 2004 and I had to quit working as I could no longer perform my job duties due to the constant pain. I have tried it all. Physical therapy, oral meds, lidoderm patches, TENS unit, spinal injection, also injection directly into the LFCN. Had MRI's, NCS/EMG, x-rays, etc. I used my life savings up and finally applied for disability and was denied. I have become a shut-in as just going to the grocery would cause so much pain I want to cut off my leg. If someone has not experienced this condition, they simply discount you. I was told by one doc,... you have a pinched nerve, like it was nothing so why even mention it. I have been told that the only option left is surgery but they do not think it will help since I have had the condition so long and surgery could actually make it worse. Until about a year ago, I had relief while I slept since I always sleep on my stomach. Now, I will get electrical shocks during sleep that are so strong, they wake me and I am up the rest of the night. I have never wished ill on another but there are times I wish some of these doctors would experience what I do just for one day so they wouldn't simply say, oh, you have a "pinched" nerve like it was no big deal.