Hello, I am going on 5 months with nerve pain in my right leg Postherpetic neuralgia, I have tried going back to work 3 times and have failed....My job requires me to be on my legs all day....can't handle the pain pain medication doesn't work and tried gabapatin reaction was not good....waiting to see a pain Specialist..... off work until August 1, worst pain that I have ever tried to manage.....(

Laurhep,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Here are a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Click into the following forum for some assistance:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum91.html

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

Hello Laurhep, and welcome to NeuroTalk.

I'm sorry that you're suffering so much and that the pain medications have given no relief. I dare say you already know that post-herpatic pain is nerve pain, and that neither regular pain killers nor opiates work on nerve pain.

As a rule, a combination of one of the anti-epileptic medications and an anti-depressant are ordered for nerve pain. Plus, there are the local anesthetics like Capsaican Creams or Lidocaine patches.

I was lucky enough not to suffer the lingering pain after my own outbreak of shingles, but I sure do feel for you just the same. I can only suggest that you keep the appointment with the pain clinic and try ice compresses and local creams, or patches, until your appointment comes around.

We do have a medication Forum here. You may get more specific advice if you asked there: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum72.html