Hi did you tell your boss? I am glad you had a better day and I hope you have more ahead. Who rx you neurontin? Could you call that office and ask if you should or could increase and if they would refill your rx till you have your appt at CC? Just a thought. I do know for me as I am going through some extra stress right now it does impact my pain. For me it takes all my mental skills to cope with this condition and my pain and when other stresses or things I need to manage in life happen it causes a lot of anxiety, being tense,and brings my mood down. All which is not good for pain. I am trying to be calm and live that life but obviously life throws you curve balls and you can't control them. I guess overall I just try my best to not have to face things I don't have to that may add stress or anxiety. Again with your job or someones family etc you can't always but in ways one can.

*** Thankfully, I am self-employed (although unemployed population base reduces my cash flow and has other effect). My stress comes from dealing with warring siblings about our elderly and declining parents.

*** I am sorry to see that Congress seems to be jumping on the R bandwagon of cutting spending.... hardly the smart thing to do with so many folks like you just hanging out there.

*** OTOH, cash flow constrictions result in me finding the little-known (and therefore cheaper) activities in town. Sitting in a park as the sun goes down and local blues players are working... good-bye to all those cookie-cutter big time acts. This situation is not so bad....

*** I find that I have adopted some good calming practices (deep belly-breathing is always good for a momentary 1 - 1.5 point drop in pain). Stress is just plain bad for me.

Cowboy

I took Neurontin and tramadol and learned that they worked well together and I hope that they do for you. Hopefully you can find a good combination of dosages of each one or at least find that both or one either works or doesn't for you. The dose of 900mg of Neurontin was my 1st and just barely took an edge off so I agree with the others that 1800mg could be increased. I worked my way up to 3600mg.

With the tramadol, I took the top amount, 2x50mg, 4-6 hrs (4 times/day). I don't remember my starting dose. Now I can't take it, I've become tolerant but it served me well for a number of years. I gave one to my Mom for a migraine (only time I've ever done that), we were snowed in and she got stressed out, hadn't had one of those for years! She said it was very strong and knocked her headache out...

WalMart had to special order the SlowMag so I got it yesterday. Took one tab this morning and will take the other tonight. How long should I give it before I notice any improvement and what benefits should I look for? I am keeping my fingers crossed that this helps in some way. Have a good weekend.

At one tablet twice a day, you may see easier sleeping.

Less muscle tension, and a reduction in some pain.

In general taking magnesium makes you "feel better" in a vague general way. If you have been having cramping however, that will reduce as you build up the magnesium you were missing.

Magnesium is a global mineral affecting more than 100 enyzme reactions in the body. It helps metabolize essential fatty acids,
and works also in the mitochondria. It normalizes heart rhythm also and dilates blood vessels (may normalize high blood pressure). Taken in high doses it treats some migraine conditions.

If you get loose on one tablet twice a day, then take with food.
Typically it does not loosen much, but some very constipated patients I had at one time liked being returned to "normal"...they noticed this right away. I am very sensitive to magnesium, but SlowMag does not "loosen" me.

3oz of unsalted almonds have 270mg in them. Having almond snacks is therefore a good way to get magnesium naturally.

Lyrica and Tramadol are the real deal. With it? I almost forget that I have PN. Without? NOT GOOD!

I am sorry you are suffering.
It can take awhile to find which options work best and also to get them in place!
You have been given lots of great advice though!
I sometimes use a prescribed topical lidocaine (5%).
(Something in that makes my skin peel.)
It helps; yet, I think Biofreeze helps me more.

Many may not realize that a high quality Lavendar essential oil, mixed in a carrier oil, like jojoba (parts lavendar to 5 parts jojoba) can decrease the inflammation/pain in the feet and hands. The Lavendar oil does need to be of high quality to work best. (Too much lavendar oil can actually dry out the feet.) Some people report great relief with a mentholated emu oil. (I have not tried this one yet.)

During some of the worst pain, after a sural nerve biopsy, I had to use capsaicin. I, otherwise, hesitate to suggest it, as may get into some worse burning sensations with this. This was the only way I could tolerate that pain at all.

Many of the drugs used are very potent and tend to have many side-effects for many people. The more you can use topicals and gain relief, the better, imo.

I hope you find relief soon!
Take care!
~DejaVu

OK.....so I told my boss on July 4th (Independence day, no pun intended there) that I would be leaving my current position and the company. After much discussion, on my part and debate on her part, my last day is August 6th. Of course, she wanted me to stay and on-board my replacement but she hasn't even posted my position so we would be looking at September. I know she is looking out for herself and the company, I have to look out for MYSELF. Told her the 5th was the best I could do. I gave her a 30 day notice which is fair, IMHO. Have been living out of a suitcase for 9 months now......it is time to move home.
As far as the meds......Neurontin 600mg 4x day, Slo-Mag 2x day and Tramadol as needed. Oops, forgot the bio-freeze. Lots and lots of bio-freeze. Back to CC on the 26th. Will carry COBRA until the insurance from the new job kicks in. Just can't afford to be un-insured. Time for lunch!!

I take 600 mg neurontin 3x day and also have norco 10/325 to help with "overload" of pain. Take clonozepam at night to help me sleep thru the pain!!! Tried tramodol a few years ago- did not help me at all.

I have a moderate to severe level of pain which I felt but could not communicate to my Drs. at first. So I was started out with Elavil and Neurontin, then tramadol was added and these dosages were elevated. When the severity of my pain was understood, I was prescribed Percocet which is oxycodone 5mg and acetominophen for "breakthru' pain", the peak pain periods. I was working a full-time job which was 1/2 sitting and 1/2 walking and standing, so I was not without pain. So finally I was prescribed Oxycontin at a low level 10 mg (it's lowest level) 3xday which I still take today, that was 7 years ago. It was raised to 40mg/day for about 2 years but I could reduce it again when I retired. I am not ashamed to use this Godsend to help me with the horrible pain that other patients like me only know about. And both of my neurologists have said it is usual for pain at the top level. I can say it was only the narcotic that had the "heavy punch" to knock down the awful pain that I had. The other treatments only took away small parts of it and added up some help but at least 1/2 of the pain was still there....

However I am excited to come to this website and learn more about supplements than I knew to help me in my search for less pain and healing for my sensory PN. I see that there is much to learn here for me. And maybe I will be able to lower some dosages or even eliminate some meds I take. I only write this for the people who may be new and know their pain is so high that the topicals and lower-level pain-killers are not enough. I know that narcotics definitely have their place in the field of legitimate pain relief for chronic pain. It's what they are made for, plus acute pain, not drug abuse.