[supermarky]

I asked for Elavil when my PN (in feet) had a resurgence after coming off of long term use of opiate based painkillers. But noooo, I was told by this doctor at the detox center that "Elavil is a bad drug. It's bad for your heart." and he wrote me Lyrica, which did nothing. My own physician (actually a substitute for him, he's been on leave) insisted I try Cymbalta, which offered scant relief, and after a couple of weeks on it I really wanted off but he asked me to give it a little more time and I agreed. Even after a month it was not doing next to nothing.

During that month, in fact, I ended up sometimes taking both Cymbalta in the morning and Lyrica at night, out of sheer desperation. But the only thing that would ensure a restful sleep was me staying off my feet as much as possible.

Then I began taking Cymbalta at night instead of in the morning, since it is at night that the discomfort becomes a real problem for me. Again, my only real therapeutic option through all of this was basically to remain a prisoner in my apartment insofar as that was possible over this whole period.

Well, it's only been a few days on Elavil and the situation is dramatically better already! I spent almost 2 hours on my feet today, and my feet are really not uncomfortable at all. A couple of weeks ago 40 minutes on my feet would mean pain and sleeplessness for the next 3 nights!

I have an appt with a neurologist who does some new treatment, a 2 hour infusion of blood from many donors. Wonder if anyone has had experience with this? It's said to be difficult to get approval for it with my insurance.

If the Elavil course is as effective as it was last time, I'll be able to go off it with no backsliding to this nocturnal pain issue.

I wonder, it just seems too good to be true. I wonder how long it ordinarily takes Elavil to provide relief?

[zorro1]

elavil is a wonder drug and at one point I went up to 100mg. That was not a good place to be and side effects horrible.

Im taking 25 mg in a cocktail mix and to scared to go higher again but it seems to work just as well at 25.