past injustice this is done by the makers of gabapentin were wrong. But what only matters now if it if it works for you or not. It doesn't make sense to look back on what the company should have done or should not have done. It works really for me

Even with all of the great replies from all of you, I am still debating using Gabapentin...what a chicken I am!!! Yesterday, I was really tempted to try it because my pain was quite severe...definitely, not just a "nuisance"...but, I got through the day w/out resorting to asking for the Gaba. Today, started with a lot of pain and stiffness, but, as I continued to move around, I felt much better...so, once again...I declined asking for the Gaba. I do have the Tramadol for pain, but, I am reluctant to take that, too, because of the constipation aspect. I had such a terrible experience with constipation while in the hospital after my surgery for a fractured hip that I can't seem to bring myself to take it. The constipation was so extreme that I eventually had to see my gastroenterologist to try to get some relief...once again, what a chicken I am! At this point, you must be thinking...the pain must not be too severe if she can resist taking something that could help her. I've always had a high level of pain tolerance, although, I beginning to think that this is changing for me. Thanks to all, again, for doing what you could to help me. Oh...just one more thing...a few of you "switched"from the Gaba to Gralise (sp?) I had asked what difference you felt...both related to effectiveness and side effects. Thanks, again...hope all are finding some relief...

Virginia Therese

No one here thinks that you are a "chicken". Most small fiber neuropathies are extremely painful and large fiber ones can be crippling- everyone here suffers. The medication is a trade off. Most people would never want to think about spending twenty-five or thirty years on opiate therapy but that is what I fully expect to do, short of a breakthrough in pain management. The pain would destroy any quality of life I could have otherwise, and hereditary neuropathy is progressive and incurable.
I understand about the fear of constipation. I have had a lifelong battle with it, resulting in such severe fissures that I was writhing in pain, spending half the day sitting on ice packs. The nastiest doctor I ever met, a gastroenterologist, finally said that I should take miralax regularly and although it took eight months the fissures finally healed, which just shows that you can learn from anyone.I have had to increase the dosage somewhat over the past five years but I have not had any recurrence of the pain even with my medication.
It is a very personal decision, but you can always stop taking the Gabapentin if it disagrees or you find it of limited benefit. If the tramadol helps you should use it. A fear of medication or treatable side effects like constipation can result in a decreased quality of life if carried too far.

It all depends on where you stand (or sit ir recline, I suppose) Virginia, but chicken? I'd say strong, in many ways.

For quite some time I was waiting to take tramadol on bad days to 'see if it gets better.' Many of those days by the time I took tramadol it offered little to no relief. I couldn't 'catch up' to where the pain went.

I don't share this in an attempt to push ingesting medication, rather to highlight the time and place aspect.

I wish you the best of luck.

Jon of the KN variety

yeah.. youre a real chicken. you should do what I have done for 30 years. take every pill handed to me haphazardly, survive three brutal interactions that have left me a mess and then take new pills to combat the results of those iteractions when I was never really sick in the first place lol
you are the smart one. gabapentin might be one of the more harmless drugs. but I admire your smarts in being careful

Many thanks to those of you who are still attempting to help me. Susanne...I found your statement, "a fear of medication or treatable side effects like constipation can result in a decreased quality of life if carried too far"...so well stated...so logical...and even helpful...thanks...

and KnowNothing...your title doesn't "fit"you very well...you offer some sage advice as do all of you. I will try not to bother all of

you anymore until I've made a decision. I'd better work fast, though, because I will see my new internist in a few weeks, and she will certainly ask me about my decision...Gabapentin or not...and, too...whether I have taken the Tramadol for pain...I HAVEN'T!!! I AM SO A CHICKEN!!!

It's so good to be here with all of you.

VT

Please don't ever think that you are bothering anyone! Those of us who read the forums regularly do so with the hope that we can help someone whose experience resonates with ours. We represent a wide range of conditions and severities. Neuropathy is a disease that is often elusive of diagnosis and treatment, sometimes incurable, progressive, and crippling. We get less support from doctors and are in more pain than many other chronic illnesses. Forums like this one help each of us to feel less alone. I have learned a lot from this forum over the years, and it has helped me understand what is going on and to plan for the future.
Don't stop asking questions and keep us informed. Honestly ask yourself if there are things that you are missing out on in life because of the pain, things that you otherwise have the strength to do. Quality of life is the whole purpose of pain management. Do not limit yourself to the things that you feel obligated to do. Things that you enjoy most should come first even if they never have before.
Good luck.

I recently started on gabapentin because of constant abdominal/flank pain, discomfort or nuisance, Im not even sure what to call it cuz it feels so vague and deep, I cant even describe even though Im analyzing my pain every min of the day. because it feels really deep and slight sensation of burning which makes me think maybe its nerves. So I got prescription for gabapentin from walk in, if it would help with pain then I can confirm its nerve pain since my doctors cant tell me and also saying there is no test for it.
So far I dont find it working for me. I even took 3 capsules twice but still the discomfort and mild burning is still there, the only thing I find after 3 capsules is slightly sleepy and dizzy and not wanting to care about pain. But im not sure my pain is nerve related yet, it could be kidney since I had surgery done on it, only thing helps is percocept.
Anyone knows if opiates help nerve pain?

I created the user name during a viewing of Game of Thrones. While the show brought me to the novels, the novels are what I prefer. Jon Snow is one of the characters. Another character chides him constantly with "You know nothing, Jon Snow". Viola.

He is my 4th favorite character at best in A Song of Ice and Fire. But I share a spelling. So I registered as such.

It is certainly more true than the opposite.

Jon

Susanne...thank you for your always encouraging words. How true it is of me NOT to seek what makes me happy...always just "fighting my way" through life. I've been told so many times that I "think too much"...and so it is...I think too much and much too deeply. I find myself going beyond what the "ordinary"person would think...a blessing, at times in that I seem to be able to foresee things "down the road"that others never think about and have been able to avoid undesirable issues...for me and for others. I think I'm digressing, now...just wanted to give you some idea of the kind of person I am. I have been a perfectionist all my life...neither good for me nor others in my life. I think this follows through in my interaction with doctors. For the most part, they just don't satisfy my questioning mind. For example...right now...I'm kind of "treating"myself with the neuropathy, i.e., experimenting and discovering what "works"for me...even to the point where I've been fairly successful in using ice bag "treatments"for the pain and discomfort...just not wanting to use medication if I can function w/out it. As I think I've mentioned, I would NOT want to be MY doctor...I'm a very difficult patient in that respect. To date, I have taken no medication that my new internist prescribed...should be a "fun"visit next time!!! The newest thing with me is the waking up at night with my entire body burning...now, I've almost succumbed to taking pain medication for that...but, not yet. At my last visit with the internist, she more or less implied that many people with PN feel the most pain at night. That had not been the case with me...until very recently...since I saw her...so, I will mention this to her. I am happy to say that I've had a few more "good days"recently...and, I've wondered if the B/12 injections factor into this...I've had just two. I wonder if it's even possible that this has helped within such a short space of time and only 2 injections...although, the internist had asked me to call her w/in 2 weeks of the first injection to let her know if I felt better. I thought that might be an indication that, yes, it COULD "work"that quickly. We'll see. I will keep you updated on my "saga"...and believe me...I never intended to go on and on at such great length with this reply...but, it just may give you some insight into who I am and what makes me "tick". Thank you, again, Susanne for your caring and support. I am happy to have found this forum...and you.

V