Nortriptiline makes me dry but helps with my sleep. I did stop taking it for the past several weeks and I've felt awful, so I started taking it again.

I also stopped taking gabapentin 2 months after the onset of my symptoms. That is when I had a variety of doctors trying to tell me that I had fibro. What a joke! Stopping the medication during that time was not very smart. I woke up feeling like I couldn't move and there was a bed of nails from behind my eyeball down my spine all the way to my left foot.

Trauma
 

My PN symptoms started three days after a car wreck in which I helped sweep up the glass and refused to go to hospital. It is 2yrs gone by now and I am better. Seems some of folks have an acute phase. My journey included muscle wasting and motor function. If your improvement is dependent upon nerve regeneration, that takes time. I am not well versed in SFN but wanted to tell you that it ain't over until its over. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.

Sorry
 

:hug: I KNOW you are desperate....hang in there....I can only say experiment. If you can try and distract yourself even for a few minutes....I am considering magnesium oil because my CRPS is spreading like wild fire....I wish I could wave a magic wand and help ALL of us...it really isn't fair...but I can say...get :mad: out of your system....realize this is NOT going away; then try your best at finding help for the new you...you are in good hands...PLEASE PLEASE don't give up.....:grouphug:

Balancing act
 

I quit Gabapentin because it didnt help my pain. Side effects were not that bad, hunger, blurry eyes, occasional mental stumble, but if it doesn't help why take it. I was only on 900 mg/d, some go to 1800+/d and I knew my Dr would just up the dosage. I know you are not on anything yet but I had no trouble getting off Gaba as I weaned down slowly. Heard that Cymbalta must be weaned down slowly. I quit Hydrocodone cold turkey and it was strange for about 48 hrs. My hydrocodone was for lumbar, hip, knee pain. I will try Gaba again at a higher dose if I need relief. For many it comes down to balancing relief vs. side effects. No stories I remember as horrible AND permanent. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.

I've found from my own research that folks can become dependent or addicted to Lyrica even in a very short time. I believe it's not available in the US in generic form (I'm sure someone will let us know if I'm wrong), and expensive.

I personally would only consider the newer anti-depressants or anti-convulsants, which may quickly cause dependency, only after the older Tri-cyclic antidepressants or Gabapentin are found to be not helpful. If you check the patient reviews on WebMD for the various drugs, I think you'll find that the patient satisfaction for drugs used for neuropathic pain relief are roughly the same for most. My new PC Dr claims he's had better luck, in his experience, with Cymbalta, but I'm personally leery of it.

Hydration
 

Sounds absurd but I am finally getting relief within only 4 days from making certain I drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water throughout the day . Believe it or not my PAIN is lessening daily . Read up on Nerves need for water .

I contracted Shingles 7/13 which evolved into Post Herpetic Neuralgia , upper branch of Trigeminal Nerve above the eye one side . The Burning , stabbing , stinging , itching was horror , A small Lidoderm Patch enabled me to sleep somewhat along with a cool ( not cold ) water bag situated on the affected areas , more relief . My Dr. Rx'd Lyrica ( NO GOOD FOR ME ) , mood swings , loss of balance , abstract thoughts ( steer clear of that one $$$ too ) I stumbled across the " body's need for WATER " through a random search , nerves , Myelin Sheath , Brain 85% Water all need the daily required amount of WATER . Believe or not after continuous pain daily / nightly / sporadically it has Diminished greatly in just 4 days , no more coffee , sodas etc. strictly the daily required amount of water has HELPED ME A GREAT DEAL , 1 persons opinion , it can't hurt , water that is but DEHYDRATION sure can .

when did you feel like it stopped getting worse and started getting better?

Hi Mrs D.

I have tried the Epsom salt baths they don't seem to do anything for me...:(
Do you know of homeopathic remedies that have worked for anybody like apis, Arsenicum, Cimicifuga, Aconite, Hypericum etc.

Also what is your opinion on nortyptiline vs. gabapentin or lyrica?



Thanks

Were you in a car accident? How did it all start?