i started using gabapentine for the last 5 mouths but i am getting of it because its not doing anything.
And secondly i am not in that much pain its these days more stiffness and numbness that i have to deal with and ofcourse a little bit of tingling in my feet.

Maybe someone who knows more than me about this can chime in, but my current understanding is that a skin biopsy is the only way of showing "clinical evidence" of SFN. All the other tests would be normal. Or am I misunderstanding?

Like many here I try not to harp on unduly about the awful side effects of drugs because I know I'm unusually intolerant and don't want to put people off drugs that may well help them tremendously. In my experience of pain - whether neuropathic, joint, headache or GI or other - it is very subjective so what one person can tolerate is very different to another. I have had three babies, two very large, and only had a bit of gas and air for one of them - the other two were both born the wrong way round and it was exceptionally painful. So I think I have quite a high pain threshold but a very low one for tolerating drugs - whether they affect my skin, my hair, my tummy or my mood - I hate feeling that I'm poisoning my body - try as I have to see these drugs as my magic potions.

For me the best of the nerve pain symptomatic drugs was Amitriptyline which I took for three years. I discovered by accident (forgot to take them away with me!) one day that it was causing the heart palpitations which were pretty
heavy going so I just had to stop.

I have a conflict here because I wouldn't want anyone to be in pain unnecessarily but some of the drugs I've been prescribed have been very problematic - swelling of the face and neck and ears, awful red itchy rashes, nausea and sickness both ends 24/7, drunken dizziness and anger, nose bleeds, hives - you name it I've suffered from it. One Parkinson's drug I was tried on for RLS had me falling asleep on the middle of a beach in the rain while walking the dogs! So I wouldn't know where to start with advising you - this wouldn't be appropriate I feel as these drugs are well tolerated and very helpful to many. It's not that I'm not in pain - it's just that the way I respond to pain might be very different to the way you do.

Joe,
Thank you for your input. My sister-in-law came down with shingles about 3 yrs ago. Her pain is over one eye. The doctor is still prescribing Cymbalta once a day and Lyrica twice a day. Hubby went with her to doctor's appointment last Friday asking specifically about decreasing and eliminating those two meds. He said he would reduce Lyrica; but felt when she originally came to see him, she appeared to have some depression. Who wouldn't have some depression with Shingles. Will pass this info on to hubby/sister-in-law.
Thanks again.

Gerry

I heard certain pain drugs, lose thier effectiveness, overtime once you take them, and you build tolerance.

Originally My PM did gradually up my prescriptions until I came to an acceptable point in dealing with the remaining pain.
I've been on my same dose of Oxycontin, Percocet, etc. for about the past 4 yrs. My pain is still 24/7; but tolerable. When the need for breakthu med arises, I take the Percocet. Usually 3 -3 1/2. My scrip calls for a max of 4 per day. I can still tell they are working.



Gerry

On more than one occasion I have had to clarify that I do not suffer from generalized anxiety or depression related to a chemical imbalance but that they are for me, circumstances of living with PN.

I have also learned (the hard way) to describe symptoms and convey my experiences in a calm manner. I need medical help and the last thing I want is to trigger my doctor's own fight or flight response.

Ah, remaining calm with the physician.


I think it was about a year ago we had a heated conversation over testing or medicating further. I wanted one or the other. He saw hemming and hawing as talking points.

So, he says "Let's check that blood pressure, eh?", assuming some crazy number is coming- 120/80.

I think what gets me ramped up most is I have so much I'd like to talk about.

The neurotin had caused me much more pain than what I was having before.