Agree, agree, agree!!!

When I had an onset of symptoms, I went to Google Scholar and started doing some research. Found a few articles and asked my primary to prescribe these drugs.

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/la.../abstract?cc=y

Combining these was extremely helpful for me. It got my pain under control to the point where I could stop stressing out over my pain and allowed me to work. I'm currently on 2400 mg of gabapentin and 25 mg of nortriptyline.

If you try it on your own, without advise from the doctor, then by all means start at a lower dose...like 100 mg 3 times a day.

You still might get some dizziness, sleepiness, etc with that dose (especially since you are taking the nortripyline), but these side-effects usually subside rather quickly.

***DON'T take anything else to calm your mental state right now!! You won't know what side-effects are from what if you add more then one thing. And you'll add to increased side-effects in general. If you get some pain relief, then your mental state will likely calm on it's own as a result.

100 mg 3x/day will probably help you a lot until you see the dr on Tues.

The normal side effects will calm you down. Which at this point you need more than anything.

Hang in there.

PS....we're not always calm....last Monday night I was laying on the couch crying and moaning from the pain.

Debi from Georgia

Canagirl,

Valium/Diazepam is a benzodiazepine used to treat Anxiety.

I can say with certainty that you are wrong in your assertion that your fellow Members are calm and normal. I can assure you that those of us who suffer chronic, severe pain - no matter what the cause - rage internally or externally, break down, upset Loved Ones with short words, cry at the pain and injustice, suffer bouts of inconsolable depression and pray to the Deity of choice for it to all go away.

As to medication, I wholeheartedly agree with en bloc that you should only add one new med at a time. That way you know what works, you find side effects and contra-indications.

You are new to all of this, and it is frightening to have one's life changed so radically and painfully, but eventually you WILL find the answers and the relief.

You have found the wonderful members of this Forum for support and advice. I have benefitted from being here more than from any Therapy sessions I have attended. Keep Posting, keep searching for answers.

Dave.