Nope...ya done good!

Bilateral huh? I don't know...guess that might depend on the Dx? My left foot has always been more painful than my right. No idea why. My Dx is idiopathic PN. So far anyway. At some point when and if I can afford more testing I plan on seeking out a specialist in PN. I want more than just the basics ruled out.

Can't take Neurontin. Made me suicidal. So I manage with Tramadol and recently added Mirapex. So my symptoms are well under control for now. Yep, been blessed with PN and apparently some RLS thrown in for good measure.

And yes, we do all we can to reduce our symptoms to levels manageable for us. During the day I'm a 1 or less most of the time. Toward 9:00 or 10:00 PM I escalate to about a 4 or 5 before I take a Tramadol. That's much less than my levels were about a year ago when I first found this wonderful message board.

You are exactly right.
My Dr had me start out slowly with Lyrica to watch for side effects. I had none. Started out with 75mg 2x a day, went to 75mg 4x, then to 150mg alternating with 75mg 4x a day. After a while I found more relief with 225mg twice a day and have kept with it.
Lyrica has allowed me to go from 400mg a day of Tramadol plus two Vicodin down to 150mg of Tramadol and one Vicodin. Hope to slowly cut out the Tramadol entirely.

Thanks again for all the input. I love this forum and the folks over at the Neuropathy Community Forum. I know many of you hang out at both.
Got a new Rx for Lyrica today with the big 150mg each pills. I'm to take 3 a day (maybe I'll throw down another around bedtime if needed). Many of you are taking another med along with the Neurontin and/or Lyrica. How does one decide which one of to try first ?

Gerald

That would have to be in consideration
for your tolerances to different meds.
Some may have s/e that are undesirable.
Your doc should be the one to suggest.
But I've had good luck with Tramadol.

Jarrett mentioned adding Mirapex to your regimen on the idea that PN has a few similarities to RLS. See RLS (restless leg syndrome and Mirapex on Google. The propensity of PN to get worse at night and the partial relief one gets sometimes just by walking around for awhile (of course on a very soft carpet).

Yes PN is usually bilteral, but sometimes with more severe pain on one side. I am not sure that this asymmetry may not be due to other factors including arthritis. PN often results in slightly disturbed gait which then can lead to a stress-type osteoarthritis with tendosynovitis. I have this on one side which I can control with Ibuprofen.

Certainly one of the most inexplicable syndrome of this disease is the propensity to worsen at night. Also it may have some association with RLS which is why Mirapex may help. Very interesting!!! Thanks for this idea--jarrett622.
I had vague symptoms similar to RLS before I got the full fury of PN. This may also explain why if I have severe burning getting up and walking around often helps. Of course one has to walk with heavily padded slippers on soft carpets.
Also may explain why the symptoms are generally worse at night.

From the forum I noticed that some of us are taking huge doses of Lyrica (up to 600 mg). I would be very cautious with these doses as we not sure of the effects on the brain (memory loss, bizarre thinking, depression etc.). Also I wonder about effects on other parts of the body. I have notice that moderately high doses of Lyrica causes me to have bouts of Bradycardia. Unfortunately I am quite sure that with time other side effects will be identified.
I am sure most us learn how to manage as best as we can and learn to dose our meds for the best and safest effect. That is what chronic diseases are all about -Management!

IN no way shape or form is PN bilateral. My left foot burns and my right foot is merely numb. My left side burns yet feels no external pain and my right side is normal. My right foot toes are all numb. My left foot toes are not as numb. Laminectomies did not help. The source of pain is at the cellular nerve level in the lower back region.