Originally Posted by Littlepaw (Post 1229098)

Hi Sophie,

Some people respond well to a class of drugs called TCAs, the old tricyclic antidepressants, which are used in low doses for nerve pain. I took nortriptyline 20mg just at bed (two 10 mg capsules as the 30s made me dizzy) and found it to be helpful. It gave me less drowsy feeling during the day than gabapentin and had the added bonus of providing a small noticeable boost in my mood, which gabapentin had dampened. Amitriptyline is also used but tends to have more side effects so I never tried that one. Gabapentin and nortriptyline can be given together and were shown in a study to work better in combination for nerve pain than either drug alone.

Drug Combo Brings Better Pain Relief | Medpage Today



Does anything help as far as footwear? Be sure you have as little heel rise as possible, a wide toe box and arch support or metatarsal support. I have found with my foot issues that shoes really can have significant impact on my comfort level. It took forever to find the pairs that work for me but the search was worth it.


:hug:

Originally Posted by Sophie0513 (Post 1229132)

hello Marleen

I did ask him about increasing the dosage, however he didn't want to because he is giving me sympathetic nerve blocks. His reasoning was that if he increased the gabapentin at the same time he was doing the blocks there would be no way for him to determine what was actually helping me.

Originally Posted by Sophie0513 (Post 1229184)

The worst part of the block for me was that I was in the room on my stomach for 10 mins before the doctor came in. My anxiety was off the charts and than I couldn't wait for them to sedate me. I am really apprehensive about the block I have scheduled for this Wednesday....not so sure I want to do it again. When I had RSD initially at age 36, I did 12 lsnb in a 3 month period without second guessing anything. I went into remission about 1.5/2 years later and slowly got back into my life again. I had one good year and than started developing a variety of health issues over a one year period that once again disabled me! After six doctors, I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease which took another 18 months of medication and severe weakness and pain to get rid of. I think the RSD coming out of remission means another battle/fight which right now I don't feel I have in me. Thanks Marleen...nice to be connected with you here!

Originally Posted by Becca71 (Post 1229317)

You are the patient. You have the right to say no.

Just a reminder. You can decide not to do the block. If you don't feel it is helping, if you feel it is too scary, whatever, you can say no.

As for gabapentin, the top out dosage is around 3000 mg in a day, so you have room to go up if your doctor will approve it. You might say to him you need the more immediate relief right now, and the block doesn't seem to be providing that.

As the patient, your pain needs to be addressed. And I am speaking as one who (as I said in another thread) REALLY doesn't like to change two things at once because you won't know what is doing what. Doctor is trying to address the pain thru the blocks, you have to decide if that is worth it or not.