I know Lyme/Bart are known to cause nerve pain...I have it pretty severely (burning) in lower legs/feet/arms/hands. This is my worst SX Just started Lyme ABX, thinking eventual Bart tx will tackkle this?
Since January 2008, I've taken Gabapentin, 1800 MG Total per day. It DOES help a little, but not the answer! BTW, I do OK with minimal side effects at this dose!
Anyone else take this? What dose? Anyone taking more and getting VERY good relief with the amount of nerve pain coverage I mentioned?
Any other suggestions for nerve pain?
I've read about Lyrica, Amitryptilene, Nortryptilene etc, are these more effective? Anyone use combinations that helped?
Having this nerve pain, I can certainly understand why people want to take medicines if they'll help.
Thanks for any help, MBB3
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
I've tried gabapentin but not at the dose you're on.
Didn't get great results on pain relief though, but did make me very spacey and off balance even at a lower dose. Eventually I tried other options.
I also tried amitryptilene and nortryptilene - neither worked for me. and I gave them both plenty of time to work. Again, I felt sort of spacey and off balance.
Have you tried B-12 methylcobalamin injections? That's been helpful, along with TBD treatment.
I'm not recommending this because it is evidently hard to wean off, but I am on Cymbalta. Which has helped a lot. Getting off of it sounds tough though.
Haven't tried Lyrica.
Posted by Amanda (Member # 14107) on :
I take Lyrica. I have insomnia, and the Lyrica has been great for that. But it hasn't helped all that much with the nerve pain (I get burning in my side and left hand).
Tried Amitryptilene and Nortryptilene, didn't help much. Unfortunately, I react badly to all the SSRIs and SSNRIs, including Cymbalta. But I have a friend with Bart and the Cymbalta has helped her, she says pain is almost half. My understanding is that you have to go off of it very slowly. She also says her anxiety and depression has gotten a lot better....
Posted by ForestNymph (Member # 15109) on :
I just started taking Neurontin 2 months ago and I was surprised when my pain that typically averages a 10 dropped to a 9 average. Doesn't seem like much, but when ypu're a ten, a nine is appreciated.
I consider it to be supplemental to my other pain management. If a few different methods take a little bit of edge off, it all adds up in the end to significant reduction.
Also, I used to have 20-30 petit mal seizures a day and now I am having less than ten a day, sometimes as few as three.
For me it took awhile to get used to feeling drugged but your body and mind adapt over time. That side effect is pretty much gone now.
I also noticed that Neurontin has helped my anxiety significantly. It seems to have a mild lingering sedative effect.
As far as unpleasant side effects, I can't think of any. Its really hard to say because new symptoms arise all the time and I can distinguish between side effects and Lyme effects.
Just make sure you have eight 8 oz glasses of water every day. Neurontin can become toxic if you're not properly hydrated.
Posted by InADaze (Member # 7711) on :
I used to take 1500mg of Neurontin a day for pain for 1-2 years. I tried very hard to get off it because it made my vertigo so much worse that I was actually falling down.
It did make a huge difference in my pain though.
And, I'm going back on it, at a much lower dose, with the hopes it will help me enough to let me sleep somewhat normally.
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
Go to site: askapatient.com type in Neurontin and see what other people
who have been on this medication say. You can use this site to check on any medication. Many have had bad side effects.
I took it for severe neropathy in both legs. Could not wait to get off it because of side effects!!!
Neropathy is tolerable now. Would only take it if it became severe - and only as long as necessary.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Just started Lyme ABX, thinking eventual Bart tx will tackkle this?