I am having nerve pain on the left side of my face and neck so badly that it feels like someone is burning and stabbing me.
I am already on Lyrica 100mg in the AM and 200mg at night. I don't want to add Neurontin too.
Is there any other med that my Neurologist could add to the Lyrica? He told me the only med he could give me was Cymbalta, but I'm already on Effexor and don't want to switch.
It just seems like there would have to be more nerve pain meds than just those.
Any advice?
I literally feel like they need to remove my cheek it hurts so badly.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Can you increase your Effexor dose?
I think the therapeutic dosage for nerve pain is 300mg. Google diabetes neuralgia and Effexor.
I am still working up to that dose.
My doc said to try Effexor at the therapeutic dose for peripheral nerve pain before going to gabapentin.
Posted by lax mom (Member # 38743) on :
I'm only on 75mg and when I take more than that, I twitch like crazy.
But, at this point I would rather twitch than hurt this badly.
Googling now.
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
Ask about low dose Tegretol. Not sure about any interactions but it has helped me more then neurontin w/ nerve pain. Can make you a bit dopey so small dose.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm very sorry you are in so much pain!
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
Oh forgot to add something that brings me temporary relief. Very temporary - maybe 30-60 minutes of relief.
Essential Oils of Ginger and Peppermint in a base of Arnica oil. I heat it up in the m.w. and massage it on my jaw/face. For some reason it makes my nerve pain go away. Pain comes back but it is nice to get slight relief.
Just a few drops of each goes a long way.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
You may be interested in PEMF, pulsed electromagnetic frequency therapy, to treat the nerve pain.
Homeopathic Hypericum 30C or even 200ck has been wonderfully helpful for nerve pain for me.
Also, Doxepin cream or Benadryl cream applied on location may help. Or even oral Benadryl (or other antihistamines, but Benadryl seemed to work best for me) may help.
Essential oil of Copaiba + Clove oil applied topically on location helps when I have joint pains from Bart.
And Balsam Fir + Frankincense oils applied topically on location help when my feet hurt.
Posted by lax mom (Member # 38743) on :
Thanks for the advice everyone.
I ended up calling my Neurologist because I couldn't handle the pain another second. He ended up increasing my Lyrica by 100mg in the AM.
That still didn't help last night, so I sucked it up and took an NSAID despite my ulcers.
It seems like it must be a combo of BOTH nerve pain AND inflammation because it took both types of meds to get control of the pain.
Posted by daynise (Member # 39609) on :
lax mom have you ever heard of or tried cold laser therapy for neuropathy pain? i'm still looking into it for myself- have read good some things.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
lax mom... Have you tried curcumin for the inflammation? I can't do NSAIDS either, but I can tolerate curcumin 3 times a day.
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)