OMG this has been a rough week. Pain is pretty bad today. Currently on 1800mg of gabapentin. (Tegretol side affects were to bad at the dose I needed) Dr said I can take another 600.
Anyone else have issues with meds not work so soon after starting them? Seems good for a month or so then back to pain.
I am waiting on seeing a neurologist but it is over aon the away.
I'm up to 1200-1600 mg of gabapentin per day (started taking it last summer). I also take oxtellar xr 1200 mg per day. I am far from pain free. I can't afford more of the oxtellar, so the gabapentin is always the one the doctor increases. It was upsetting to me when the doctor stopped prescribing 100 mg pills...seemed like admitting defeat going up to 400mg pills.
I believe I have read that gabapentin can tend to become less effective faster than some meds, leading to increased amounts needed for relief.
I pray you have found rest and some relief as you wait for the neurologist appointment.
Sorry your on that [painful] ride again. Mom actually is going thru similar scenario and she had been doing somewhat better for a bit then we saw her pain management doc who changed her Percocet and Dilaudid to Oxycontin and Norcos. That was 4/18 and today she seems to be in worse pain then before. My daughter and I are taking shifts since mom fainted this morning. I can tell you what I did today. By noon I had enough watching helplessly I called her doc and asked what to do to relieve her pain at least some pain, anything, and her doctor instructed me to give her double dose of her Oxycontin but only at the scheduled times. It's not working and you can bet when the dr office opens I will be calling again. I was told by the Nurse Practitioner at a recent dr visit, if meds aren't working, call doc and ask "what next?" I hope to be successful but also, I hope you find what ever is needed and helpful. Surgery is soon to follow hopefully. She's wanting it and so do I. My prayers for you and best of luck.
I feel for you but I don't see where oxycontin will help. I'm not a doctor but is seems to me that all of us with this condition are on tregrito, gabapentin, carbazepine or some other form of these types of drugs. I take 1600m/g of Gabapentin and 1200 of oxcarbazepine. The pain is not totally gone but I can brush my teeth and eat alittle better. It may only last a little while but at least it a little reprive. Take your mom to a neurologist asap. Preferably one that is knowledgable with TN. I pray for her and all of us with this terrible afflication. I hoe this helps.
I feel for you. I was doing quite well then the pain came back with a vengon!!! OMG I could't even talk. Work was a real chore since I am an Office Manager and run 17 locations. Upped my meds twice then finally it kicked in a bit. Doc just upped them again. Hopefully this works. I hope that you can find some relief as well.
Sherelle said:
I feel for you famof8. I was doing quite well then the pain came back with a vengon!!! OMG I could't even talk. Work was a real chore since I am an Office Manager and run 17 locations. Upped my meds twice then finally it kicked in a bit. Doc just upped them again. Hopefully this works. I hope that you can find some relief as well.
I have an appointment today hopefully can see a nureologist soon currently booked but over a month away. I am also going to see about acupuncture. Meds seem to be only short term and I am worried about the toll they takeon the body. I do not want to miss anymore work so am just pushing through the best I can.
Hi Shelly! Was your doctor willing to try new meds while you wait to see the neurologist?
It's so frustrating waiting to see a specialist. Early on in my journey with TN, I tried to explain to the receptionist at my neurologist office that I was in excruciating pain. Her response was, "All of our patients are in pain." OK, but are all of your patients crying, in pain trying to talk to you because you keep saying you can't hear me? Are they able to eat, drink, lick their lips to keep them from cracking? It would be nice if doctors (and their staff) recognized that there is more than one level of pain!
Hoping you are able to find relief soon!
BTW- I now have my mom call if I can't speak clearly. She is a bulldog when it comes to getting me the help I need.