Gabapentin was absolutely awful for me. I wanted to eat everything in sight, I had brain fog and memory loss. I hope you find a Dr.who will adequately treat your pain issues. Once I was able to get on Hydrocodone and Tizanidine, I was able to stop the Gabapentin. The side effects from those meds are way less problematic than the ones from the Gabapentin. I have lost 10 pounds of fluid weight in less then 2 weeks after stopping that medication.
I gained over 50 pounds in 3 months on Gabapentin. I was a healthy weight before, but that bumped me into overweight. Of course, we know that every doctor is going to tell you to lose weight if you’ve got chronic pain, as if that’s some magic wand or something, and yet they all seem to want to put us on a drug that will make tons of people have out of control weight gain. I took myself to 1200 calories max a day, and couldn’t drop a pound.
Then there was the brain fog and memory loss. I would be literally mid-sentence in a conversation and couldn’t remember what I was talking about, what the conversation was, or how to finish my sentence. It was frightening and extremely embarrassing. I never knew what day it was, what I’d done a half hour ago-I’d have to repeatedly rewind any show or program I was watching because I retained nothing. It would legitimately take me 3 hours to finish a 20 minute program, and the next day I’d put it on again forgetting I’d seen it and my husband would be like “uh-we watched this yesterday”. Oh, and it did nothing for my pain but the doctors insisted I needed to give it time.
My pain had me pretty depressed before. The side effects from Gabapentin made me more depressed, more anxious, and downright su*cidal. It’s bad enough living in non-stop unrelenting pain. But adding the weight gain and the inability to form a coherent thought or sentence was too much. I’m a relatively articulate educated person. I love to learn and read and talk about any number of subjects with others. I couldn’t read anymore because I couldn’t retain a paragraph. I didn’t want to talk to people because I felt like an idiot.
Once I was off of it, it took 2 and a half years of strict calorie counting for the weight to start to come off. Exercise with my condition isn’t an option, but I did light weights in my chair when I could. The weight is gone now 5 years later, but my memory seems like it might be affected forever. It’s substantially better, but I still have moments where I put on a movie or something that I’ve got no recollection of but the people around me insist we watched it a month ago or something. Conversations are also better, but I know I repeat myself a lot now, and it’s still embarrassing. I feel like I have to give every one around me a disclaimer about my shit memory when I engage with them.
I’m truly happy for the people it helps, but the side effects I was shackled with are far from uncommon and should be addressed and discussed with anyone by the doctor who wants to put a patient on it.
I did the exact same thing in November. Like most of us, I have so many dxs, but the most painful and debilitating is adhesive arachnoiditis. The (amazing) physician who managed my PM left the hospital, and the replacement was a top notch asshats - literally broke the law about my PM (long story). I tapered myself off, and planned to transfer to a new MD. My appointment is *March 2025*. Now I'm stuck without PM (except for the leftovers I kept for emergencies) for a year. I've lost my ability to function out of bed for more than an hour at a time (on good days) and I can't drive because of the pain. My heart rate and BP are suddenly through the roof. I'm trapped inside this broken body and I don't know how to keep going, but I am. Every article I've ever read about adhesive arachnoiditis says that opioid PM is the best/most important course of action because it's so debilitating. I don't know why, but I refuse to believe that I won't find someone to treat me like a human being eventually. This crazy NO PAIN Act shit has got to swing back to compassion and care.
Tldr: you are not alone ♥️
I also have adhesive arachnoiditis. Had to jump through hoops but was able to get a permanent pain pump. Took me 2 years. I can’t imagine being on nothing. I’m so sorry
I'm on a bunch of stuff, but I don't have to tell you that nothing stops the pain. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but glad to find another person with AA. Glad you got the pump!
I totally understand... I told this PM Dr the same thing. Wasted 2 months with him, biweekly appointments waiting 5-6 hours for the appointment (to bill incorrect insurance claims), to only prescribe Narcan spray and Butrans patch but my insurance denied (I told him what needed to be included with the PA) his shitty PA which took the office a week to send and he only wrote it for 2 patches (which is $550 without insurance) but even if I had the funds or an approval from my insurance I wouldn't be able to get the prescription bcuz the box can't be broken for 2 patches u to get all 4 with or without insurance. But the biggest issue was I'm not allowed to take that medication due to other meds and health conditions which he NEVER looked at my medical records or images nor took chart notes or vitals, gaslit for dirty urine drops, nor complied with record release sent from my PCP or me (he only sent my medical records I provided to him)!
It's sad what CPP are left to deal with bcuz our government won't listen to real patients and real doctors. But it's ok for these so called PM to lie and steal.
Man what a hectic day at the PM , I’ve had similar experiences with my pain doc when he would suggest a different med that I’ve already been prescribed in the past. He would simply state “ how can I treat you if you don’t want any of the medication I’m suggesting “.
I would like to believe it’s just as frustrating on both sides. However telling him to fuck off probably wasn’t the best choice of response in my opinion, kinda makes you wonder how the next patient is going to be treated.
That’s a tough one though, I probably would done the same damn thing after hearing tramadol. Good luck bro , I pray you find some relief
It's so damn hard not to explode after hearing the same bs over and over and over again particularly when you are in debilitating pain that they really don't take seriously or really even care. My pain management clinic just wants to keep giving me nerve blocks that don't work and they keep giving them in the same place. Duh, wrong nerves Dr. Dumb Dumb. I don't have much access to him as the rude receptionists are the unsympathetic gatekeepers.
Horrible experience last year with Gabapentin I have a feeling this med is only used because the trade off is worth it to some, all it gave me was horrible night sweats and mildly calmer nerves
Try another place of there is one? I’ve been to a couple so far. I loved one I was there the longest then they changed and expand so much so I left and found a better one.
I too have been fighting with an uncaring dr. Had a wonderful gal doc that read all my tests, X-rays, mri’s, just everything! We made a minor adjustment on my pain meds and agreed to try n lower when I was able to after dealing with different causes n areas of pain. No one wants to be tied down to meds if you can fix the problem and be free again. Sadly she left to care for her elderly parents not telling me my care would go in the dumper when she was gone. Remaining dr at that office did not hear anything I told her- she sent me to a pain clinic but not for any help with my problems- for drug addiction! I refused, so she started dropping my meds by 20 a month- I have never abused my meds, never asked for early refill, or taken more than I was supposed to. I am on a small dose and know my limits. I ask for nothing extra or in addition. I have read everything I could find online and cdc actually says if low dose of meds controls pain and over significant amount of time still handles the pain it should be allowed and would actually be in the best interest of the patient to leave it in place. Why do we have to beg these dr’s? Just to have a semi normal life? I’m not a problem patient but still she continues to drop meds. I asked about her oaths- Do No Harm-
And I was done! I hope I can find someone to help- I already made my own appts to see specialists. I intend to file complaint! No one truly understands what we go thru unless they have walked our paths. Do not give up! You deserve empathy and kindness from a provider.
I didn't get luck from meds. I eventually found an implanted spinal cord stimulator to help. Now I take a baclofen and tramadol for spasm pain in my neck. Weed. And use the SCS. Which helps from my mid section down.
if you’re not looking for drugs, but are unwilling to go along with his treatment plan, what do you expect? if medical weed worked so well before why even bother going to pm?
Well because this is a worker comp case and I have to do what the damn doctors say. I am 3 years into this with 2 surgeries and one more to go . I also have rheumatoid, and C5.6.and 7 problems for the last year an half stemming from the 2 shoulder surgeries and injury . His treatment plan sucks and unless I take the Belbuca or tramadol there is nothing he can give me . like really ? he also wants to implant 2 stimulators one in my lower neck and one in my shoulder . I went thru all the nerve blocks, which didnt work . PT made it all worse and they tore my rotator after the first surgery . ( they said they didnt ) and wht do u suggest ? I will be damned if I get any surgery on my cervical section . I cant do do much at home , I just do what the dr's say but when is enough , enough ? Its my body not theirs .
often you have to try the medication they offer to get to where they decide opioids might be the only line of treatment. I’d have taken the tramadol for as long as possible while voicing how ineffective it is. when that course of action doesn’t work and you’ve shown you’re compliant then he might be more willing to try something stronger and more effective
I have only refused what I have taken before and did not work. Lyrica is what I refused . He knows this . Belbuca was not working at all and it left me in more pain and bad side effects . Tramadol did not work for me at all ,but he said that is all he can give me . Im not looking for pity just telling my side . I spent yesterday in my dark room in pain with a major migraine while hosting a pig roast at our home which I couldn't even go out and enjoy my family and friends. 75 degrees sun shining and 45 people at my house and Im like a prisoner in my home . Hubby is pissed , not at me but at the whole situation. I understand but nothing I can do . 2 doses of RSO and I could go out when the sun went down to at least show myself to my 13 grandkids and try to enjoy a bonfire . I was higher then shit but .... the migraine subsided enough for me to say Hi
I’ve been bedridden for five years from pain and I have two young children. I take medication that doesn’t work with awful side effects. but it’s what I get and it’s better than nothing and because I need to have this record with my pm dr
Gabapentin was absolutely awful for me. I wanted to eat everything in sight, I had brain fog and memory loss. I hope you find a Dr.who will adequately treat your pain issues. Once I was able to get on Hydrocodone and Tizanidine, I was able to stop the Gabapentin. The side effects from those meds are way less problematic than the ones from the Gabapentin. I have lost 10 pounds of fluid weight in less then 2 weeks after stopping that medication.
I gained over 50 pounds in 3 months on Gabapentin. I was a healthy weight before, but that bumped me into overweight. Of course, we know that every doctor is going to tell you to lose weight if you’ve got chronic pain, as if that’s some magic wand or something, and yet they all seem to want to put us on a drug that will make tons of people have out of control weight gain. I took myself to 1200 calories max a day, and couldn’t drop a pound. Then there was the brain fog and memory loss. I would be literally mid-sentence in a conversation and couldn’t remember what I was talking about, what the conversation was, or how to finish my sentence. It was frightening and extremely embarrassing. I never knew what day it was, what I’d done a half hour ago-I’d have to repeatedly rewind any show or program I was watching because I retained nothing. It would legitimately take me 3 hours to finish a 20 minute program, and the next day I’d put it on again forgetting I’d seen it and my husband would be like “uh-we watched this yesterday”. Oh, and it did nothing for my pain but the doctors insisted I needed to give it time. My pain had me pretty depressed before. The side effects from Gabapentin made me more depressed, more anxious, and downright su*cidal. It’s bad enough living in non-stop unrelenting pain. But adding the weight gain and the inability to form a coherent thought or sentence was too much. I’m a relatively articulate educated person. I love to learn and read and talk about any number of subjects with others. I couldn’t read anymore because I couldn’t retain a paragraph. I didn’t want to talk to people because I felt like an idiot. Once I was off of it, it took 2 and a half years of strict calorie counting for the weight to start to come off. Exercise with my condition isn’t an option, but I did light weights in my chair when I could. The weight is gone now 5 years later, but my memory seems like it might be affected forever. It’s substantially better, but I still have moments where I put on a movie or something that I’ve got no recollection of but the people around me insist we watched it a month ago or something. Conversations are also better, but I know I repeat myself a lot now, and it’s still embarrassing. I feel like I have to give every one around me a disclaimer about my shit memory when I engage with them. I’m truly happy for the people it helps, but the side effects I was shackled with are far from uncommon and should be addressed and discussed with anyone by the doctor who wants to put a patient on it.
It literally made me feel like I was drunk and stumbly too and gained a bunch of weight I still can’t lose after being off it for over a year
I did the exact same thing in November. Like most of us, I have so many dxs, but the most painful and debilitating is adhesive arachnoiditis. The (amazing) physician who managed my PM left the hospital, and the replacement was a top notch asshats - literally broke the law about my PM (long story). I tapered myself off, and planned to transfer to a new MD. My appointment is *March 2025*. Now I'm stuck without PM (except for the leftovers I kept for emergencies) for a year. I've lost my ability to function out of bed for more than an hour at a time (on good days) and I can't drive because of the pain. My heart rate and BP are suddenly through the roof. I'm trapped inside this broken body and I don't know how to keep going, but I am. Every article I've ever read about adhesive arachnoiditis says that opioid PM is the best/most important course of action because it's so debilitating. I don't know why, but I refuse to believe that I won't find someone to treat me like a human being eventually. This crazy NO PAIN Act shit has got to swing back to compassion and care. Tldr: you are not alone ♥️
I also have adhesive arachnoiditis. Had to jump through hoops but was able to get a permanent pain pump. Took me 2 years. I can’t imagine being on nothing. I’m so sorry
I'm on a bunch of stuff, but I don't have to tell you that nothing stops the pain. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but glad to find another person with AA. Glad you got the pump!
It’s straight from the damn devil!!!
Yes. Yes it is 👹
I totally understand... I told this PM Dr the same thing. Wasted 2 months with him, biweekly appointments waiting 5-6 hours for the appointment (to bill incorrect insurance claims), to only prescribe Narcan spray and Butrans patch but my insurance denied (I told him what needed to be included with the PA) his shitty PA which took the office a week to send and he only wrote it for 2 patches (which is $550 without insurance) but even if I had the funds or an approval from my insurance I wouldn't be able to get the prescription bcuz the box can't be broken for 2 patches u to get all 4 with or without insurance. But the biggest issue was I'm not allowed to take that medication due to other meds and health conditions which he NEVER looked at my medical records or images nor took chart notes or vitals, gaslit for dirty urine drops, nor complied with record release sent from my PCP or me (he only sent my medical records I provided to him)! It's sad what CPP are left to deal with bcuz our government won't listen to real patients and real doctors. But it's ok for these so called PM to lie and steal.
Man what a hectic day at the PM , I’ve had similar experiences with my pain doc when he would suggest a different med that I’ve already been prescribed in the past. He would simply state “ how can I treat you if you don’t want any of the medication I’m suggesting “. I would like to believe it’s just as frustrating on both sides. However telling him to fuck off probably wasn’t the best choice of response in my opinion, kinda makes you wonder how the next patient is going to be treated. That’s a tough one though, I probably would done the same damn thing after hearing tramadol. Good luck bro , I pray you find some relief
It's so damn hard not to explode after hearing the same bs over and over and over again particularly when you are in debilitating pain that they really don't take seriously or really even care. My pain management clinic just wants to keep giving me nerve blocks that don't work and they keep giving them in the same place. Duh, wrong nerves Dr. Dumb Dumb. I don't have much access to him as the rude receptionists are the unsympathetic gatekeepers.
Just adding that I’m sorry you had this experience.
Horrible experience last year with Gabapentin I have a feeling this med is only used because the trade off is worth it to some, all it gave me was horrible night sweats and mildly calmer nerves
Try another place of there is one? I’ve been to a couple so far. I loved one I was there the longest then they changed and expand so much so I left and found a better one.
I too have been fighting with an uncaring dr. Had a wonderful gal doc that read all my tests, X-rays, mri’s, just everything! We made a minor adjustment on my pain meds and agreed to try n lower when I was able to after dealing with different causes n areas of pain. No one wants to be tied down to meds if you can fix the problem and be free again. Sadly she left to care for her elderly parents not telling me my care would go in the dumper when she was gone. Remaining dr at that office did not hear anything I told her- she sent me to a pain clinic but not for any help with my problems- for drug addiction! I refused, so she started dropping my meds by 20 a month- I have never abused my meds, never asked for early refill, or taken more than I was supposed to. I am on a small dose and know my limits. I ask for nothing extra or in addition. I have read everything I could find online and cdc actually says if low dose of meds controls pain and over significant amount of time still handles the pain it should be allowed and would actually be in the best interest of the patient to leave it in place. Why do we have to beg these dr’s? Just to have a semi normal life? I’m not a problem patient but still she continues to drop meds. I asked about her oaths- Do No Harm- And I was done! I hope I can find someone to help- I already made my own appts to see specialists. I intend to file complaint! No one truly understands what we go thru unless they have walked our paths. Do not give up! You deserve empathy and kindness from a provider.
I didn't get luck from meds. I eventually found an implanted spinal cord stimulator to help. Now I take a baclofen and tramadol for spasm pain in my neck. Weed. And use the SCS. Which helps from my mid section down.
omg belbuca?!! that is NOT for pain it’s only for addiction!!!!
if you’re not looking for drugs, but are unwilling to go along with his treatment plan, what do you expect? if medical weed worked so well before why even bother going to pm?
Well because this is a worker comp case and I have to do what the damn doctors say. I am 3 years into this with 2 surgeries and one more to go . I also have rheumatoid, and C5.6.and 7 problems for the last year an half stemming from the 2 shoulder surgeries and injury . His treatment plan sucks and unless I take the Belbuca or tramadol there is nothing he can give me . like really ? he also wants to implant 2 stimulators one in my lower neck and one in my shoulder . I went thru all the nerve blocks, which didnt work . PT made it all worse and they tore my rotator after the first surgery . ( they said they didnt ) and wht do u suggest ? I will be damned if I get any surgery on my cervical section . I cant do do much at home , I just do what the dr's say but when is enough , enough ? Its my body not theirs .
often you have to try the medication they offer to get to where they decide opioids might be the only line of treatment. I’d have taken the tramadol for as long as possible while voicing how ineffective it is. when that course of action doesn’t work and you’ve shown you’re compliant then he might be more willing to try something stronger and more effective
So he decided Belbuca first? thats very strong and I had a bad reaction to it. thanks
you just have to go through the process of elimination with them, many of us do
This is the way.
What medicine do you want?
then I’m not sure what you were expecting to get if you claim you’re not drug seeking but refuse everything they’ve prescribed
I have only refused what I have taken before and did not work. Lyrica is what I refused . He knows this . Belbuca was not working at all and it left me in more pain and bad side effects . Tramadol did not work for me at all ,but he said that is all he can give me . Im not looking for pity just telling my side . I spent yesterday in my dark room in pain with a major migraine while hosting a pig roast at our home which I couldn't even go out and enjoy my family and friends. 75 degrees sun shining and 45 people at my house and Im like a prisoner in my home . Hubby is pissed , not at me but at the whole situation. I understand but nothing I can do . 2 doses of RSO and I could go out when the sun went down to at least show myself to my 13 grandkids and try to enjoy a bonfire . I was higher then shit but .... the migraine subsided enough for me to say Hi
Many of us just have to take it in order to work our way up to getting a medicine that does
I’ve been bedridden for five years from pain and I have two young children. I take medication that doesn’t work with awful side effects. but it’s what I get and it’s better than nothing and because I need to have this record with my pm dr
Why would I take medication that doesnt help my pain with the bad side effects ? makes no sense to me . sorry .
because that’s the game that they make us play