ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: MAlegant on April 28, 2009, 05:40:41 pm
-
Hi all,
I was on Cymbalta for nerve pain (face, mouth, gums, teeth, tongue) but it really didn't work. I went on Lyrica and lo and behold, two days of less pain! And I mean lots less. I imagine as the dosage increases (in increments) and builds in my system, I may actually have NO pain. If that happens, I might just cry. I'm hoping I don't have many side effects because this is the best I've felt in 9 months. Anyone else on Lyrica????
Marci
-
How wonderful that you found something that works for you! Must feel sooooo good!
I'm not up on all the posts.....is it normal to have nerve pain after surgery? I haven't read this before........
Sorry for the ignorant question. Still learning.....
Adrienne
-
Hi Adrienne,
No, I don't think it's normal, unless your trigeminal nerve is involved, which mine was. I'm unique, what can I say? Hope you are doing better and getting some attention from the docs.
Best,
Marci
-
Marci -
I don't have nerve pain, therefore no meds for me and no feedback for you. Sorry!
Just wanted to say I'm glad you're getting relief and lots of it ;D
Here's hoping the relief continues!
Jan
-
I think Nancy Drew was starting Lyrica for her possible fibromyalgia, maybe she will spot your post. I think it was starting to work for her at last report.
More importantly, I am glad to hear that you are getting somewhere! The prospect of no pain is really exciting news. I am happy for you. :)
Steve
-
wow, Congratulations Marci!
Here's hoping they LYRICA works and keeps on working.
Positive thoughts,
Maureen
-
Hey Marci-
I took Lyrica for a short while when I was having an abnormal amount of pain on the side of my face and it made me a little too "woozy" - however, it did work for the pain. Fortuntately, my pain was only temporary.
A friend of mine who is in late stage cancer is taking Lyrica (she has severe nerve damage caused by tumors) and she says it has been terrific. I also have a friend who takes it for fibromyalgia. I think it works very well on nerve related pain, so hopefully it will be your miracle drug.
I know Anne Marie (Yardtick) has major nerve pain issues; not sure if she has tried lyrica - I talk to her on Facebook, so will ask her. Or maybe she'll read this.
Anyway. Marci, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is goign to work for you. I only had a small sample of what you must be going through, and I must say that I really feel for you. Fingers and toes crossed.
Debbi
-
Congratulations, Marci, on finding some relief...less pain is good, extremely less pain is extremely good. Hopefully whatever side effects there are will be easier to live with than the pain. Here's to a painless or at least a less pain future.
Adrienne, like so many aspects of the whole AN journey, it's in the individual details. One value I found in this forum post-diagnosis and pre-surgery was to get an idea of the realm of possible solutions for things that could come up. After being told on the phone while at work that I had a "growth on the acoustic nerve and would be contacted by a surgeon that deals with those", I stopped at Barnes and Noble and picke up a small moleskin notebook. As I moved through the research, I wrote info in that. I found I needed to limit miyself to 30 minutes a day of research and if I thought of something at another time I would take a note in my PDA.
When I ran across a discussion like this on on this forum I would make a note: nerve pain - possible medication: Lyrica, Cymbalta Then if that thing did occur, I had a base to start the research on that aspect. I was very fortunate in that most of the possible complications I noted down..I ended up not having to deal with in my case.
It might not work for everyone but it certainly helped this very left oriented brain get through it.
Oh yeah, there are no ignorant questions. Not a single person on here was born with any knowledge about AN's. We were all thrown into the deep end of the knowledge pool by that phone call or MRI results appointment. It's a deep pool and just like trying to get off the bottom of a real pool, we had to claw our way back to sanity one question, one internet search, one support group meeting at a time.
..take care.. tim b
-
Marci ~
My wife's Rheumatologist prescribed Lyrica for her fibromyalgia (last year) but it didn't work as well as the Neurontin she has taken for years, to good effect. She is back on Neurontin and doing O.K.
However, I'm very pleased to learn that you're almost pain-free at this juncture. I trust the Lyrica will continue to be effective for you.
Jim
-
Hi Marci,
I take Neurontin and I believe Lyrica are from the same drug family. At this point in time I couldn't live with out the drug.
Wishing you the best Marci,
Anne Marie
-
My doctor said I "failed" neurontin. She put that right on the prescription! I felt so bad....
-
Hi Marci,
I am glad you posted this information and more glad that it is working for you. I was actually questioning myself these past couple of days what to do if pain persists. I am however, on W & W but can always ask the Dr. to try this medication if symptoms get worse. Hope your pain free journey continues. Thank you for sharing.
Vivian
-
Hi Marci,
I know I'm late to the party, but just wanted to echo everyone else in saying I'm really happy that you are finally able to keep the pain at a managable level! It's funny how different medications help different people. Maybe someday they will find a magic pill that will work the same for all pains and all people :).
Ernie
-
Awesome news! I had a headache yesterday with the flu (good old-fashioned, not swine) and was completely immobilized. I can't even fathom chronic pain, so the fact that you have found something helps others!! Again, awesome news.
-
Hi Marci,
I just wanted to say how glad I am that you finally found relief from your chronic pain. I hope you are not troubled by side effects, or if you are that they are slight and very tolerable.
Best wishes,
Wendy
-
HI Marci,
I wanted to check in with you and see if the Lyrica is still helping you w/your facial pain. My prayers and good wishes are with you for the relief to continue!
I've realized through this experience how debiliatating pain can be, and mine is very minor compared to other forumites. A good day is a blessing beyond compare!
Priscilla
-
All,
I think I offended the gods with my post. Pain is back. Maybe the Lyrica takes a few weeks to really get into the system and my pain-less days were just coincidence. ???
Marci
-
It has always seemed to me over this past year that recovery is cyclic. Good days are followed by not so good days are folllowed by good days. I have been fortunate to not have pain, but my balance, hearing, and facial twitchiness seem to vary quite a bit from day to day.
On one day I'll feel like I could take up tight rope walking as a hobby... the next I'm driving along really hoping that a cop doesn't ask me to do that heel to toe walking or standing on one foot thing.
Sorry to hear your pain has returned for the moment... here's to hoping for the roller coaster up...
..take care.. tim b
-
Thanks Tim. Roller-coaster is right!! Appreciate the encouragement.
Marci
-
Marci
Tim's post is so accurate. Just curious, did you eat or do anything differently yesterday?
I hope this adjustment period is short-lived.
Kate
-
Hi Kate,
You know, my life is a roller-coaster so no surprise that my recovery is following the same pattern. Very stressful job and all that. (I love it and wouldn't change it for the world.) My diet is very strange and I have lost a lot of weight because the pain always gets worse after eating. Hence, no inclination to snack between meals, except for ice cream. The cold makes everything feel better and the sugar doesn't hurt! I am trying to eat in a healthy way but I know I'm falling short. Your post made me realize that I'm not helping myself in that regard so thank you. I think I'll start keeping a journal to see if I can detect any patterns.
Best,
Marci
-
Marci,
This entire week has been a huge roller coaster ride of pain for me. I'm sure the weather has been a major factor. I feel for you sweetie. I'm patiently waiting for an appointment with a pain Dr.
Take care my friend,
Anne Marie
-
Here's hoping that wonder drug kicks back in for you!
K
-
Marci -
sorry to hear about the roller coaster - you, too, Anne Marie :(
Hope both you guys are feeling much better very soon.
Jan
-
Thanks Jan,
I still had a brain wreck today and I remembered I had a drug called Avert. I took it and the pain behind my eye finally left me. I've got one left so.......here's hoping I will not need it any time soon.
How are you feeling Marci?
Anne Marie
-
Your post made me realize that I'm not helping myself in that regard so thank you. I think I'll start keeping a journal to see if I can detect any patterns.
Best,
Marci
Marci,
I wish for you that it is that simple:-)
Kate
-
This entire week has been a huge roller coaster ride of pain for me. I'm sure the weather has been a major factor. .. I'm patiently waiting for an appointment with a pain Dr.
Anne Marie
Anne Marie,
I am glad the Avert works. Any idea about how long it will be before you can get an appt with the pain doctor?
Kate
-
NOPE ??? I'm going to call the neurologist on Monday.
Anne Marie
-
The cold makes everything feel better and the sugar doesn't hurt! I am trying to eat in a healthy way but I know I'm falling short.
Tumbleweed may come along and set you on the right path. You can look forward to far less sugar, and far more steamed leafy greens. ;D
I don't think the roller coaster ride ever ends, but you can get to the end part, where it is longer gentler swoops. Year two should be better.
I hope the gods won't hold a grudge and the Lyrica will start working for you soon.
Steve
-
Still hanging in here, though yesterday was not good. Am determined that I will not feel sorry for myself today and will try to be productive. (repeat 100 times)
Thanks all,
Marci
Anne Marie,
I hope you are feeling better. You are in my thoughts.
M
-
Marci,
The best thing you can do is try to keep going,and try not to surrender.......
Positive thoughts your way...
Keep trudging, keep moving.
I can empathize on the part of just not letting it (whatever IT is) get you down. It is hard some days. And you may wake up and say "Another day to get through." (OH I say that!"
So you like your job but it is stressful?? Can the stress be addressed at work and be brought down a notch???? ???
Hang tough,
maureen
-
Hey, Marci! So sorry to read that the new pain med is not doing the trick yet, afterall. Hope it is just that it will take some time to do its magic. You are such a positive person and so helpful to others, I wish we could help you with this. Hang in there! (I say, eat the ice cream, if it makes you feel better ;))
Cindy
-
Thanks. I've had some longer periods of much less pain so I'm hoping that's a sign the Lyrica is taking effect. Today I made it until 4pm with very little pain. That's a huge amount of time for which I was so grateful. When the pain came I was in better shape to deal with it. Tonight I'm going for the ice cream again. Turns out the drug makes me hungry!
Marci
-
Ok, it looks like the medication is working. I am pain-free most of the day, but still have breakthrough pain at night. I can't tell you how happy this makes me. It's like I can breathe again. And so far, no side effects. Yay!! ;D
-
That's great news about your pain is finding some relieve...here's to hoping the rest of it goes away..
..take care.. tim b
-
Marci,
I'm glad to hear the Lyrica is working and helping you get through the day but sorry to hear you are still having pain at night. Is Lyrica a drug you have to be on for a month or more before you see the full benefits? If so, I hope it eventually relieves all of your pain.
Wendy
-
I'm following this post closely, as I'm interested in how long it takes to 'regulate' the drug into your system to help you have consistently less pain.
I've been taking a low dose of Carbamazepine (Tegretol) for my Trigeminal pain, but am having a hard time with it. I've only been taking it 'regularly' (meaning every day, twice a day) for about 9 days but have been having some side effects that I could do without. Dizzy, headaches, nausea, and the worst one-double vision (thankfully, only at times. More often than not, I'm OK and don't have this one) . I called my neurosurgeon's office and told them what I'm going through, to see if there was something else I could take for the Trigeminal pain (which incidentally, was feeling much better when I first started taking the drug, but now I have 'break through' pain and I can see it's getting stronger as the days go on. I'm afraid I'll need to increase my dose), and they told me there are 3 more options: 1) Neurontin, 2) Lyrica, 3) Amitriptylene (sp?) She warned me that each will have it's own side effects though, so they suggested I just grin and bear it with the one I'm on now.
Let me know when you're having consistent, and pain free days, OK? I really hope that's started for you already........
Adrienne
-
Hi,
So now ( 2 weeks later?) I am doing really well. For the most part, I am not in pain, but I am still in some discomfort which is a piece of cake compared to what I've been dealing with. I've had a few episodes of breakthrough pain that have required an additional pain pill, but that's still not bad. For the first time in nine months, I almost feel recovered. Here's hoping that the numbness continues to recede (so slow) and that feeling returns to my face. Yes, I want it all. ;D
Marci
-
God bless you, Marci. I hope you continue to feel better with each day! My prayers are with you as you continue on this journey of discovery. Good days are a real Godsend.
Priscilla
-
Amen to that.
M
-
Marci,
I'm glad to hear you 're feeling so much better. I hope your recovery continues smoothly and that your pain will soon be a thing of the past.
Wendy
-
For those of you keeping score, it's still working! Still virtually pain-free during the day. This is good enough for me.
Love,
Marci
-
For those of you keeping score, it's still working! Still virtually pain-free during the day. This is good enough for me.
Love,
Marci
Awesome news!