medications for nerve pain

[Guest guest]

A couple of years ago after exposure to some toxic chemicals during some

remodeling I

experienced nerve pain unlike any pain I have ever had. I had pins and needles,

sharp

stabbing pains, icy cold pains shooting up and down my legs, numb feet and legs,

and the

overall feeling of having frostbitten feet. It was absolutely horrible so I can

really

empathize with those of you suffering from neurological pains.

My doctor had me trying differnet medications and I went through Elavil,

Oxycontin,

Tylenol 4 with codiene, Neurontin, steroid packs, Duragesic patch, some form of

morphiene, and quite a few others. The problem with these drugs, for me, was

that they

gave me an overall feeling of just being groggy but did very little to eradicate

the pain.

I had very few positive results from the drugs and the lightheaded, groggy

feeling made it

very difficult to be functional during the day. Some of the medications left me

feeling

jittery and nauseated to the point where I'd continually throw up.

I was trying to maintain a 40 hour a week schedule at a desk job and it was near

impossible while on these heavy drugs. I'd go to work, stumble through my day

in a foggy

haze, come home, and lie on the couch in horrible pain and I'd actually lie

there with tears

pouring down my face and telling my husband I didn't think I was strong enough

to

endure the pain any longer because nothing was helping.

Under my doctors' recommendation I went down to part time work and after 6

months of

physical therapy and no improvement in pain and a few more months trying to

tough it

out I made the decision to quit that job and give my body the rest it needed to

begin to

heal again.

It was extremely difficult from the beginning to 'rest' and focus on getting

stronger again

without feeling like I had to keep busy.

I can say though that it was the best decision I could have made and should have

done it

sooner. It was either that or go crazy from the pain. I have heard from people

that have

that level of pain every day for years and years and I really feel for them.

I know now, looking back that I should have listened to my doctor much sooner

when he

told me I really needed to give my body rest and that every day that I overdid

it it was the

same as recreating the injury and I wasn't giving my body any time to heal

itself.

After a few months of not working I did go back to work 2 days a week and have

been pain

medication free for about a year or so except for an occasional Ibuprofen or

asprin.

I had a lot of concern about the negative long-term effects of a lot of the

medications I

was using and I think anything that any one of us can do to cut down or prevent

having to

use these meds in the first place is extremely beneficial.

For me it really took listening to my body and making some difficult decisions

before I was

able to get a handle on it and give my body the rest it needed to overcome the

damage

and the pain. It has taken quite some time but it was well worth it. My lower

back has

been virtually pain free and the numbness and pains in my legs and feet has

almost been

eradicated.

The hardest part now is pacing myself and knowing when too much activity is too

much

and forcing myself to rest. I realize now though that if I overdo it I'm taking

three steps

backward and it's going to cost me more in the long run in time to recoup and

pain in the

process.

I hope for those of you out there contemplating some of these medications that

you can

find an alternative that works for you and if you can't, that you can find a

medication that

helps with the pain and yet allows you to be functional.

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