Welcome to Connect juliawillc. I moved your discussion topic to an existing discussion called "Gabapentin and muscle pain." Here you will find a robust conversation taking place on Gabapentin and some of the symptoms other members have experienced as a result.

I would like you to meet @1947 who recently posted about muscle spasms as a result from taking Gabapentin. I would also like you to meet @bryguy, @lauriedr, and @sandytoes14 who may be able to offer insight on other treatments that worked for them.

@nursegigi, as the creator of this discussion, what sort of pain did you experience as a result of taking Gabapentin? Was it similar to juliawillc's side effects?

Juliawillc, you mentioned you took Lyrica, could you share what other treatments or therapies have you tried? Other members shared their concerns over memory loss and "zombie" like side effects from high dosages of Gabapentin, could you share whether you have experienced this side effect or not as well?

@JustinMcClanahan, I used gabapentin in moderate doses for migraine headache for 2 years. I was a zombie and have very little memory of that time period. One day I held my daughter's tiny hand; after an intervention by friends, I got off the useless med. I next held my daughter's now 5 yr old hand, and it was big. I hadn't noticed. I still cry about those lost years that I can't remember. If you do take gabapentin, have an attentive person watch you closely. My busy husband didn't notice the change in me, but good friends did. Be careful of that powerful medicine!

Yes I had pain in my hands and feet. My feet would swell causing pressure and pain

@juliawillc and @JustinMcClanahan I did not have muscle pain specific to taking gabapentin 1200 mg daily, I had memory loss and was feeling like I was going to fall. Have you had your vitamin levels checked? I found I was low in Vitamin D and magnesium. I take Caltrate D3 with MSM. There is also something called magnesium oil that I use. http://www.ancient-minerals.com It is available on Amazon. I had no luck with Lyrica.

Justin - What is myofascial pain? It would be good, I think, to describe pain/symptoms, etc.. in terms new people can relate to a little easier. The same goes for medical acronyms. Believe me I do understand the need for a bit of shorthand in dealing with medical terminology but I guess I'm not medically savvy enough to get my license just yet. When seeing my dr. I ask him/her to explain specifics of a diagnosis using terms I could more easily understand and in that regard, I could then answer his questions more accurately. I don't think my illness has ever been "named" anything but has been treated like neuropathy so I guess that's what it is. Maybe charting people's explanations of symptoms, diagnosis, likely cause, prescribed medications, home and homeopathic remedies, and a column for effective, non-effective - side effects etc. and then see which category we all might best fit. Just a suggestion but honestly, there's so much information, it's difficult to see what applies and what doesn't.

Great observation mfobrien36. I, like you, also get lost in all of the medical terminology and acronyms. When I come across something that I am not sure of or haven't heard a lot about I always defer to mayoclinic.org as my first resource for information. A definition of myofascial pain from the experts can be found here http://mayocl.in/2e09pIn. Like you mentioned, there is a lot of information out there, and Connect is a place where patients share their experiences and knowledge on various topics, but I do agree that it is hard to know what applies and what doesn't with such a wide range of topics being discussed. Input and further discussion is always welcome, thank you.

@mfobrien36 and @JustinMcClanahan - THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION -'WHAT IS MYOFASCIAL PAIN?' AND FOR THE RECOMMENDATION TO READ THE MAYO CLINIC ARTICLE ON MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROME http://mayocl.in/2e09pIn . I've printed it out & will take to the PT next visit. There are some recommendations that we haven't explored in Physical Therapy.

Below is MY OWN - not anyone else's - description of MY Myofascial Pain-what I experience & what the diagnosing physician described to me. Because we're all unique, others experience this in a uniquely different manner.

{The pain originates in the Latissimus Dorsi muscle (the large muscles in your back), & radiates through my back, on the R side, extending around to my ribs. In fact, my initial complaint was Rib Pain. I'd never heard of Myofascial Pain until this year. Nothing showed up on an MRI. The Neurologist who diagnosed me said the muscle is 'tight' & 'bound up' by the Fascia, affecting the nerves & causing the pain.}

I'm starting to see some of the factors that make this Syndrome so frustrating; it's not something each patient experiences the same way; it affects different parts of the body; there isn't any one specific treatment for Myofascial Pain Syndrome. I guess that's why it's called a Syndrome. Not all doctors are well-versed re this condition, so you might have to visit more than one physician before obtaining a correct diagnosis. I've mentioned before that mine was initially MISDIAGNOSED as Shingles Neuralgia by a Board-Certified Rheumatologist. She handed me off to a Neurologist who figured it out.

Here's something else I haven't seen in this discussion re Myofascial Pain. The reason I was referred to a Rheumatologist was abnormal results in the RHEUMATOID FACTOR TEST in my blood workup.

Has anyone else had this show up in their blood work? I'm trying to come up w/ something those of us who have this condition might have in common.

Any thoughts? Susan
username @sistergoldenhair

My daughter did 12 treatments over 6 weeks. She did it in San Antonio at Klarisana, Dr. Carl Bonnett. You would have to get a boster in 3 to 6 months. It has really been life changing. She is also on so many medications, i just want to wean her off 1 at a time and see if she can get off all of them.

Yes, it is bad stuff. I was put on it for nerve pain caused from spinal surgery. My husband got tired of me nodding off in the middle of a conversation, or playing a game on my PC, and I didn't have the energy to get my butt off the couch. It felt like if I stood up, I'd fall, my arms & legs felt like they weighed a ton each. I was taking 100mg, 3 times a day. Now I'm on Lyrica, it helps the pain, without making me into a zombie.

@juliawillc, I don't know if you are still part of the Mayo Connect group, but I want to pass on my experience of Gabapentin. I was taking 300mg 4x a day. I decided that due to my memory loss and feeling goofy on it, I wanted to stop taking it. I was also taking Baclofen for muscle spasms and Tramadol for arthritis. I weaned myself off Gabapentin and off Baclofen. What I discovered was that I have much less pain after getting off the Gabapentin. I think this is a bad drug. I then read about Lyrica as an alternative and found out itis made by the same maker of Gabapentin, and is the newer version of Gabapentin! I know I am much better off without the Gabapentin and Baclofen. I still have pain in my right hip, leg, knee and ankle, as well as cramping in my groin and right thigh sometimes, but I can handle it. I want to try marijuana instead, but I will need to give up the Tramadol as my pain doctor won't prescribe if I use marijuana, even though its legal in California. Now, im concerned that Trump will mess with the legalization of Marijuana in states, so I'm holding off for a while.