Has anyone ever been on Duloxetine (Cymbalta) for nerve pain?

After five low back surgeries over the last six years I have all kinds of residual low back and leg pain. After taking 1800mg per day of Gabapentin which would help somewhat my doctor recommended Cymbalta. I'm only on 30mg a day for the first 30 days then it will be increased to 60mg per day. Within 36 hours almost all of my low back pain is gone. Unbelievable almost. So far no crazy side effects either. I wish it would have been recovered years sooner.

Sorry, I meant recommended...

Yes. I have Pudendal neuropathy and was first given gabapentin- got naucous. Changed to Duloxetine- after 10 days I was sooooo sick- dizzy, headache, stomach upset . For about 2 months I had no appitite, had to stop taking it. I have many medicine allergies- but non with this reaction. I am going to have to go to pregabalin next.

Good news, Robert!
there is a tendency with advertising different surgical back procedures, to give the impression that after the procedure you will be fit as a fiddle... So not true....It can take a full year for nerves to grow back....Find a good physical therapist to help keep you where you are now...Dont do things that risk your progress. Move smart...we all know when we are doing something stupid, we shouldn't , for our back.
If 30 mg works, why go to 60?....see how it goes for a few months...
and the gabapentin can gradually be lowered also, but not without your doctors advise... it needs to be done slowly...both those meds can cause side effects
If you can take a short walk every day, that will help, too
welcome to the new you! Best of luck

So true on the need to move smart, I have had a few setbacks due to not thinking before using my back. Especially on a day when you are feeling better than usual. And yes, I am going to ask my physician about possibly staying at 30mg instead of going to 60mg. I'm curious what he will say. Seems a bit strange to me that it's helping me so much when others can't stand to be on it though. I do have a great therapist and a home routine for my back.

If you are on FB, with your questions about Duloxetine, you may want to check out the "Cymbalta Hurts Worse" group. Many members report some of the same side effects. I took it for 20+ years, not much help and terrible side effects.

Why 20 years then? It is very difficult to stop. Took 2½ years to taper off.

Same side effects as who ? I've not reported any negative side effects. And I would have never took it for twenty years with terrible side effects. Even with two and a half year taper. I'm just stating what it has done for me.

@mskow. i've been taking Cymbalta 60 mg a day for 10 years. i have not had any side effects.
as for taking it for 20+ years when you know it's not working. WHY?? if you know it's NOT working after 1 year why continue to keep taking it. you taper off as doctor says. it will not take 2 1/2 years to taper off. that's the doctors fault.
but to continue taking it for 20+ years when you know it's not working. that is YOUR fault. WHO made you keep taking it for 20+ years?? Daniel.

I’ve been talking Cymbalta for a year now. I’m taking 80mg and it makes me mellow and took off the burning pain on my lower thighs. Never had a problem so far.

Daniel, I admitted my stupidity in my comment, but thank you for piling on. I am happy that you've had no ill effects from it and hope that continues. But, everybody reacts differently to meds.

But, if you take the time to check out that group, with its 39K members, you will see many others with similar stories.