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PMR with normal labs and having severe thigh pain
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Oct 28 11:18am | Replies (31)Comment receiving replies
Interesting re: gabapentin !!
I am not a medical professional. But maybe someone can comment - A physiatrist who was also evaluating me for my thigh pain remarked that if it is nerve-related a short course of gabapentin might /should/ could confirm .
I have taken gabapentin in the past . But recent article in NYT is worth a look :
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/17/health/gabapentin-seniors-pain.html
Thanks for your kind words in reply !!
Replies to "Interesting re: gabapentin !! I am not a medical professional. But maybe someone can comment -..."
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Gabapentin is for "nerve pain" but when you think about it, all senstions are transmitted by nerves to the brain. It is the brain that deciphers what the sensation is and where it is coming from.
I took gabapentin for trigeminal neuralgia which gave me the "sensation" that my face was electrified. I called it facial electrocution.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/trigeminal-neuralgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353344#:~:text=Trigeminal%20neuralgia%20(try%2DJEM%2D,trigger%20a%20jolt%20of%20pain.
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Gabapentin quieted down all my nerves in my body. I felt like I was becoming a zombie or the walking dead. I told my neurologist I felt like I was digging a deep hole for myself and I wasn't able to get out of the hole I was digging. I went to sleep one night and slept for 2 days. When I woke up, I was out of the hole. I didn't take gabapentin ever again after that nightmare.
I told the neurologist that Prednisone worked "reasonably well" for my electric shocks. The neurologist said trigeminal neuralgia wasn't treated with prednisone so I stopped going to the neurologist.
My primary care doctor was more compassionate. I once messaged him that the electric shocks were occurring once per minute and I was considering taking 100 mg of prednisone to quiet things down. I explained that I would quickly run out of prednisone if I took 100 mg for a "few days." My primary care doctor immediately called me back within minutes after he got my message. He only asked me if I was sure 100 mg daily would be enough. He agreed that one electric shock to my face every minute was too many.
The "sensation" of electricity was because the nerve impulses were being scrambled in an area at the base of my brain. My brain was unable to decipher what the sensation was so my brain interpreted the sensation as electricity. The sensation of the wind on my face would sometimes be interpreted as electricity. I wasn't really being electrocuted ... it was all in my head as they say!
Even a kiss could be electric!
Trigeminal neuralgia caused me unimaginable stress. I don't think all that stress was helping my PMR.