Small Fiber Neuropathy

I tried Gabapentin - for three months and did not like how I felt. The doctor's office said give it time your body will get used to that feeling. That was baffling to me. I don't want to MASK my SFN, I want to know why and how can I feel better. This group has helped me to open my eyes and to start researching more on my own. Just understanding and reading other comments helps me be more hopeful. Thank you.

I had very little trouble getting off of Gabapentin, with a daily dosage of 1200 mg. I tapered off over a period of about 14 days. Yes I felt a bit off, but it was tolerable. After that process my doctor prescribed Lyrica which did help, but the side effects were awful, So, I went through the same process again. Lyrica was harder to get out of my system, but if you're motivated enough you can do it. Now, I'm back on Gabapentin with a different dosing program i.e. 400 in the morning and 800 just before bed. This new dosing has helped with sleep. Like someone else said, you really do have to be your own advocate. Best o' luck to you and everyone else.

I do not understand SFN. What is the name of the test that concluded SFN? For example my EMG results indicates (paraphrasing), a severe peripheral polyneuropathy, where the disfuntion is in sensori-motor axonal signaling, and "poly" meaning multiple nerves in all peripheral limbs: hands and arms; feet and legs.

Could it be that SFN is also included it my report or is SNF a different diagnosis resolved from a lab distinct from EMG? I received an explanation of my lab result in Spanish, my second language, so I could not ask further questions.

I was prescribed gabapentin for my lifelong anxiety disorder, and it was a disaster. Whereas it resolved some anxiety, it also erased my personality and my normal sense of self. You could characterize that as depersonalization or "zombie effect." I felt that the "zombie effect" was much worse than the anxiety. And, then, because gabapentin is subject to discontinuation syndrome, it took one month to wean off, being very conservative on dose reduction.

When my neurologist prescribed it, I refused. It appears to work simultaneously on two pathways, neurological and anxiolytic. The pathways end up being conflated and there is no separation when you take this medication. I told my neurologist that my brain was more important than my leg and she understood. If, in fact, in the future, my pain becomes intolerable I will re-visit gabapentin, asking my neurologist if I can take a very small sub-therapeutic dose, to evaluate my mental status and see what I can do. But that's for the future and this is now. My Mom was also diagnosed with PN but I do not know the specific diagnosis. She too had problems with gabapentin making her feel "loopy" and finally declined it. For persons without psychiatric disorders gabapentin is probably a surer bet.

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I have idiopathic small fiber PN also with no pain and have had it more than 20 years before seeking a diagnosis in 2016, mostly because all of my prior PCPs had told me there is nothing they can do for the numbness I was feeling. My PCP in 2016 prescribed gabapentin ( I think it was 200 mg daily) but I stopped taking it two weeks after starting because it wasn't helping the numbness. Then after a short conference with my Mayo PCP and her team and a few questions about my symptoms, they agreed and their team lead told me that gabapentin doesn't help with numbness, only for the related pain with neuropathy.

Just a thought but I wonder if your retired surgeon friend may be onto something with drug interactions with gabapentin. I have read that there are some drug interactions with morphine listed as one of the drugs.

"Gabapentin can interact with losartan, ethacrynic acid, caffeine, phenytoin, mefloquine, magnesium oxide, cimetidine, naproxen, sevelamer and morphine. Gabapentin use is contraindicated in patients with myasthenia gravis or myoclonus."
-- Review about gabapentin misuse, interactions, contraindications and side effects:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5308580/

Welcome @penn, I'm sorry to hear that you have nerve pain following your hip surgery. I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for but here are a couple of discussions that might be related.
--- Has anyone had IVIG Infusions for Neuropathy?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ivig-infusions/
--- Hip Surgery: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hip-surgery-1/

Also, here are a couple of references on the topic.
--- Mayo Clinic Study Finds Nerve Damage After Hip Surgery May Be Due to Inflammation: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-study-finds-nerve-damage-after-hip-surgery-may-be-due-to-inflammation/
-- Nerve injuries associated with total hip arthroplasty: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5884042/

Are you looking for a specific discussion or are you trying to connect with members who have nerve pain following hip surgery?

My wife had a small fracture in her right hip. She had extreme pain and groin pain.
The surgeon did a hip REPAIR because he was concerned it would get worse and then a hip replacement would be necessary. She had the REPAIR and still has the pain and difficulty putting her right leg down to walk up steps.
It has been 5 months since the surgery and she still has pain with some improvement.
Her biggest problem is sitting for approx 20 to 30 minutes and then because of the pain, she gets up with additional pain getting up from the chair. She will walk a short distance and then sit again and then repeat. She is most comfortable standing and walking. Has anyone had a similar experience? How long does the discomfort last. She is allergic to aspirin and all NSAIDS including celebrex . All she takes is tylenol. Any comments.

I do not understand SFN. What is the name of the test that concluded SFN? For example my EMG results indicates (paraphrasing), a severe peripheral polyneuropathy, where the disfuntion is in sensori-motor axonal signaling, and "poly" meaning multiple nerves in all peripheral limbs: hands and arms; feet and legs.

Could it be that SFN is also included it my report or is SNF a different diagnosis resolved from a lab distinct from EMG? I received an explanation of my lab result in Spanish, my second language, so I could not ask further questions.

My wife had a small fracture in her right hip. She had extreme pain and groin pain.
The surgeon did a hip REPAIR because he was concerned it would get worse and then a hip replacement would be necessary. She had the REPAIR and still has the pain and difficulty putting her right leg down to walk up steps.
It has been 5 months since the surgery and she still has pain with some improvement.
Her biggest problem is sitting for approx 20 to 30 minutes and then because of the pain, she gets up with additional pain getting up from the chair. She will walk a short distance and then sit again and then repeat. She is most comfortable standing and walking. Has anyone had a similar experience? How long does the discomfort last. She is allergic to aspirin and all NSAIDS including celebrex . All she takes is tylenol. Any comments.

John, thanks for your prompt response. Yes she has been checking with her physician.
He explained that the pain will take time and should greatly improve or disappear within 8 to 12 months. We are also have an appointment with a hip specialist in NY at NY Presbyterian Hospital.