In some ways, I’m surprised I only take Gabapentin. I was hit suddenly with severe PN, so hard I couldn’t walk for 6 months; the internal pain in my lower legs was awful, lower arms as well. Adding to that was the long lasting icy cold hands and feet where piling socks and gloves on added little comfort, alternating with periods of intense burning all over (without being able to sweat) that lying naked in front of fans couldn’t help. I was in constant misery 24 hours a day and could get little sleep for at least a month before a Neurologist put me on Gabapentin.

Gabapentin has helped the internal thermometer problems I’ve had by 90% and I am so pleased with that. I still get affected easily by external temperatures I can’t control, so I have to help myself when I can avoid it. I’ll leave a restaurant (or eat very quickly) if they keep air conditioning too low, and I don’t linger in frozen food sections in stores, and I always wear socks, have a jacket, and have gloves in my pocket. In summer heat, I stay under an umbrella for shade or get in the water. But I can live now without the 24/7 discomfort I was having before Gabapentin.

It’s the same with pain. It’s now very manageable as I keep the constant level of Gabapentin in me. I rarely even think about it now! If I miss a dose, 9 times out of 10 I start feeling that internal pain in my legs and I know it might take me a day to get everything back to even keel. One thing Gabapentin does NOT help me with is numbness and the feeling of tight nerves in my hands and feet, but they do not disrupt my daily activities like my other aggravating symptoms did.