1. < Chronic Pain

Has anyone gotten complete numbness in legs from gabapentin?

Posted by carolinlv @carolinlv, Jul 18, 2024

I started taking gabapentin for peripheral neuropathy almost a month ago. Over the last week my legs often go completely numb from the knee down. I can only assume it is the gabapentin. Has anyone else had this happen? Is it normal? I don’t have a doctor’s appointment for another six weeks, and I would like some first-hand information from other gabapentin users.

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Nanci | @kildaren96 | Oct 7, 2024
In reply to @kforrest "I hate drugs. I ask for the lowest dose I am taking gabapentin 300 mg and..." + (show)
@kforrest

I hate drugs. I ask for the lowest dose I am taking gabapentin 300 mg and duloxtene 20mg and alive or aspirin. I think statins are the reason I have to use a walker. numbness in lower and pain in upper legs. I have diabetes2 and diabetic neuropathy a sore on my foot that won't heal and bad hip arthritis. so, I am on a second round of antibiotics, and headed to an orthopedic dr mid month for a possible hip replacement.

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I can sure vouch for hip replacement. Made a 100% huge difference and took away my leg pain. My right hip is jealous now but only has moderate arthritis so it can’t be replaced (yet) smile. I only wish that back surgery wasn’t as complex. I’ve managed to stay away from it despite a recent radiologist’s comment on a pelvic x-ray about my “seriously degenerating spine.” Yes, I know that but stretching, physical therapy and chair yoga, (Yoga Vista online-created especially for the over 50 crowd) along with using the Swedish Trionic Veloped all terrain rollator to walk my dog with each day and go on trails with, and not being embarrassed to use a cane lightly for longer in town forays, has kept me out of back surgery. I was given a 33% chance of a spinal fusion making things better with the same percentage chance of it not doing anything or making it worse. So if I do eventually try surgery, I will go to the Barrows Institute in PHX if they can (probably can) give me a better prognosis than the neurosurgeon did in my small town. At least I appreciate his honesty as to what he feels can be done for me. I have spinal stenosis, spondylothesis, severe arthritis and scoliosis in the lumbar region. I was always very physically active all my life until back issues started in earnest in mid 60s. I’m 73 now. The aging process is difficult but I’m still kicking. Well, maybe not kicking anymore but adapting.

I would embrace the hip replacement. My life improved tremendously after mine and the recovery was quite short and easy. Or at least it seemed that way , perhaps due to the two years of pain that led up to it. Absence of pain makes a world of difference.

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1 reply
kforrest | @kforrest | Oct 7, 2024
In reply to @kildaren96 "I can sure vouch for hip replacement. Made a 100% huge difference and took away my..." + (show)
@kildaren96

I can sure vouch for hip replacement. Made a 100% huge difference and took away my leg pain. My right hip is jealous now but only has moderate arthritis so it can’t be replaced (yet) smile. I only wish that back surgery wasn’t as complex. I’ve managed to stay away from it despite a recent radiologist’s comment on a pelvic x-ray about my “seriously degenerating spine.” Yes, I know that but stretching, physical therapy and chair yoga, (Yoga Vista online-created especially for the over 50 crowd) along with using the Swedish Trionic Veloped all terrain rollator to walk my dog with each day and go on trails with, and not being embarrassed to use a cane lightly for longer in town forays, has kept me out of back surgery. I was given a 33% chance of a spinal fusion making things better with the same percentage chance of it not doing anything or making it worse. So if I do eventually try surgery, I will go to the Barrows Institute in PHX if they can (probably can) give me a better prognosis than the neurosurgeon did in my small town. At least I appreciate his honesty as to what he feels can be done for me. I have spinal stenosis, spondylothesis, severe arthritis and scoliosis in the lumbar region. I was always very physically active all my life until back issues started in earnest in mid 60s. I’m 73 now. The aging process is difficult but I’m still kicking. Well, maybe not kicking anymore but adapting.

I would embrace the hip replacement. My life improved tremendously after mine and the recovery was quite short and easy. Or at least it seemed that way , perhaps due to the two years of pain that led up to it. Absence of pain makes a world of difference.

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thank you for the encouragement!!

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mmalone1804 | @mmalone1804 | Oct 8, 2024

Is there swelling too? Peripheral edema is a common side effect of gabapentin.

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1 reply
carolinlv | @carolinlv | Oct 8, 2024
In reply to @mmalone1804 "Is there swelling too? Peripheral edema is a common side effect of gabapentin." + (show)
@mmalone1804

Is there swelling too? Peripheral edema is a common side effect of gabapentin.

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No swelling, but the tingling and numbness seem to be worsening daily and I stopped the gabapentin. I don’t know what to blame. May be Losartan bp med?? My old one (Amlodopine) blew my feet up after using for 3 months.🤷‍♀️

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eileenalana123 | @eileenalana123 | Oct 8, 2024
In reply to @hedy "I was told to take Gabapentin for numb feelings in my toes. I took one 300..." + (show)
@hedy

I was told to take Gabapentin for numb feelings in my toes. I took one 300 mg tablet. I went to sleep and woke up feeling horrible. That was the last time I took a Gabapentin tablet. I think that prescriptions made in foreign countries and the FDA not being allowed to visit these places are not safe. I only take prescriptions manufactured and distributed in the USA. Be careful if your product is distributed in America but who knows what foreign country it is manufactured in?

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I had pain and trouble breathing with it and stopped it immediately

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sharronm | @sharronm | Oct 9, 2024
In reply to @kforrest "I just never expected this. my grandmother and great-grandmother both broke their hips on my mother's..." + (show)
@kforrest

I just never expected this. my grandmother and great-grandmother both broke their hips on my mother's side. it is genetic, and my father had diabetes2 I guess my uncle did too and had his legs amputated. my grandfather all three my father's side had ms and was bedridden for 15 years. my odds are not great.

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You should focus on your diet. A healthy diet and lifestyle can drastically change your odds. Eat as many fruits and vegetables each day as they will help! Even a plant based diet would be the best. I use Juice Plus to help meet 30 servings of fruits, berries and vegetables a day!!

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kforrest | @kforrest | Oct 9, 2024

never heard of juice plus. thank you, nice of you to respond

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cooper8147 | @cooper8147 | Feb 8 8:43pm

I have been on Gabapentin for a long time (years) for burning mouth syndrome. Very long story short last summer I began with Horrible thigh pain lasting a week or so. Seen at the ER twice and because I had had a bad rash on my ankle one month prior the NP did a Lyme test which turned out positive. I NEVER had a bulls eye. Again very long story short my right leg continued with pain and pins and needles from about halfway down my knee to my ankle became completely numb. (front and inner leg). That was six months ago and still numb with some pins and needles. I have seen multiple doctors (neurologist, neurosurgeon, Lyme doctor, orthopedic0 and had multiple tests (back MRI, Lower leg MRI, knee MRI, EMG, multiple blood test) and Nothing seems to be the cause of this horrible numbness. Everyone seems to blame the Lyme disease which it could be but I want to rule out anything else that I possibly can. The numbness has not changed one bit since August. One doctor upped my Gabapentin so I am taking 1800 mg a day! But I keep having this awful thought WHAT IF COULD BE THE GABAPENTIN CAUSING THIS??? And here I am taking more of it......The burning mouth story is long also and it took years for a diagnosis and the only thing that helped was Gabapentin so I am so afraid to go off it. I am sure it is helping other pains as well. I have tried to cut back but after a week or so the burning comes back in my mouth. So I am just at my wits end with this and wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. Sorry such a long story but it just is ..... Thanks for any help

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1 reply
cooper8147 | @cooper8147 | Feb 8 8:44pm

Please see my post below from cooper8147

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