Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group

3 years ago I began having chronic pain in my neck and shoulders along with daily headaches. After 6 months of troubleshooting with therapy, chiropractic, accupunture, holistic approaches, neurologist and spine surgeons I was referred to pain management. They did nerve blocks followed by occipital and cervical radio frequency ablations. Throughout this time I attempted to hold down my job which was a boat load of pressure with chronic daily pain. The first mention of Duloxetine was by my PCP because my anxiety and stress levels were through the roof! My frustration of not having a clear definition of what was wrong with me had me in tears daily (here's the loop we speak of). He also mentioned it was an off label use for pain. I tried the drug (first time) for one week and gave up on it. I could not function properly at work due to drowsiness/fogginess plus it was premeditated in my mind to be an anti-depressant which I was against, hard to accept for me. Within the next 2 years my body continued to experience burning pain and weakness that could not be diagnosed properly. The ablations were providing less relief each time. I went from Gabepentin to Lyrica and round again. I finally was diagnosed with chronic migraines but nothing else. EMG and nerve conduction studies were normal, as was basic blood work. Rheumatology ruled out fibromyalgia. My pain spread and evolved into a multitude of symptoms. (you can refer to my bio for a previous post on my symtoms if interested). I could no longer fight it anymore and finally consented to Duloxetine. I personally did not receive pain relief from it but believe it keeps my emotions and anxiety in check. Long story short...it took 2 1/2 years to be diagnosed with Small Fiber Poly Neuropathy via skin punch biopsy. My current protocol is Lyrica Controlled Release 165 mg 1x day with dinner (so I'm going into evening with mild drowziness), Duloxetine 60 mg 1x day at bedtime,
Norco 5-325mg (Hydrocodone/Acetamin)3-4 x day as needed and for the past 3 months 900mg of intraveneous lidocaine infusions 1x week. Infusion therapathy does not seem too well known or spoke of on this forum. It may be due to different levels of knowledge from Doctors or different preferences. Lidocaine infusions can not be safely given to everyone either. Personally they have given me new life for 3-4 days each week and the ability to walk in less pain or some days to walk period. I threw alot at you and am sorry, tend to get on a roll! I hope you find your comfort zone in treatment and continue to research options that make sense and work for you. This forum is great for wisdom and experience. I sincerely I wish I found it sooner. All the best to you in your journey.

@sunny2, Good evening. I may have found one study about the potential impact of Duloxetine use on osteoporosis. Take a look and see if it has value for more. Let me know yay or nay so I know if I am even on the right track.

Have a restful sleep.....Chris

@artscaping. Thanks very much for this. Especially interesting since I do have borderline osteoporosis. I see from reading through past postings that you get some relief with medical marijuana. I have been using it for about the last 6 to 7 weeks without any result. I am using a spray with a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC. Each two spray dosage delivers 6 mg of CBD and 6 mg of THC. I started out very slowly and kept increasing the dose and then went back to the dispensary to talk to the pharmacist. She recommended trying 2 sprays every 4 hours and 3 sprays at night. Have been doing this for a little over a week with no change. I am going to go back and discuss getting a product with a lower ratio of THC and perhaps try that during the day and the 1:1 ratio spray at night. As others have said, I don’t like the high feeling from the THC. I am also going to see if I can also use a topical cannabis cream along with the sprays. Anyway I will persevere for awhile to see what happens.

@rwinney
Hi there,
I took 60 mg of Cymbalta too and my doctor tried to raise it to 90mg but I refused the increase. I rarely have any side effects from medication, the Anti-Inflammatory Tolectin, & Anticonvulsant Lyrica, being the exceptions. As far as Liver or Kidney damage I never had problems there either and I took a lot of medications (Nearly 400,000 pills.) Virtually all the medication I took had the potential to cause Liver or Kidney problems but they are still functioning like champs.
Do you usually suffer side effects on most prescriptions you take.
Health and happiness,
Jake

@artscaping if I may, I have a couple further questions...it sounds like you use the medical marijuana while you are taking Cymbalta? I don’t know now where I got the idea that if I start taking the Cymbalta I should stop the marijuana. Also, was it fairly soon after starting the Cymbalta that you knew it was going to be beneficial for you?

Hi Jake
I seem to get mild symptoms that I power through and deal with for the benefit of the medication. The one thing that bothers me the most is my memory. At 49 it alarms me when I blank on names, words and thoughts but I deal. As for liver....yes, big time long term concern. Do you have routine testing?

@rwinney
Howdy,
Yeah, I have a standing order for Liver & Kidney function tests every three months when I get my seizure meds checked. I can totally relate to a lousy memory. I have no memory of the first 15-17 years of my life and a decade here and there are gone as well. I don’t know if the 400,000 pills I’ve taken hurt my memory but they certainly haven’t helped it.
Sounds like we both have Lethologica. Anomic Aphesia

@rwinney
Howdy,
Yeah, I have a standing order for Liver & Kidney function tests every three months when I get my seizure meds checked. I can totally relate to a lousy memory. I have no memory of the first 15-17 years of my life and a decade here and there are gone as well. I don’t know if the 400,000 pills I’ve taken hurt my memory but they certainly haven’t helped it.
Sounds like we both have some degree of lethologica / Aphasia
Take care,
Jake

You sir have certainly paid your dues. I commend you. Hope your day is as pleasant as can be.
Rachel

@sunny2 My pcp told me that if I used any marijuana he would no longer prescribe morphine sulfate contin and Clonazepam. I'm not at all interested in stopping the Clonazepam in particular. My pain specialist, on the other hand, would be supportive of me giving marijuana products a try. Right now I'm just trying to do what I can to handle the pain.

Jim