I’m starting Duloxetine for spinal stenosis pain, anyone have success?

Posted by Mariette R. @marietter, Aug 7 10:26am

My primary care has started me on Duloxetine for my chronic spinal stenosis pain. I felt that the Tramadol was not helping me enough. My pain clinic also started me back on Gabapentin. I do not want surgeries at my age 71, I just want to get to a pain level I can tolerate. I do have a NEVRO SCS which helps with CRPS and small fiber neuropathy in my left leg , but this doesn’t help with musculoskeletal pain and my stenosis pain. Opinions on Duloxetine?

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Profile picture for lawb4me @lawb4me

Don't walk!! RUN FROM CYMBALTA!!!

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@lawb4me I did. It stunted my emotions. I literally had no feelings, sad or happy. Nothing. It was a terrible feeling when I couldn’t cry or be so happy like everyone else. I ran and I will never go back to cymbalta.

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Profile picture for conchgirl @conchgirl

My husband had a 4 level laminectomy, and other work done at that level (he couldn’t walk) at 78 -three months later back to playing golf. There are new outpatient options -don’t know if you are a candidate but it’s called Minuteman & others worth looking into.

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@conchgirl what is the minuteman procedure?

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Profile picture for mamachiz98 @mamachiz98

@conchgirl what is the minuteman procedure?

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@mamachiz98
See photo attached.
You can search Minute Man Procedure in your browser for explanations .

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Have had severe back pain from Stenosis and disks crushed. I was walking with a cane and was on crazy drugs that were making me not myself. Got off all of them slowly, got a RF ablation 7 months ago. After 2 months I was back playing tennis on clay courts, needless to say no cane, took up pilates at 80. Back pain still, yes, I take a Tylenol prior to play double tennis and if I do too much yard work. Excercise every day, try to do 8,000 steps a day and do pilates 1 or 2 days a week. Exercise is my best friend.
Maybe a change may help you, it helped me. Best to you.

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Duloxetine did nothing for my neuropathy but maybe it could dampen you pain from chronic spinal stenosis. I had spinal stenosis in my neck, but I was younger and surgery corrected the issue. Surgery might help and you'd be done with the issue. Good luck!!!!!

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Profile picture for julkun @julkun

Duloxetine did nothing for my neuropathy but maybe it could dampen you pain from chronic spinal stenosis. I had spinal stenosis in my neck, but I was younger and surgery corrected the issue. Surgery might help and you'd be done with the issue. Good luck!!!!!

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@julkun Hi, thanks for your interest.
I take Gabapentin for my neuropathy and also have a spinal cord stimulator implant.
The Duloxetine (Cymbalta) is for my lumbar spinal stenosis and is really making a big difference with that pain even after just a month.

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HI Marriette, I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis 5 years ago the pain was devastating, I could not function well and they wanted to put me on duloxetine also, I did not wat to be on any drugs because of all the side effects and then the with the withdrawals if I go off of them. I fought with my diagnosis and the fact that the doctor wanted me to start doing exercises, For over two years I needed to try exercise. funny thing it worked after a week doing them I got relief and after six months of walking and exercising I had no more pain. Relief, yes and I hate exercising but it is so worth it not to have surgery and not to take medication. Good luck with your decision and hope that it works for you.

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