Dear Rachel…..I instantly acquired admiration for your thorough and intellectual pursuit of a source-based solution to your multiple causes of brain induced pain.
I am not a doctor or neurologist but at 86 and a sufferer of peripheral neuropathy in both legs, here’s what I have found with the cooperation of a caring family general practitioner (a cardiologist specialist) to be very effective in MNAGING my discomfort and pain: I take as strictly prescribed one Oxycodone APAP 5/325 pill along with one over-the-counter stool softener EVERY 4 hours with a MAXIMUM of 4 pills daily (fewer if discomfort permits). IT WORKs❗️
Common sense also dictates as much physical activity as possible. As a lifelong stock market guy which I enjoy tremendously from dawn to dusk the attendant couch potato tendency obviously accelerates leg muscle strength deterioration, but I’m having fun and summer swimming is a draw and pleasantly helpful. Watch every step with exceptional care since a fall especially at this age can ruin everything. A loving caring spouse helps a lot too, as 50 years of marriage to a great mate 10 years younger makes me especially fortunate.
Many doctors are reluctant or outright refusing to prescribe a potentially addictive opioid medication such as OxyContin. But if strictly self enforced discipline in use is employed by the patient, this is a potential problem avoided. Pharmacists by law cannot dispense more than the prescribed dosage over any 30 day period, so that fear of running short by the patient is also a meaningful restraint in overuse.
Give it a try under a sympathetic doctor’s supervision. I found Gabapentin only slightly filled pain while unacceptably dulling the mind. Not bad as a sleeping aid if taken before bedtime.
Post prostate surgery localized radiation caused permanent neurologically caused nerve damage in the prostate area with attendant Titanis with the passage of stool. Oxy is strong enough to manage this. It also is helpful with pain from shoulder rotator cuff and knee problems.Titinius acts as a muffled alarm bell of the entry of stool to the former prostate area. The nerve damage is permanent as I suspect other permanent nerve damage located in other parts of the body (or brain) cause the neuropathy symptoms suffered by so many of us.
Good luck with use of my management prescription.
Jim Starkman