Uncommon side effects?

@motorcarrier

Chronic pain certainly has a way of distracting from living a full life. I do understand that. It is too bad that you haven't found a med that is helpful to you. I suppose that Gabapentin has been tried?

Have you tried any other methods for pain relief besides medications? I'm thinking about physical therapy, meditation, Tai Chi, etc. Often we have to approach pain relief from several different fronts in order to get more relief.

I would like to invite, Rachel, @rwinney, to this conversation. She will probably have some more suggestions for you.

Does your pain keep you awake at night?

I've been suffering from back pain, sciatica, and neuropathy for at leat the past 15 years and I have indeed tried gabapentin (and Lyrica), as well as quite a bit of PT over the years. I've also tried meditation on and off over the past 40 years and while it helps with my mood and overall well being, it's done little for long term pain relief. I'm not giving up and I'll continue searching for a solution. I'm considering a combination of edible CBD and THC but I've read (US DOH) that CBD and possibly THC may increase concentrations of several prescription drugs, including the statins I'm currently taking.

I couldn't tolerate gabapentin or Lyrica, but I have done well with amitriptyline if I don't take it daily. If I take it daily, it can cause hypnic jerks or accelerated heart rate.

I'm glad to hear that you are seeking out other options and not giving up, @motorcarrier

I look forward to hearing from you again regarding any progress you are making. Will you post again?

Hello @motorcarrier, I'm Rachel, its nice to meet you. I like your attitude about not giving up however sometimes the search for a solution can be exhausting and excerbate pain. Like you, I found that there was no miracle medication that proved worthy that didn't add side effects creating more problems.

The management of chonic pain requires many solutions for the long haul. Physical, emotional, behavioral and chemical are the 4 components Mayo Clinic's Pain Rehabilitation taught me to be all in on for the rest of my life. I graduated the program last year and it was life changing by giving me a foundation and a plan to live in chronic pain. Here is a link:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center/sections/overview/ovc-20481691
Have you ever considered a comprehensive pain management plan?

I am all in with pain management! I apparently was one of the lucky few that found a awsome Doctor to start with.
Good news is you don't need a great Doctor in order to get started, if you can find one great!
Everything starts in the mind, for me chronic pain can lead to depression and anxiety. So he sent me to a psychologist from there I went to a place that taught meditation. Of course while doing these other things he was working on the chemical side of things. I also was sent to PT who them sent me to learn yoga lol after 20 years I am still a beginner.
When I moved I did not wait to see if my new pain management Doc had all this set up I started setting it up on my own.

My point is while I may have days I don't want to get out of bed and deal with my pain I do have all the tools to do so after a long road of trial and error. So please don't get down or give up.

Thanks Rachael. I'll try to locate a reputable pain management program close enough to give it a try.

See a pain specialists. Do you have a diagnosis?

@budo7 You should teach a class! The key here is not wanting to get out of bed, but doing it anyway.

Thank you for such a valuable post. Keep up the good work. 💪🏼

@motorcarrier You're welcome.

As @budo7 mentions, even if you are not in an actual pain rehab program, there are many self-help tools and teachings that can be learned and applied. Adding components to be sure you are covering all bases can be a game changer. Many members on Connect, including myself, are here to help.

Here is a conversation about my Mayo Pain Rehabilitation Center (PRC) experience. You may find useful information to help along the way.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-pain-rehabilitation-program/
You know the old expression, "it takes a village to raise a child"? I've always equated managing chronic pain to taking a village... of tools, support, encouragement, perseverance, guidance, acceptance, self-forgiveness, grace, etc....

Good luck on your local search for a pain management program. Do you mind posting again with how it goes, and how you are doing?