Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hi, we sound like twins. I have had my neck done all disks front and back with discs removed and cages and rods implanted. My lumbar spine was done,every disc. I have struggled for over 30 years with OA. In 2012 I reached the place you are at. It was the cycle of pills and sleep ad naseum. I appealed to my Doctor, Dr. Thanki and felt at the end of my rope. He said I was inoperable and the only thing he could offer was a drug delivery pump or stimulator placed in my body. After testing I went with the Medtronic morphine pump. It gave me my
life back...I could get out of bed and move around and my pain was significantly reduced. This may be an option for you.
Talk to your doctors. At first, I didn't like the idea of this, but I had run out of options. I hope this offered you some hope. Good luck.

Ouch, that doesn't sound fun at all! I hope it works for you without any side effects!

I have been taking gabapentin for 6 days for a pinched nerve in my left upper back, 200 mg with dinner daily. I have had significant relief from the pain without any side effects. I am pleased so far and look forward to next week's visit with my doctor to review my x rays and discuss further treatment. Coincidentally, my dog was just diagnosed with hip dysplasia and a partial tear in her cruciate ligament (knee), and the vet prescribed gabapentin (200mg. twice daily), along with an ant-inflammatory. Apparently gabapentin is used as pain treatment in dogs and cats.

My experience on gabapentin for one year was a 20 pound weight gain. I stopped the medication; increased weight caused more back pain.

That's why I am afraid to take it even though I know for some it helps. With back issues the generated this disease bulging disc. I can't afford to gain weight. Thank you for responding.

Those are the same health issues I have. Doc changed me to Meloxicam which did not cause weight gain.

I have taken gabapentin every day since 2018 - no side effects - quells my symptons of axonal sensory neuropathy - I couldn't live without it. We're all different. Doctors usually try the most conservative treatment first and if it doesn't work they try another one, and another, until they find something that helps you. Peggy

That was also given to me. I just feel so overwhelmed with taking prescribed medication. I don't want to be on a lot of medication, but I also do not want to be in a lot of pain.

@pfbacon I couldn't agree with you more on that. I've been taking it for a year and it also helps me to function; probably be taking it for the rest of my life, which I'm OK with. My Drs and I make a checklist and are currently going down it, crossing off options and checking all the boxes til we get to the bottom with a much different approach for all my chronic pain.

Hi Peggy - Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), a class of drugs that many of us cannot take. It's purpose is to reduce inflammation from things like arthritis, thus relieving the pain. I'm glad to hear it works for you.
Gabapentin is in a different class, drugs used to treat seizures, neuropathy, nerve pain and some other conditions. Sometimes it works for chronic pain as well, but this is a very complex issue. Sometimes it takes a lot of trying, like @rivermaya34 is describing to find a solution.
Sue