Neuropathy: Anyone have any experience with gabapentin?

I'm on Gabapentin 800 mg 1x3 and fill great all day. My feet do not bother me at all. Great medication.

I’ve had neuropathy for about 10 years, slowly progressing each year, then the Moderna vaccine prompted much worse symptoms. I was on Gabapentin for years, up to 1600/day, didn’t think it did much. Tried cymbalta but it raised my blood pressure. Now on Lyrica for a few months but it doesn’t seem to be doing much for the pins and needles, numbness and weakness. I’ll continue with IVIG and hope for the best.

I have peripheral neuropathy for 12 years now. I had been prescribed Gabapentin then and it was a terrific sleeping pill. Every time that I sat down to watch TV or use my computer, I would fall asleep for about 4 hours.

I only used it briefly and have never used it since. Now the burn pain is intense as is the stiffness.

Has anyone tried stem cell regenerative therapy and/or 'electrical' stimulation as I am seriously considering either option.

My equilibrium has become affected as I have fallen backwards 5 times with one time I cracked my head open on a table. When I walk, I usually take 'baby' steps.

Thanks for listening.

Welcome @bchbych48, I'm sorry to hear you haven't found much help for your neuropathy pain. Other members may be able to share their experience with 'electrical' stimulation but I've never heard or read of a successful stem cell therapy treatment for neuropathy. There are however a lot of warnings on the stem cell neuropathy clinics. Here are a couple of discussions on the topics:

-- Does Stem Cell Therapy work for Neuropathy?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/stem-cell-therapy-for-neuropahy/
-- Comparison of Spinal Cord Stimulators from Boston Sci., Nevro: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/comparison-of-spinal-cord-stimulators-from-boston-sci-nevro/

You also might want to read through some alternative or complementary treatments for neuropathy. The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy has a lot of information on what has helped folks with neuropathy here - https://www.foundationforpn.org/treatments/

Have you looked into stem cell therapy or electrical stimulation devices for neuropathy pain?

I have had P-N for over forty years, but not diagnosed until 2016. The first thing I tried was Gabapentin. The first about 8 or 9 days I did not notice any difference, good or bad. Then my reaction was adverse with my throat closing. I could only swallow liquids. I stopped taking it, but it takes a while to get out of your system, so I lost over 10 pounds. One problem that is most common with that drug, is having to increase the dose until you are at the top level. At that point, many do not think it is helping at all. It was not made for that, but with the pain from P-N, we will try most anything, right? CBD was recommended for me, but of course it must be Medically approved in your state. It works! Good luck, I wish you well!

I was on Gabapentin for 1200mg.When I visited a Neurologist he suggested blood work and once he saw the report he lowered the dose to 900mg.300mg in am the rest atebedtime and that was a good choice now i am less tired during the day and my balance seems better.He also suggested I take BComplex vitamin daily.I use a pillow under my feet and that helps also

I took it for shingles then realized it was helping my knee prior TKR. Six months later told my family dr I wanted to stop so I did. OMG! No one said it was addictive and needed to slowly taper off. I got severe migraines and shakes. It took me two months to get off! It was horrible.

I developed a rash and stopped using early
y in treatment

I have PN in one lower leg and now the other foot. My balance has been affected by the incomplete sensory information coming to my brain due to the numbness of the bottom of my feet and toes. The brain does it’s best with the info it’s getting, but it’s not enough to keep you upright and steady, without having to think about it. I too lose my balance backward easily, so I don’t ever take steps backward unless there is something or someone to right there- no more badminton with the grandkids, etc. The most common occurrence is being in or around a group of people and someone is “pushing through”, I never back up, if need be, I put a hand on their arm and say,”Whoa”, as I balance. That slows them down🤣🤣

I was started on 100mg Gabapentin for ferocious pain waking me up at night. My adult kids first noticed and brought to my attention that my breathing had become very “heavy”. I started paying attention and they were right. I’ve never had any lung issues, never a smoker, no second-hand smoke, etc. I dug out the pharmacy brochure and breathing issues are right there in the potential side effects. I went to the Mayo Clinic website and the PN Foundation website and began to follow their recommendations for using your brain to beat back the pain. It took constant attention and determination to make it succeed, but it has. Something that really helped was to remind myself often that I had my two children during the 70’s fad of “natural childbirth”, using the Lamaze breathing and mindfulness techniques successfully during long labor. A doctor told me the techniques were essentially self-hypnosis to divert your brain from the explosion of pain signals traveling up. If you research the current Pain Management Clinics, a big part of their programs is this brain “technique training”.