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Does anyone find relief for arthritis in knees with Gabapentin?

Posted by molly7234 @molly7234, Jul 22, 2023

I’m 78 years old. First case of Covid in May 2023. It was accompanied by pneumonia and strep throat and I tested positive for 18 days in July while walking my dog I pulled a muscle in my left calf going up a slight incline, just radiated into my left knee with some swelling and nerve pain, I’ve been prescribed gabapentin for restless leg and take 300 mg at night. I have a prescription for 100 mg which I started with. I’ve never had arthritis like this and now it’s in the other knee as well. My thigh muscles are extremely weak and I know I need to exercise to strengthen them. Advice please

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olderdiva12345 | @olderdiva12345 | Aug 16, 2023

You are most welcome. This site is full of sad stories. It is interting to interact with others on many of them not all being about illness. Enjoy your time on Mayo connect. I look at this as a way to help others thru communicatgon and kindness.

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inpain247@kkp917.net Kmberly | @inpain247 | Aug 17, 2023

Thank you for the virtual hug it made me feel better! I was on Gabapentin for many years for Peripheral Neuropathy. It worked at first, but they had to keep upping and upping my dose up to 1,200. I didn't like the way it made me feel so I weaned off and began another treatment. Now my 80 year old mother is on it and her Dr. is starting to increase the dose. She is up to 600 mg now, up from 200 very quickly. She lives alone. I am handicapped and can't drive so I'm very worried about her. She seems to be sleeping every time I call her.

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1 reply
cindymattern | @cindymattern | Aug 18, 2023
In reply to @inpain247 "Thank you for the virtual hug it made me feel better! I was on Gabapentin for..." + (show)
@inpain247

Thank you for the virtual hug it made me feel better! I was on Gabapentin for many years for Peripheral Neuropathy. It worked at first, but they had to keep upping and upping my dose up to 1,200. I didn't like the way it made me feel so I weaned off and began another treatment. Now my 80 year old mother is on it and her Dr. is starting to increase the dose. She is up to 600 mg now, up from 200 very quickly. She lives alone. I am handicapped and can't drive so I'm very worried about her. She seems to be sleeping every time I call her.

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What other treatment did you try? I felt great on Cymbalta but could not take it do to severe constipation (already have issues) so Lyrica is out as I can't do SSRI's. I am weaning down to less...was on 900 and now 600 for a week. Then I'll go to 300 and then every other day. Takes about a month to wean off for me. Pharmacist told me once to go off it for a while and then go back if needed and you could take less as it's out of your system. I would love another option.

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inpain247@kkp917.net Kmberly | @inpain247 | Aug 18, 2023

I was put on Amitriptyline after going off of Gabapentin. I think the dosage was 50, 100 then 150 (I'm not positive on that) and it did work VERY well for me. I was on it for a few years before having to go off of it for one if it's side effects. I am now on Topamax 200 mg a day which is working very well, for the last 3 years. I started at 50 mg and went up from there. I hope this helps!

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rjmtwit | @rjmtwit | Aug 23, 2023
In reply to @lashu "Have you tried this therapy?" + (show)
@lashu

Have you tried this therapy?

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Sorry I missed your comment and yes I have posted that I had very good success with prolotherapy and with PRP. It is all about ligaments that are overstretched and do not do their stability job. I still have hypermobile joints ... the SI Joint was my original joint issues that took 6 doctors to find the prolotherapy answer. When the illiopsoas ligament responded and tightened up again the SI Joint stop causing my leg to sublux! I still must pull the knee to the chest on occasion to reset the SI Joint as it still moves a bit too far sometimes.
I had PRP to remove scar tissue from my groin scar from the hip operation by the doctor who ignored the info I gave him and did not sew up the incision the special way connective tissue disorder requires. PRP did the job will without more surgery.

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1 reply
ruthblaze | @ruthblaze | Aug 24, 2023

I’m currently on gabapentin for arthritic pain it’s been a life saver. Start with a low dose

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lildiva4jc | @lildiva4jc | Oct 4, 2023

Gabapentin caused my liver cirrhosis. Now I have an appointment with the Mayo clinic for testing this month. I'm praying that it's not as bad as my doctor thinks.

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2 replies
molly7234 | @molly7234 | Oct 4, 2023
In reply to @lildiva4jc "Gabapentin caused my liver cirrhosis. Now I have an appointment with the Mayo clinic for testing..." + (show)
@lildiva4jc

Gabapentin caused my liver cirrhosis. Now I have an appointment with the Mayo clinic for testing this month. I'm praying that it's not as bad as my doctor thinks.

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How was it determined Gabapentin was the cause?

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cindymattern | @cindymattern | Oct 6, 2023
In reply to @lildiva4jc "Gabapentin caused my liver cirrhosis. Now I have an appointment with the Mayo clinic for testing..." + (show)
@lildiva4jc

Gabapentin caused my liver cirrhosis. Now I have an appointment with the Mayo clinic for testing this month. I'm praying that it's not as bad as my doctor thinks.

Jump to this post

I am curious as well how this happened. I have taken 600mg every night for several years for my arthritis as I can't take other things for it.

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