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Hi, @dvdhoover. Please use the contact information on this form to request an appointment at Mayo Clinic http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63. They will review your medical records and history, and discuss with you treatment options.

Hello @horthog

I just noticed this discussion and your description of your pain as, "like having been burnt and the feeling of glass under my skin." That does sound very much like nerve pain. I recently recovered from Shingles and I described my pain in a similar way.

You said you are taking Gabapentin and it affects the quality of your life. I understand that. Gabapentin is quite effective for nerve pain but it can make you feel foggy and out of balance at times. Is that the same problem you are having? You also mentioned that you are taking Paracetamol. I'm not familiar with that med. Has a steroid ever been tried?

I can imagine how frustrated you must be. As an R.N. (medical professional) you know enough to know that you need more treatment. It must be difficult not to be able to communicate that with a doctor.

How much Gabapentin are you currently taking?

@hopeful33250 Paracetamol is the brand name for Acetaminophen. I've heard multiple people state that Gabapentin causes fogginess and balance issues. This is hard for me to know since I, too, have a long history of Fibromyalgia, which causes both of those symptoms. I currently take 300 mg. of Gabapentin spread through-out the day. I'm on Celebrix but I don't think it's doing much for me. My foot neuralgia is a big problem along with back and neck pain that's off the chart at times. I sleep in a recliner primarily with heating pads and move to our firm leather couch sometimes. I walk a lot to keep moving and stretch as much as possible. I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome along with a host of many other auto-immune diseases including IBS. I'm trying to get back in for another EGD plus new orthopedic opinions on my back and neck at UTSW. I'm not letting the grass grow under my feet meanwhile. Life still provides good moments to be grasped and used. 🙂

Hello Teresa and @hopeful33250, I believe that paracetamol is acetaminophen.

Yes, I agree with you Teresa that, these symptoms are pretty typical neuropathy symptoms.

I to take gabapentin and experience the same side effects you described Teresa. It has knocked me off my balance, fogged up my brain, compromise my memory and sub other cognitive abilities as well as making some bad judgment calls.

However, it helps me tolerate my pain. I keep trying to titrate up and down between 600 and 800 mg a day, dividing them into 3 times a day because this drug has a short half-life and that really is the most therapeutic way to take it. I might take 200mg. in the morning 300mg. in the afternoon and 100-200mg. at night, something like that but every time I go down on it, which can be done if you do it a hundred mg at a time for say like 2 to 3 days, of course with permission from your doctor, my pain becomes too much and interferes too much in my life.

I hope and pray all the best for both of you, warmest wishes, Sunny flower

Thank you, it is a nightmare in the UK.

We are not set up the same as you are in the USA. Such a different system .

I am so very sorry!! The liberals in our country are trying to install socialized medicine. I can't understand it. It is especially important for chronic pain patients who can't wait so long for care. My heart goes out big time!

I will pray for everything to work out for you and very quickly. Also for relief for you.

Many blessings, Sunnyflower

I am not experiencing any side effects from Gabapentin but am concerned about increasing in strength as it is excreted via the Kidney's. I only have one Kidney now as I had a Tumour, I had to have a left Nephroureterectomy last year for a TCC. I suffered for six months in pain and passing dark red blood in my urine, known as Haematuria. I am now heading towards 300mgs times a day. We do not have a very good health care service in the UK despite what you might hear.

You are correct in thinking that our NHS is not up to scratch and I do pity you if you end up like us. I have been told that I have to wait 26 weeks before my name even goes onto the waiting list to see anyone in Pain management. There are no Drs, one dr brought out of retirement is leaving this week. the other dr is flown in from the other side of the world, works two weeks on and two weeks, the NHS pay for all of her expences. My friend is the pain management sister, she just picks up the phone and fields the calls from the desperate patients. When they threaten suicide she refers them to their own GP. I have been to ER, sat for 7 hrs in a filthy waiting room, nurses being rude to patients. All they did was to take blood, told me to go home and agreed with my own Computer diagnosis of Acute Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome. I was not even examined. You are on your own here. I am still waiting for last weeks CT scan results. I waited 8months for one of my CT scan results. There is little care to be had here, seriously. I have the symptoms of Acnes. God help us.

I have all the symptoms of ACNES , basically neuropathic pain, as you indicated. Upon movement etc it can be a 10. The pain has not gone away, I have had it for a month but I cannot get a DR to see or examine me so I have to try and tell them over the phone what i think it might be and what medication they should prescribe. Nothing really relieves it ad they will not prescribe any strong analgesia. Can I ask, are people led to believe that we have a great health care system in the UK? because if so then you are truly being lied to, it is horrendous and they do not care whether you live or die.