Has anyone ever taken this medication for back pain?

Sorry, I haven’t…

But I did a ton of research on neuromodulators (aka antidepressants) for pain and GI symptoms. I know it’s a traditional antidepressant (as opposed to SSRIs and SNRIs), so it typically has more side effects than the new we neuromodulators (dizziness, dry mouth, sleepiness, etc.)

But when it’s dosed for chronic pain, it’s usually given at a smaller dose than the dose used for a mental health condition. It may be less likely to experience side effects at the smaller dose, so I was told.

Sorry, I know you probably already Googled all this before. Maybe others will he able to share the ore experience.

I think it’ll probably depend on how risk averse you are. I’m extremely sensitive to medications, so I gave up on taking the antispasmodics (Lyrica, gabapentin) and neuromodulators (aka antidepressants).

I got much more relief and leverage out of chronic pain physical therapy such as Graded Motor Imagery or a chronic pain program, but I know it’s not for everyone.

But the reason I replied was since you listed so many medications you’ve tried, I wanted to mention I take low dose naltrexone (LDN) for chronic pain, in case that may be something you’d want to look into if it turns out the side effects for the nortriptyline concern you.

I injured my back 7 years ago while skiing. It took almost a year for someone to put me in touch with a neurologist. After a thorough exam (almost 90 minutes!), she prescribed gabapentin, diazepam. tramadol.At first this combo left me a little dizzy and wobbly. After 2 or three days, my body adjusted and I was fine. And, I was able to do things that I had not been able to for a year and a half.... go cycling, working around the house with minimum pain. Those drugs were a game changer.

NEVER EVER Take Gabspentin. It is wicked

How has the low dose naltrexone worked for you?!

Best,
Julie

Hi Julie-

It’s working well for me, except I would say it helps the most for me with fatigue. I’m sensitive to the fact this is a thread about back pain…

I have chronic pain and also several intertwined diagnoses: small fiber neuropathy, POTS, seronegative spondyloarthropathy (an inflammatory arthritis), hypermobility spectrum disorder, and central sensitivity syndrome.

All the above cause muscle and joint pain, fatigue, GI symptoms and pain sensitivity. My overarching condition is central sensitization, which it’s believed many people with chronic back pain have in addition to the root cause of the pain, if there is a physiological root cause.

Phew, mouthful. With all of that as a preface, I started taking the LDN primarily in hopes it would help with fatigue and GI symptoms, and maybe improve my pain/pain sensitivity.

I can say with confidence it helped my fatigue, but I’m less certain about the pain and I definitely didn’t notice a change in GI symptoms. But it’s still worth me taking, and has almost no side effects.

Others have said it helped with their neuropathy or pain, but maybe I just either can’t notice because of all the things or I didn’t respond. I think @suetex mentioned it helped with pain (?) Sorry if I got that wrong >_<

It’s thought to regulate glial cells, which when overactive contribute to chronic pain. And it’s thought to be an anti-inflammatory and it’s known to increase endorphins and a lot of good can come from the bump on endorphins alone.

If it helps, I wrote more about my experience with LDN here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/889113/

It’s part of a thread in the autoimmune disease group discussing LDN.

Hope that helps!

Unless it isn't and cahnges your life. I understand that everyone reacts differently to a drug. In my case, it helped me gat my life back. Sorry that you had a bad experience. I tried Baclofen and had a poor experience. Yet there are lots of folks who can take it with no problems.

I had a pain pump installed back in April. Since morphine was not effectiv in the trial, and hydromorphone was, I am receiving hydromorphone intrathecally (space around spinal cord). After several dosage increases, I began to feel some relief. About a month ago my pain level dropped down to a 2. Great! Than, about a week later, the pain shot back up to around a 7 or an 8. Two more dosage increases have shown no improvement. Even the added bolus is mostly ineffective. Any one experience such odd ups and down with a pain pump Is it possible to receive too much medication? Help me, Rhonda!

I take gabapentin (total of 2400 mg daily for muscle spasms and nerve pain), baclofen (10 mg tid - muscle relaxant), buproprion (600 mg - antidepressant), and tramadol (50 m,g tid for pain). Only side effects are some lightheadedness and sleepiness (a great help with sleeping more than 1 - 3 hours!) but definitely a Huge improvement for major leg spasms.
I wish you good luck in your journey.

To Emo:
Are far as GI symptoms go, I wouldn't give up on it yet. I didn't really notice how much it was helping my gut until later. It was like it was working "behind the scenes". I actually have no Crohn's symptoms now. I can eat roughage as long as I don't overload-Then I get twinges of pain as a reminder. I can eat celery and corn on the cob but not in the same meal, for instance. Pretty durn nice. And I have been off of it as long as a monthe without my gut symptoms coming back. Pain comes back about week 5 but LDN sends it packing ASAP. So if my rheumatologist thinks I am fixated, too bad. I can live with that.

Thanks so much