Has Gabapentin helped anyone out there?

I am new to the Mayo chat platform. I am glad I found it. I have permanent Diffuse Axonal Brain injury and multiple disc herniations and spine issues. I deal with mad numbness in my arms and hands. Tremendous pain in my neck and back. Daily headaches and so on. I had no reflexes in my arms at my last neurologist appointment. This came after tripping and falling with no attempt at all to break my fall and hitting my head hard again. I already had limited use of my hands and arms and this kind of freaks me out with not having reflexes and not attempting to break my fall. In regards to the gabapentin goes, I am somewhat intimidated to take it. I have seen many people including ex-wife, and mother take it and it seemed to cause them more problems and they continued to go up in dosage. I have a great tolerance for pain, but in current situation I fear getting worse. I also endure numbness and tingling in my feet. I have had a tight left hamstring and neck for 30 years from motorcycle accident. I honestly have not known a day I didn't have bad pain. I have been living with and fighting through a Diffuse Axonal Brain injury for years not knowing what was wrong with me and why I was like I was. To say this has been tough, is an understatement. I finally have a neurologist and I hope and pray he will help me. Sorry off subject. I have been offered to be prescribed Gabapentin and have turned it down. I already take enough medication on an empty stomach and I don't feel good about Gaba.

Hello @thestruggleisreal44, Welcome to Connect. I only have numbness and some tingling with my neuropathy so medication doesn't help with that. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it is to deal with what you are going through. I thought you might find these discussions helpful to connect with others sharing your condition.
-- DAI, Diffuse Axonal Injury, Brain Injury. Resources on this?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/dai-diffuse-axonal-injury-brain-injury/
-- Adult Life after a Traumatic Brain Injury:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/adult-life-after-a-tbi/

My spinal surgeon started with a low dose Gabapentin for terrible pain waking me up at night in the months after surgery (think sledge-hammer pounding one lower leg). It definitely helped with the pain, but I got the side effect of shortness of breathe, breathing problems. I stopped it. My PT instructed me in neuroplasticity efforts to manage pain, it really worked for me, and continues to work. Plus, I joined Mayo Connect Neuropathy and read all the links about it that our “mentor” John Bishop added.
John can add these again if you’re interested, just ask.

Gabapentin has been a life- safer for me since I was diagnosed with idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. The onset of the sfpn literally made me feel like my entire body was burning in hell. It was the most excruciating pain I had ever experienced. I initially started last year at 3600mg a day and am now down to 1500mg! Some people might throw a fit and scream drug warnings to me, but I will continually keep trying to slowly lower my dosage under the doctor’s guidance. I’m staying with what works in order to live a “normal “ life. Best wishes to all who suffer neuropathy. <3

@coachrandy Gabapentin causes memory problems and memory loss. Forgetfulness and many other things. My neuromuscular neurologist would not prescribe it for me due to biological father diagnosed with dementia. I do not know him but speak with his sister.

@tripletb Gabapentin did wonders for me. I love it ! I took 600 mg twice a day. I only take it once a day now. Don’t know why neuropathy improved. I lost 30 pounds and started using mushroom powders and other supplements but I don’t know if it has helped my neuropathy. I don’t completely understand the disease. I just do what my doctor says.

Yes, it definitely helped me. The dosage your doctor wants for you is not high. Years ago I was started at three 600 mg a day and it helped tremendously with my serious problems.. I have since slowly reduced it over a number of years to 300 a day and will perhaps be able to stop it entirely. But I’m in no hurry. You must remember that drugs act differently on every person. There is no way to tell until you have followed your physicians recommendation and see how your body reacts. You may be asked to up or lower your dosage. You simply cannot predict what will be the result ahead of time. Just follow your physicians recommendations and then act accordingly. Good luck.

@patnunnelley what did you use it for?

@michelle103064
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY. Dizzy, foggy, various changing pains ,burning in ankle, stabbing pain in legs, all of which kept changing. I have had no bad reactions like some others, only help. Hope you are also this fortunate

D