Does Gabapentin Work For Sciatica?
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- Short answer: For some yes, for some no.
As with most medication, it depends on you. This is a conversation to have with your doctor, especially if you're having negative side effects.
Side effects of gabapentin can include fatigue, brain-fog, and balance disturbances. Make sure you consult with your physician if you have any serious side effects or if your pain gets worse!
#gabapentin #medication #lowerbackpain
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Take! It's helped me *significantly*. The nerve damage/pain in my legs is so bad I had to use a wheelchair on bad days and now with Gabapentin I never use the chair and while I won't be running marathons or even going for a long walk, I can walk around my house and do basic chores etc with only minimal pain. It's partially given me my life back.
Hi, can you please tell how much did you take because I have same issues Doc has given me 100mg two times a day but not helping me 😢
@@mabulvirmani3781 That's an extremely low dose, but everyone tends to start very low like that. Does your doc intend to taper your dose up? I'm currently on 600mg three times a day.
@@mabulvirmani3781 Sorry that Mark didn't reply to you. For me, I was taking 100mg and it had little affect. Doctor changed my prescription to 300mg twice a day and that IS helping. Be careful though. You need to graduate slowly because at first when you are not used to it it can make you really dizzy and clumsy.
It freaked me out once when I first started taking it when I reached down to pick something up from the floor and my hand went to the wrong place! It was like that old SNL skit where the ice cream cone goes to the forehead instead of the mouth! This kind of thing could be dangerous in many situations. Now that I am acclimated to it I don't have those kinds of problems any more but it does reduce my hand-eye coordination a bit.
@@mabulvirmani3781 That's way to a low dose you'll need at least 300mg four times a day or go for Lyrica at 100mg three times a day just a warning make sure you really need these meds as they cause dependency and can be hard for some to come off if you decide to in the future.
*Gabapentin saved my life*
It helped get me through severe opiate withdrawal symptoms.
That’s great!
Originally was prescribed for bulging disc's in my neck. My arms would go numb everytime I leaned forward.... Definitely stopped that and my mood, OMG it's a miracle drug! It's works better for me than any antidepressant ever has for my mood. It's actually better for my mood than my nerves lol. Absolutely 0 side effects. Not. A. Single. Some effect... Ok 1st couple weeks did make me somewhat fatigued but after that, 100% AMAZING.... Absolutely fascinating how the wide range it is in effectiveness from person to person. Bloodwork all comes back perfect everytime
How is your arm numbness now? Still taking the medicine ?
@DanielSmith-fm4fs I still am, actually. And it's been nearly nonexistent. Was talking 400mg 3xs a day. Most days, I miss a dose, just too busy with work and life. I'm too young to have that pill box, ya know, lol. But with no physical therapy and some life changes like drinking literally only water and eating nothing processed, I have almost no pain/ numbness anymore. I'm able to work out like there's nothing wrong. Have my annual physical in a month, and I am looking forward to what my docs have to say. Mood is fantastic and physically I feel GREAT! All my enzymes are perfect.
@DanielSmith-fm4fs Even the pain from my lower back, my L5/S1 disc which I completely blew out 6 months ago, there isn't much pain. I feel like there's nothing wrong at all. Feel like I'm 20 again and I just turned 39 in Jan. I'm sure the diet changes have a ton to do with it too. But again, everyone is different. I've heard horror stories from people about this drug. But for me, it seriously is a miracle drug.
so glad to hear all this!!!
I have piriego nodularis (pn). Very painful! The Dr put me on 900 mg the first day. After a week. The PN increased (severe)
headaches-ended up in the ER. Took me off the gabapentin! I will never take it again-it was awful. Just a $ kick back to the Dr from pharma.
My Dr prescribed it for my sciatic pain in my left leg. 300 mg starting dose. Saw improvement on day one. Pain went to a 1 on day two. Just take 300 mg a day. So far so good.
Glad to hear that!
You are such a lucky man
Still working?
@@sodevine22 I don't take it anymore. Found out it was the shoes I was wearing at the time. I still have pain here and there but not enough to warrant taking this anymore. But when I needed it most it did help.
@@que4069atl ok.. thank. Im taking it now for siatica from a l5 s1 herniated disc...
I have been struggling with nerve damage and chronic muscle spasms caused from a car accident 22 years ago I've tried everything my doc gave me Gabapentin a few days ago its been a life saver and it helps my anxiety too.
That's amazing! So glad to hear that! Now take it a step further and start incorporating some more walking and other physical activity into your life with the help of the medication!!! Start very small and progress!!! Good luck!
for those who found relief in any medication: thank goodness! I have had major back surgery multiple times on lower back( l4 and 5) a aleinectomy
I was on 3600mgs of gabipentin for years. I weaned myself off, the pain was no different. I am no longer lost. I was going in circles, now I'm not.
Glad to hear you're doing better!
I just started taking this today and I took one pill of 100 mg and the chronic pain that I've been feeling for the last 13 years got cut in half . And I have been suffering from chronic sayatica nonstop 24 hours A-day and It works so far on just one pill today we will see what the future holds.
Yea, for those that it works for, it works great.
I hope it stays working for you. I understand when you say pain for 24 hours a day
I was prescribed it for neuropathy. When I picked the prescription at the drug store and read 7 page list of negative side effects, I threw the pills away. It said that it would take 6 - 8 weeks to work. F that...I am in pain NOW.
Thank God you had the wisdom to take the side effects seriously. My friend committed suicide after 4 days of taking Gabapentin and Cyclobenzaprine together. Tragic loss if a wonderful man. He should have had a Oxycontin or epidural for his injury. Neuropathic brain killing med is an insane alternative to a actual pain killer. He had Oxycontin before after surgeries with no problem. Even had a half bottle left that he didnt want to take because they were years old.
I have spinal stenosis and nothing seems to work. I do take Gabapentin in dosages of 300 to 600 mg per with injection for pain relief. I do NOT see much of a difference with Gabapentin at all. However, the injections for pain of my Sciatica which helps a bit. I am 67 and used to go to the gym 5 to 6 times per week. In fact, I still do but only having to sit down between sets. I am in it for life because I do not want to get operated on my spine.
have you worked with a physical therapist yet who uses the McKenzie method? Sometimes there is a directional preference with stenosis.
Severe sciatica, dragging my leg around if I move. Gaba is a miracle drug for me. L4/L5 herniated disc, heading into micro discesctomy in 2 weeks, surgeon gave me Gaba to take up to surgery. 2 days after taking gaba I told my wife I have no pain, she was shocked as I was and still am to date. Only been on gaba for 1 week, no side effects, pain free, walking, core exercises daily. I have avoided the knife and plan on. strengthing my core to help stabilze the spine.
What was your dosage?
Reel Dark Pool, Great to hear the GABA helped. I am starting to take it tonight for the sciatic pain your described can't sleep at all for the last 3 days. How are you doing in April of 2023? I hope great!
My doctor has me on 300mg gabapentin once a day and 90mg Lyrica twice a day. But it doesn't really help my pain. It just puts me to sleep or makes me seem intoxicated to people. So I can't take it during the day at all. I'm afraid to have this discussion with my doctor for fear of being seen as a drug seeker, when really I just want to decorate my Christmas tree without pain.
Yea, that's tough. Do you trust your doctor? Do you two have a good relationship? If so -- it would be best to just be honest with them and let them know your goals and how the medication really isn't helping. 300mg is quite a low dose and i've had many patients taking quite a bit more. This is person dependent of course and will need to be closely monitored by your doctor.
Gabapentin makes me drowsy or dies nothing. Others were horrible. I'm having blurry vision and weak.
My Sciatica had a Major Flared up. I have had it before but never anything like this. After about 6 weeks, it got so bad I could barley get out of bed to go pee and get back. I had to call off of work. Went to doc and they gave me a couple of shots in my back, that didn't do much. Managed to sit at my desk at work for 2 days and I was trying not to cry when I got back home. It was the 2nd most severe pain I ever felt in my life. (Sever Pancreatitis that put me in the ICU for a week, being the worst). I was thinking what am I going to do. I can't work like this. I used to get up in the morning and go for a 2 mile walk, and now I take two trips in the morning. One to pee, and then one 10 minutes later to get coffee. My doc sent in a script for Gabapentin, 300mg per day, and it has gone to a minor little annoying pain in my back. It has made a world of difference. I am hoping with plenty of rest the pain will go away as the inflammation comes down. The Gabapentin makes me a little light headed, but its worth it.
I am so happy to hear that it's working for you! I've had patient's similar to you where it significantly helped. Rest is good, but make sure to start to work in your normal activities so you don't become too deconditioned.
I had a fusion revision at L4/L5 2 weeks ago and now have extreme sciatica in my right leg. At the hospital I was taking no meds except tylenol, no morphine pump, nothing, I consider myself to have a high pain tolerance but 12 days later, I can not sleep at night without taking oxycodone, I tried Gabapentin and Muscle relaxers. I called my surgeon and asked for a Medrol Dose Pack. The Gabapentin seemed to make it worse so I stopped it. I don't know what to do about the pain I am sleeping about 2 hours per night. During the day it is bearable but not at night. About 3 years ago I had the same thing happen and ended up getting a discectomy that relieved the sciatic pain but that was in my left leg. Now everything is right leg and more behind so guessing L5/S1. I tried every nerve glide I can find, and decompression but having just had surgery scared to do too much. Any idea what my options are?
I have the same issue. That damn l4l5 nerve is no joke.
@@bushsbakedbeans3378 update the medrol pack knocked out the leg and sciatic pain and has no come back. Do you have any updates on your nerve or pain Baked beans? My L4L5 seems better after surgery but I think L5/S1 is my pain issue now and it has never been addressed so going to keep going until it gets worse or I get that leg pain again then probably in for another surgery. Back pain sux.
I've used it on and off for anxiety in conjuction with Depakote for my bipolar. Results were good but then I just started taking Depakote. Now I have sciatica and I took some of my left over gabapentin. Let's see what happens lol
I took gabapentin for about a decade. Taking 3,000mg a day for about a decade. Just a side note, for me, Gabapentin removed every addiction I’ve ever had, coffee, valium wich I took daily for lower back spasms that lead to sciatica which lead to full on seizures which had me bed pan type bed bound.
I did 200 chiropractic treatments and just as many acupuncture treatments, until the both stopped working.
I stopped taking gabapentin because I could no longer socialize, brain fog to the max.
Now my doc prescribes Ketamine Pain Formula and monthly epidurals. I dont like needles plus when I was a massage therapist I treated dozens of folks who had injuries from the monthly epidurals.
Gabapentin stops addiction. No one talks about that.
How did my S1L5 & L5L4 disc get so degenerated?
I use to be anti big pharma, anti big med for ten years. I didnt go to the doctor for ten years when my back was hurting, coz, you know, doctors are evil when you are an anti big med freak.
I take 900 mg of Gabapentin a day for sciatica. This and corticosteroid injections reduce the pain by half. I plan to have surgery to solve the herniated disc problem for good.
Glad to hear you’re getting it taken care of!!
I had a cervical discectomy in 2018. Wile in the hospital recovering I was prescribed 300 mil x 3 times a day. Before surgery and for a month I couldn’t walk very far. 2019-2020 five months apart I had 2 TKR surgeries.
I’m still taking 1200 mil Gabapentin to tolerate lower back pain. To summarize my condition the discectomy took 1 month of therapy leading to 2 knee replacements and 1 year of physical therapy to walk and stand for 10 minutes, the Gabapentin helps to increase my stamina.
Keep on moving! Glad to hear it's working for you!
I'm like the guy who didn't get results with gabapentin. Just a semi zombie high. Some people find it a good thing. I found it icky at best.
Yea, unfortunately not a miracle drug for everyone! Hope you're able to find some things that work for you! Keep trying!
I’ve been taking 900mg for two weeks for sciatica- ruptured disc at l5-s1. I’ve been getting traction 3 times per week. Most of my nerve pain is now gone. How do I know when to start titrating back down and off of it? I don’t know if the reduced pain is because of the meds or the PT. I don’t want to stay on meds but I don’t know when to stop.
This is a discussion to have with both your doctor and PT.
I'm comfortable having my patients titrate down under the guidance of their physician if symptoms have been well controlled for 2 weeks.
2nd week after taking gabapentin for sciatica, 300 mg 3 times a day, it decreased the pain but still have sharp pain the lower leg. Negative side effects headaches, dizziness, mood changes
Ideally it takes the edge off to where you can start getting more active and participating in walking and physical therapy :) and then over time decrease the dosage as guided by a doctor
3, 800mg tabs daily for back pain. It works!!!
good!
Yes I do take it when needed and yes it seems to be very effective. 300mg before bedtime with Meloxicam for Sciatica pain. I also start stretching more intently to treat the source of the pain.
Stretching is the opposite of what you want to do with sciatica. It aggravates the inflammation.
@@vzeller Not necessarily.
@@snufflehound Yes. Every time. You want to floss the nerve, not stretch it. If sciatica is being caused by a disc issue, which is the case over 90 percent of the time, stretching just rubs the nerve along the disc causing damage and inflammation to the nerve. This isn't debatable.
@@vzeller No you're wrong. Yes, you don't want to stretch the hamstrings or do squats. Common sense. But you're claiming any and all stretches - no matter how gentle - are harmful which is simply not true.
@@snufflehound Any stretch that stretches the nerve in question will be counterintuitive. That's literally why you are told not to stretch the hamstring. That puts pressure on the nerve, usually compressed up against the L5-S1 or L4-L5. I've seen 4 surgeons in the past 3 months and I'm getting fusion next week. I've watched over 500 hours of live surgery and lectures from surgeons. I'm living it as we speak. Sure you can stretch your arms all you want. The hamstring is what people try to stretch. Any stretch where you feel like you are targeting the pain and inflammation will make it worse. You just admitted it. I never said all stretches. It's implied that I'm referring to stretches having to do with the area in pain, hamstrings, piriformis, etc.
I was diagnosed with a L4 & L5 herniated disc, which was giving me a tremendous pain and sciatica nerve pain down my left leg. I was due to have surgery (in the military). I went to the pre-op class and had my surgery scheduled in 30 days. However my Dr recommended Gabapentum to me and so I started to take it. Needless to say, I was a able to avoid surgery and actually deploy 4 months later with my Unit ans weight lifting. This was in summer 2013. It is now summer 2021 and I have been on and off Gaba along with PT sessions in that span to control the pain and surgery. The only 2 side affects I saw was that I started to gain weight and it messes with my balance here and there when jumping on marches or down hills.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Gabapentin can certainly be a game-changer in terms of symptom relief and modification for some people!
Perkthe ne shqip
It gives me pain relief for fibromyalgia and sciatia
That's great! Glad to hear it!
Is taking Gabepentin on a regular bases safer than taking ibuprofen every day for months???
That is a great question. You can become dependent on gabapentin but I am unsure of whether it has the same effects on the stomach as ibuprofen. I would ask your doctor about that.
Its already increased my appetite after a few days...also i go to PT 3 x a week and ive
Increased appetite, interesting!
I took Gabapentin for nine years because of nerve pain it worked excellent for the pain the only problems I had was it made easily agitated depressed and very forgetful for nine years I thought I was unhappy it was the side effects of the medication they took me off of it after a second surgery I was put on lyrica which worked with little side affects then the health insurance decided not to pay for lyrica then I was given Pregabalin same side effects I stopped taking it and dealt with the pain I only take it as needed all medication have unwanted side affects.
Plz tell me if gabapentin works for scalp pain headache.
I haven’t heard of it being used for this but I’d ask your doctor about that
When prescribed gabapentin for back pain I was already diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. It just made me more tired. And did nothing for the pain.
dang, sorry to hear that!
I am at 300 x 3 a day and not much relief. Now they want to increase to 300 x 4 or 5. Most recent Meta analysis shows there is not much relief from Gabapentin for sciatica.
Yes, if you look at the meta analyses the effect sizes are not great. But this doesn't mean that an individual couldn't have a great response to it. On average though, you're right.
It works for a while and then stopped working. A few weeks was on it. Now I am weaning off . I was getting confused also.
the confusion is a very common side effect
I'm having great results
Glad to hear it!
What is brain fog? I've only been hearing this term in the past 5-10 years. Is it an actual medical diagnosis?
Not an actual diagnosis however it's like when you feel exhausted and you can't think clearly. Best way I can describe it.
Apa efek ngantuk klo minum obat gabapentin
For me, not at all! I was maxed out on the gabapentin dose and it did nothing for the horrific sciatic pain going down my leg. I was recently prescribed Lyrica and that worked from the first pill.
It is strange how so many people respond differently, isn't it?
a lumbar lapinectomy, and spinal implants and also have been taking gabapentin for over 5 years. it does not, nor ever did help my sciatica. what it did was stop many of my body's health defense systems and it's hard as hell to withdraw from!
dang sorry to hear that
It makes me feel crazy
it can do that!
I have taken it for RLS for 15 yrs. I was recently diagnosed with herniated disc with numb toes. The Gabapentin really takes the edge off so I can get to sleep, and I cry myself yo deep every night.. I am a person who never takes so much as a Tylenol or Advil. 5 months of PT and I'm so much worse. I walk 6-8miles daily. Even though numb, for Stress relief.
Glad to hear it's been helpful! Good on you for walking 6-8 miles a day! Sorry to hear PT made it worse. I'm a PT and often the mistake therapists make with really sensitive issues like this is they push people too hard. A low and slow approach is more effective and avoiding flare-ups while slowly increasing activity is more important that doing therapy 2x/week for 5 months. Unfortunately the healthcare system is not setup to help folks with chronic conditions effectively.
PT and stretching is terrible for herniated discs. I don't know why the entire internet is wrong on this. The disc is tissue that needs time to heal. Trying to heal a disc with movement would be like trying to heal a cut in your mouth by exercising your mouth. Tissue needs rest. Resting and walking are the only way to heal discs. After your pain free for several weeks, you can then start doing core for stability but even that's overrated.
Suffered for more than a week but Gaba seems to have worked
glad to hear it's helped you!
I take gab 400 mg 3x daily not much help I was diagnosed with l5 and s1 nerve compression I’m in lot of pain
sorry to hear that
What is the problem here I took it and had no side effects whatsoever and I can take it or leave it to tell you the truth
Have you had any patients that get drowsy while taking it? I’m taking 300mg
Yep -- ALL the time. Drowsiness is one of the most common side effects of gabapentin.
@@strongsociety
I know that *Gabapentin* and the *supplement GABA* are different things but do you happen to know if they can both be taken in the same day??
I take gabapention but it really doesn't seem to help much
Sorry to hear that. Maybe you and your doctor can come up with a different plan?
It’s awesome!! Have spondylolisthesis s1-L5. Tremendous nerve pain. Wow! This stuff works miracles! Took 6 days to fully kick in glad it did. I swear by it! Made me extremely sleepy at first. Now only makes me tired when I’m on the couch. When I’m out and about or at work I’m fine. Take 300 mg 3x a day.
Awesome! Hope you're feeling better now!
Isn't there a study on gabapentin and sciatica? Instead of ad hoc experimentation?
Yes, plenty of studies showing drug efficacy (does it work) vs. placebo, and safety, however just because it works with 50%+ of people does not mean everyone will experience the same benefits or side effects as our genetics dictate how certain drugs will behave within our body.
Yes but I have to take 800mg more than 3times a day and go without my script for 2wks what do I need to ask my Dr to increase my dose to work for fibromyalgia ADHD bipolar anxiety
oh man... that's a pretty high dose. Often times you'll need to work with your doctor closely to adjust medications frequently to make sure you are taking the correct types and the correct dosage. It can take many months to figure this out, unfortunately.
Once you are able to control symptoms, participating in physical activity such as walking and other types of "exercise," that don't flare symptoms up (keep intensity low), is the best way to address this. Often times people start with way too high of physical activity intensity and then convince themselves that all physical activity is impossible. Usually it's the dosage problem!
I'm on 800 2X day. It helps me with depression
Glad to hear that 👍🏻
It is the only non opiod med that takes the edge off significantly, been taking about 500mg per day, every med has its pros and cons and can be abused, do your homework and try it if you have persistent sciatic nerve pain.
Same here, the only problem is I built up a tolerance quickly and now it takes about 1,200mg in order for me to feel relief
Glad to hear you’ve found something that works!
Gabapentin sucks disentangle help at all I took 100 gabs of 400mgs because I have spondylolisthesis and sciatica nerve pain 😃 and this pill didn't help at all... Ibrophens is probably more helpful and Aleve too.
Negative fluid retention dizziness no help the pain
dang sorry to hear that
I took 3600 mg for a year sucked
whoa. that's a big dose.
Tradusir en español
I've thought about it
I took it and will never take it again. It is pure poison. It was a horrible ride. My emotions were all over the place. I ended up in a very dark place. My wife was terrified for me.
Yea. As you can see from other comments, everyone has a different experience.
Are you a doctor?
I am a doctor of physical therapy. We are trained to know the side effects of actions of medications. I cannot prescribe medications.
I started having pain in my left leg, I was diagnosed with arthritis, musculoskeletal pain, and sciatica.
I was given gabapentin, 300 mg twice a day, baclofen, and a pill for muscle spasms, it took about two weeks for the pain to go away.
In November I started having the same pain in the right leg, and it was more severe so bad I could barely walk.
My land lady gave me three bottles of gabapentin and bacofen.
Fast forward it took 3 weeks to start to feel some relief.
I need to walk for my job. I need a MRI to get the cortisone shot.
But I can’t afford insurance so I’m stuck suffering.
That sounds really tough, Julie! We have lots of resources in our Facebook group, our CZcams channel, and a free course to help you. Just look in our description in this video and you should see those links.
American Doctors suck, have to go to Mexico to get pain meds after a year of no pain relief from cruel American Doctors, who want drag out treatment and do not care if you suffer. Told to take ibuprofen by American Doctors, ended up on side of road vomiting blood. Screw American Doctors.!!!!
No
😢
Pg""c
800 not doing a dam thing!
sorry to hear that might be time for a change