Hello Cheryl.  I can relate to your struggle because I have severe diabetic neuropathy.  For the past 6 years or so I have been working my way through 50 thousand different meds trying to find something that works.  This condition has no good treatment other than trying to blunt the pain with meds.  I'm sure support from an empathetic counselor would be helpful, but without insurance now (I can't hold a job now, yet no disability has been granted) I can't afford to see anybody.  I did have a pain specialist before my insurance lapsed, and he pretty much said that meds were the only way.  A previous doctor had introduced me to methadone, a powerful synthetic opiate, but I ended up with a methadone treatment center. 80 mg daily...but I have to taper off soon because it is $10 a day.  Not a pain clinic-but a treatment center.  Methadone helps a great deal but is a dangerous drug. There are quite a few deaths from it.  It is easy to overdose and tolerance and dependence sneak in before you know it.  All the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors made me sweat and feel odd.  To be clear, no opiate drug is effective against neuropathy except methadone manufactured in North America.  This is because of the chemical makeup of domestic methadone...a certain quirk in the makeup at a molecular level that enables methadone to bind with NMDA receptors and blunt neuropathic pain.

I'm curious...how did you get 900 mg of Lyrica daily?  Because of side effects, my doctors and all the doctors I could find on the Web, 600 mg is the limit.  Did your doctor perscribe it that way?  Thank you in advance for replying. :-)

Lyrica is a life saver for me right now.  The edge is taken off the severe prickling, burning and allodynia.  I personally think the 1200 mg would be appropriate for a large adult with no kidney or liver problems, but I guess not.  The doctors dealing with this seem resentful of my questions and wish I'd go away.

Lyrica absolutely causes weight gain, and will make it difficult for you to reach your goals.  I have gained about 30 lbs since I started with Lyrica.  If I could just get some exercise...perhaps the stationery bike is called for...we'll see. :-)

How much relief do you get from tramadol?  Studies do show some effectiveness from it's odd chemical makeup.

You look like you have an excellent med spread for neuropathy.  Maybe you could ask your doctor to exchange the Tramadol for some methadone...he probably won't do it.  That is a shame...but I encourage you to try.  You will get nowhere if you rely on the medical community to help you.  You must research it on the web and ask (or demand) meds when they come out.

Good luck Cheryl.

Dave

CHERYL

7/20/10 7:31pm

Hi Dave

Thank you for your comprehensive reply. You really know your stuff! My Lyrica just went up and up and ended up 900mg per day, my GP (general practitioner, doctor in UK) always raises his eyebrows in horror when he prescribes it so I do think it's unusual, the Tramadol, well, I think it works a bit. It's keeping my levels level which I have a big problem with now. As I am so sleepy, can't sleep at night, nap in the day, not hungry till afternoon, all sugar levels go to pot. There is no way a UK gp in my area would give me methadone. I belong to a pain clinic at a huge teaching hospital in London, called St Thomas's Hospital. I will ask them. They don't like me because, I too, like you, ask questions all the time. They just like 'yes-people' I think. but it's our bodies, and our minds, why shouldn't we ask? why can't there be alternatives to traditional treatment like chinese medicine? we have to beg for alternative treatments here, yet, unlike you, our treatment is totally free, meds, counselling, the lot, but the quality and options vary from region to region. I expect that in London we get the most options to decide which hospital to visit. We have problems getting a gp in the first place though. Mine never talks to me, gave me xenical but no dietary advice! - gave me it twice , then stopped. stupid really. I truly believe the UK should have a national weight loss org which helps anyone with a long term health problem, or side effects arising from that, and I don't mean weightwatchers. Anyhow, onwards and upwards, just enjoyed a lovely low fat turkish lamb meal with friends, yum! a glass of turkish white wine. Goodnight and thanks again for the reply. Good luck to you too. Cheryl, London , UK. ps where are you in the U.S.?