HysterSisters.com is a massive online community with over 475,000 members and over 5 million posts.
Our community is filled with women who have been through the
Hysterectomy experience providing both advice and support from our active members and moderators.
HysterSisters.com is located at 111 Peter St, Toronto, Canada, M5V2H1 and is part of the VerticalScope network of websites.
With free registration, you can ask and answer questions in our HYSTERECTOMY forum community, get our FREE BOOKLET, access Hysterectomy Checkpoints and more.
You are not alone. The HysterSisters are here for you. Join us today!
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
|
01-21-2006, 02:31 PM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 291
Hysterectomy: March 28th, 2005
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
Lucille in Ca... How much cod liver oil is helpful?
Could those of you out there who were referred for PT for adhesion pain and/or nerve damage explain to me what they do to help? What were the options discussed?
Thank you all!
Cathy
|
Sponsored Links
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 03:51 PM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 58
Hysterectomy: June 22nd, 2005
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
Dear Appolocourt, You might want to see your doctor right away and not wait another 2 weeks. Especially if you need to return to work in 3 weeks. I have been dealing with this for 7 months and I have not been able to return to work yet. The thing your relatives need to understand is that if you have nerve damage then your recovery is not going to be like those that do not have it. When I look back, I was too patient and waited too long between doctor visits to see if things would improve. I am being a lot more aggressive now about my treatment. If there is something natural out there that will help with this pain I have not found it, but what works for one might not work for another. When you just can't take it anymore soak in a warm bath, if it is allowed at this point in your recovery. The bath seems to take the edge of the pain for me and if I want to cry then I just go for it. Hang in there and think about moving your doctor's appointment up a little. Elona
|
|
01-21-2006, 04:01 PM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 58
Hysterectomy: June 22nd, 2005
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
Hi Cathy,
I am currently in PT for nerve damage/entrapment and possible scar tissue. My therapist inserts a gloved finger and massages the walls of the vagina. She searches for areas that do not move freely and works on those areas. The therory is that if scar tissue is present then massaging the area might break up the scar tissue. If nerve damage is present then this techinque is supposed to desensitize the nerve. So far it doesn't seem to be helping me, but I think you have to give it a try to see. It is not the greatest 45 mintues of my life, but when the pain is bad enough you will do almost anything to relieve it. My therapist also uses a tens unit on me and shows me things to do at home. Elona
|
Sponsored Links
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 04:07 PM
|
Guest
|
|
Posts: 92
Hysterectomy: April 23rd, 2003
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
Appolocourt, The only non-medical help I've received for my nerve damage is from a tens unit, a small electrical device that alters the transmission of impulses from the nerve to the brain. I got mine from my physical therapist but neurologists and other docs can prescribe them,too.Shelley
|
|
01-21-2006, 04:10 PM
|
Guest
|
|
Posts: 92
Hysterectomy: April 23rd, 2003
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
dmarieb, Sounds like it could be. Tell your doc. Nerve damage is often burning, tingling, shooting in nature.A referral to a neurologist is often in order if the gp is at a loss. Shelley
|
|
01-21-2006, 04:19 PM
|
Guest
|
|
Posts: 92
Hysterectomy: April 23rd, 2003
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
Cathy, I too receive what is called myofascial release bodywork to break up adhesions, to free scar tissue that may be wrapped around a nerve. It is painful but worth it . Before it I could not sit or lay flat due to abdominal pain and now I do both just fine. She inserts a gloved finger into either my vagina or rectum(as I had colon surgery from a hyster complication) and moves it around, not as uncomfortable as I anticipated. It's the belly work that hurts. Shelley
|
|
02-23-2006, 05:18 PM
|
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 1,009
Hysterectomy: September 10th, 2004
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
Hello!
I am reviving this thread, as I've just started on Lyrica and I didn't want to ask you all repeat yourselves.
Any updates from those of you who have been trying it for a few months? I started on 50 mg at night for a week, and then added 50 in the morning. That second 50 mg has completely done me in! I stopped taking it because I couldn't afford those 3 hour naps, and didn't feel comfortable driving. I saw the doc today and she wants me to try taking 50mg at night and 25mg in the morning.
I just don't know if I should continue with this. It seems I'll have to feel crummy for a *long* time, inching my way up to a therapeutic dose. And then, it might not work anyway! BTW, I have spinal stenosis and thoracic outlet syndrome. The Lyrica is in addition to 37 mcg of fentanyl and norco as needed (at least once a day). I've tried neurontin and topomax and couldn't tolerate those.
Are any of you having good or better luck with this? How long does it take for the side effects to decrease? And, what's with the weight gain?!
Thanks!
Margot
|
|
02-23-2006, 08:27 PM
|
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 2,019
Hysterectomy: July 25th, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
Margo, I know exactly how you feel. I was on Trileptel for 4 weeks. I satrted with 300 mg twice a day for a week and increased to 600mg twice a day the second week. It made me feel like I was drunk, dizzy and tired. When I went to see the pain management Dr he wanted me to stay on it a little longer to see if the side effects decreased. I tried but I couldn't take it anymore so I weaned off of it. The weight gain is depressing!! I have been following Weight Watchers faithfully and still gaining every week.
Good luck, I hope you're feeling better soon!
Michelle
|
|
02-23-2006, 09:03 PM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 58
Hysterectomy: June 22nd, 2005
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
Hi Smargie,
I started this thread and haven't added to it in awhile. Everyone is different so keep in mind that my experience with Lyrica may not be the same as yours. I have been on this medication for some time now. First thing I want to mention is that for me at least most of the side effects went away. The first 3-4 days of increasing the doseage I was extremely sleepy, I also had some balance issues and did not feel I could drive. Everytime you increase, same thing. It is inconvenient to work your way up to the proper dosage, but in my case has been worth it. My aunt is on this same medication, started 2 weeks after me. She too suffered through the early days of adjustment and is now, get this, PAIN FREE. She is back to a pretty much a normal life. I am having an exploratory lap on Monday. They expect adhesions and nerve entrappment. Lyrica has made the long 2 months wait until the surgery tolerable. I can at least get out of bed and do minor things around the house since starting it. It has eliminated my hot flashes and I sleep well at night now. I have gained 10 pounds since starting it. I have been careful and still gained the weight. I am absolutely not eating anymore than I was and still put on the 10 pounds. However, I think that you can offset it with increased activity. My aunt has not gained any extra weight, but she has been able to become active again. I too could not tolerate Topamax, but the Lyrica is working well for me. I hope this helps. I will most likely continue taking it even after my surgery for a period of time, so I will try to update this.
|
|
02-23-2006, 10:32 PM
|
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 1,009
Hysterectomy: September 10th, 2004
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
|
|
Nerve damage and Lyrica
(((Michelle and Elona)))...
Thanks so much for your quick responses!
Michelle, thanks for the sympathy. Are you taking Lyrica now instead of the Trileptel? Or, are you taking neither and *still* gaining weight? That's a frightening thought! "Drunk, dizzy and tired" is a good description for how I'm feeling. I think I'm probably going to end up having spinal surgery. I'm so tired of these drugs.
Elona44, I'm really glad that the Lyrica ended up working for you. I saw your post when you first started this thread and was having the same questions. Thank you for the update. Good luck with the exploratory lap. If they do find entrapped nerves, will they be able to "set them free?" Wouldn't that be a blessing! I've met a woman at PT who takes Lyrica--without side effects or weight gain--and she's been able to get off of all of her narcotic meds. She told me about a friend of hers who had surgery on his neck twice, without relief, then took Lyrica and is pain free. At my pain management clinic they say they have about a 60% success rate. You are so right about everyone being different.
An update would be great when you are feeling up to it.
Margot
|
Similar Threads
|
From This Forum |
From Other Forums |
5 Replies, Last Reply 12-20-2010, Started By cholula 4 Replies, Last Reply 10-11-2007, Started By saschach 9 Replies, Last Reply 04-05-2007, Started By 1crazydaisy 2 Replies, Last Reply 01-12-2006, Started By sweetpea4809 2 Replies, Last Reply 12-30-2005, Started By candyapplelady 1 Reply, Last Reply 04-03-2005, Started By kpolcyn 5 Replies, Last Reply 10-14-2004, Started By sorespot 2 Replies, Last Reply 03-04-2004, Started By Julie8 1 Reply, Last Reply 01-30-2004, Started By Bluebear 11 Replies, Last Reply 10-19-2003, Started By revdeanna 2 Replies, Last Reply 07-17-2001, Started By mjune3 |
2 Replies, The Road Less Traveled 6 Replies, Pelvic Floor and Bladder Issues 3 Replies, The Road Less Traveled 8 Replies, Pelvic Floor and Bladder Issues 73 Replies, The Road Less Traveled 4 Replies, No Uterus - No Ovaries - Yes HRT - Surgical Menopause 9 Replies, The Road Less Traveled 8 Replies, The Road Less Traveled 3 Replies, The Road Less Traveled |
|
Advertisement
Hysterectomy News
TODAY'S EVENTS
Calendar -
Hysterectomies -
Birthdays
Request Information
I am a HysterSister
Your Hysterectomy Date
$vbulletin->featuredvideos is not an array!
Advertisement
Advertisement
|