Lyrica?

**Keano16** · 12-27-2009, 06:43 PM

Hi to everyone,

has anyone used Lyrica for treating chronic DISCOGENIC low back pain?

Thanks in advance for advices and experiences.

**Justin** · 12-27-2009, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by Keano16

Hi to everyone,

has anyone used Lyrica for treating chronic DISCOGENIC low back pain?

Thanks in advance for advices and experiences.

Hi Keano. As you know, Lyrica is used primarily for neuropathic pain (diabetic peripheral neuropathy, seizures and pain associated with shingles & fibromyalgia). Lyrica is usually not recommended for chronic, non-neuropathic pain. However, there is no concrete recommendation for patients with radicular symptoms.

Maybe someone will chime in with personal experience.

**Phylly** · 12-28-2009, 12:41 PM

Hi Keano,
I have been on nuerontin a long time for nerve pain and was just given a dose a lyrica in the evenings to substutue for a dose of nuerontin. I am not sure what I think yet. I have trouble sleeping when taking it in the evening and although I felt my memory was bad on the nuerontin I also think it is a problem with the lyrica. I do feel a slight improvement in the overall nerve pain. I have only been on it for two weeks so I wish I had more info for you.
Phylly

**Keano16** · 12-28-2009, 04:09 PM

I am in contact with friend in Croatia. He had 5 open spine surgeries, his condition can be described in one word - DISASTER !!!

Anyway, he took first pill of lyrica, and that night was first night after long time without pains and waking up in middle of the night.

Today I've got 60 pills of lyrica and I will try, and then give feedback here.

I am reading a lot of success stories around the internet.

**Nairek** · 12-28-2009, 08:36 PM

I was on Lyrica for about 1 year before I had my back surgery. I was having radiculopathy symptoms down my right leg and into my foot. I was told that this was because the disc material was leaking out onto the nerves & irritating them.

Whenever I took pain medication (and this is still the case), I have extreme difficulty sleeping. I woke up like every hour. My spine doctor at the time prescribed Lyrica to help me sleep at night & to help with the tingling in my foot.

I was only taking 1-25mg pill at night about 30 minutes before bed. It makes you VERY sleepy & VERY light-headed. At least for me it did. I was finally able to get some rest at night waking up maybe 2 times as opposed to 10 times a night.

I did have some relief from the radiculopathy symtoms but they never completely disapated. Perhaps it was because I wasn't taking it throughout the day. I worked 2 jobs & there was no way I could take it & then drive. I just didn't feel safe driving when taking it.

Please keep in mind that there are side effects that you should keep an eye out for. Side effects include drowsiness, swelling of the hands & feet, & in severe cases, swelling of the tongue & mouth.

I hope that my experience is helpful to you & I hope that Lyrica is able to help give you relief from your symptoms.

**rose** · 12-29-2009, 01:05 AM

Hi Keano, I have been taking Lyrica (post-op) for the past 2 yrs and there was nooooo way I could have pull through all these yrs.....right after my surgery 4 yrs ago, the surgeon prescribed Neurontin for my constant burning pain (high dose). Then 2 yrs later, went on Lyrica (again on the recommendation of the surgeon). Side effect was my weight gain!!! But the pain relief was great.
Finally, accepted to drag 30 lbs along with me.

It has been a "roller coaster" as I could never get completely OFF this med

Prior surgery, had never heard of it!!!

**Kokanee** · 01-04-2010, 09:02 PM

I've been on Neurotin (2x10mg daily) for about a month with no benefit. There was some nausea at first but it was gone within a week. Going to see my doc on 8 Jan, will up my dose most likely then I'll update here.

**ajj1001** · 01-05-2010, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by Kokanee

I've been on Neurotin (2x10mg daily) for about a month with no benefit.

Sure its 2 x 10mg not 2 x 100mg? 300mg is usually a low starting dose but it is prescribed up to 2400mg per day. I'm on 1200mg per day. (obviously I am not a pharmacist or doctor so this is not prescribing advice just what I have been prescribed).

**Kokanee** · 01-05-2010, 10:17 AM

Oops! You're correct, 2x100mg/day.

**Terry Newton** · 01-10-2010, 07:43 PM

I have been on Neurontin in the past and did not find it to be very helpful at all. I was on Lyrica for a brief period of time and did not like the side effects. It felt like I was drunk, light headed, voice slurred, dizzy, dis-oriented, etc. The second time around I fought to get beyond the side effects and was on the medication for about one and a half years. I got up to 400 Mg. per day and thought it was very beneficial for the neuropathy that was developing in my feet and some of the other pain that I was in due to my spinal injuries.

You have to be on a high enough dose to get some benefit. The other thing to note is that it does have a withdrawal syndrome to come off of it. It is not a medication that you want to abruptly take yourself off of. I gradually withdrew myself from it in a safe, sane manner and have been off of it for over a couple of years now.

Good luck with getting your pain under control.