New to this board looking for help

[dbtd]

Hello everyone I am new to this board as I only found it while searching for a new medicine my doctor put me on this week. As you can guess it was neurontin. I did Post this under neurontin users also and then my daughter told me I should start a new thread instead, so I am sorry it is upsets anyone by taking up too much room.

I have had pain off and on for about 15 years. In the last 5 or 6 is when it got really bad. I finally found a doctor that beleived that I was really in pain and sent me for an MRI Turns out I have degenerative disk desease, and scoliosis with Thorasic Kyphosis.

In 2004 I had c4, 5, 6 fused together because of nerve root compression and was told the pins and needles would go away in time. They did, but about 3 months ago it came back, only worse than before the surgery. It is as if I never had the fussion everything that was there before is back. The burning pain in my neck is back and I can barley hold a pencil or pen anymore and I get random muscle cramps when yawning, bending my arm, ect. They have told me it is not carpol tunnel in my hands because it usually does not affect both hands at the same time and I am able to do things with my hands and wrists that people with CTS can't. I have other pain also but to much to mention and other wierd things going on, drag my foot occassionaly, spot in vision that never goes away, jerking for no reason, memory problems(like the word is on the end of my tongue). I am scheduled for a nerve conduction study in a week hope that will give me some idea of what is going on.

I was hoping that someone might be able to answer a couple of questions as I am not quite sure where to turn.

How long until this new medicine starts working? I have been on 300 mg at bedtime now for 5 days and have not seen a significant decrease in my pain. Also, can anyone tell me what will happen if I take neurontin with the Gaviscon I have been taking? It does have Alum/Mag combo. Also, I keep reading that neurontin may affect the vicondin that I still take almost on a daily basis and why did the pharmasist tell me to get a med alert bracelet? Will this pain be a life long thing and how much has it affected your lives?

Any help you can give me would be great. My husband tries, but well you know. I am a full time college student wanting to get a degree in pathology and he says I should really rethink what I am going to school for. He thinks I should go into something that won't be so taxing on my body like Political Science or Law both of which I do like just not my first choice.

Dawn

[duttin]

Dawn,

Welcome,have you seen a neurologist?You have a lot going on.
Memory loss is not consistant with Neuropathy.You have described my life after I had lumbar surgery.7 years later I have been diagnosed with MS and having a deep muscle EMG done tomorrow,neuro is thinking neuropathy secondary to MS.There's many neuropathic disorders that correlate with your symptoms and ech one is ruled out by process of elimination.Patients are very important and symptoms can be made worse by stress.I also have DDD 3 or 4 area's ,no nerve impingment,for the drop foot I wear leg braces,they hide under my pants and no one knows I use them.I tried neurontin,was allergic.For pain I use oxycontin and vicodonand for muscle cramps I use zanaflex and baclofen(the combination works great for me).With the concerns of meds interacting contact the pharmacy they can help you.

Prayers to you

Toni

[dbtd]

Thanks Toni. I saw a neuro surgeon for my surgery and then again back in February of last year(2005) for a follow up after the cervical fussion. He did say things may get better or worse only time will tell, but he didn't seem to concerned with the other problems I was having. I have a nerve conduction test scheduled for friday hopefully that will shed some light on what is going on. Then I think that maybe I should have my GP send me back to neurologist.

Dawn