Degenerative Disc Disease

67 Power Wagon said
is the pain real bad at this time? It sounds as tho it may be moderate, I'd ask if Gabapentin will help instead of the pain meds.....Its what I'm on for foot nerve pain, and sounds as tho you might benefit from it as well....I'm on it, and I know Doug "AKA" Inkjunkie just got on it,....just something to ponder, I know it works for me, and seems as tho it is working for Doug, but he may need to talk more to his Doc on it.

As for the rest, its not a bad drug, you just have to try it and see if it helps in the wee bit and then go from there, YES, it has side effects, BUT I found that for me, they don't kick in at all....really once in a while as I'm on 300 MG pills, and I take one in the AM and one at night, as need a 3rd at times if its real bad to equal 900MG a day. I have an uncle that's on it that's taking 3600 MGs a day! And after seeing him, it seems to have done him well too! He's on it for Diabetic Neuropathy nerve pain in his legs and feet. I myself, don't have the Diabetic Neuropathy, I merely have nerve damage in my feet.....

Did not read the whole thread, saw this and stopped so if this has been mentioned I apologize. Sounds like you may have stenosis. Basically it means that, thanks to degenerative disc disease, the area where your nerves pass thru the vertebrae is getting put into a squeeze. There is various different surgeries to open the area up but the few folks that I know that had it done were right back to square one in a short amount of time. Some say a chiropractor will help, but that did not work for me. Had one doc put it in a way I understood....you puncture a tire with a nail. The air leaks out....sure you can put more in but it is going to leak out again. Which, imo, is what going and getting manipulated means to me.
Seen Gabapentin mentioned. When I first got on it I experienced noticeable relief. 7-8 weeks later.....back to the same ole crap. I talked to my doc about things. He did agree that when it comes time to write a new script for the narcotics that he was going to lower the narcotics and increase the Gabapentin, just to see what happens. I recently attempted to lower the amount of narcotics I take. I removed one 5mg oxg a week. After 3 weeks I was back to my "normal" amount. Frigging hurt like I got hit by a truck. Doc did say he seriously doubts that lowering the narcotics and increasing the Gabapentin is going to work for me. According to him I no doubt have some nerve pain, but the bulk of mine is skeletal issues. Despite what some folks will tell you there is no "magic pill" that works for all of us. I really think that in some case folks get relief from certain things because they "believe" it is going to work.
Sorry for getting off topic....by all means Gabapentin may work for the OP, if it does cool beans. Narcotics may be the answer....if so be prepared for the onslaught of associated problems they bring, constipation, fuzzy brain, marked drowsiness etc....
Some folks are very fortunate when it comes to pain relief, others, like myself are not. It is what it is....I wish you the best of luck in finding something that works for you....