United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

going on two years sinse accident that left my arm totally useless. have been working for over a 18 mos. now. had no choice with the bills piling up and three kids to feed and clothe. anyway, when i first went back to work i didn't no if i would be able to do it. the pain was terrible, but as time went on i think it either got better or my mind is not thinking about the arm as much i.e. pain. i am so focused on my job and everything i have to do. i really believe that is a big factor in having less pain. believe me i still have pain, but no where near the level before. i stopped taking meds 3 weeks before going back to work. i hated taking neurontin i really think there is bad side effects with that drug. made me very depressed. the percs and oxys were good though. just didnt want to be on them anymore. hope everything works out with you good luck and take care. jim

I feel like an old fart to this injury but I'm still young at heart. I am 38 and I was injured when I was 18. C5,6 and 7 avulsed. 20 years later and the pain is still going strong. I worked during surgeries (insurnace) until I was 25. Then I got married and had 4 children. I really think the pain is different for everyone. I have read people with the same exact injury as I have and they have little or no pain or another goes and cuts their arm off. Not one doctor can explain the pain we have! Not Mayo, not Chicago based doctors not doctors I have correspond to from NY. Drugs.....thats what they all say. Dr Spinner from Mayo told me to try Neurontin. Again, works for some but not me. I was a zombie and a lower dosage did nothing. I was in GREAT pain today. I felt on edge all day and I yelled a lot at my children. Then I get in bed and cry. not from pain but from the horrible person this injury makes me at times. I can deal with the lack of movement and use but the pain takes over my whole life at times. The older I get the more everything hurts; the pain gets worse, my back hurts, my neck hurts.
sorry to be so negative but this injury completely sucks at times!!!

herff,
Have your tried Lyrica? Can't remember if we spole about it before.. but Neurontin at high dose doesn't cut it for my spinal cord injury nerve pain either.. the Lyrica on the other hand works real well at lower doses too.
Marieke (32, LOBPI and TM)

I have not tried anything else but neurtonin. I had another child after trying it and just never went back to trying other meds. I am the type of person that doesn't want drugs in my system. I am so weird about it. I guess I haven't reached the breaking point of trying more medication. Which I know, believe me I know, that it could help me live a more comfortable life. I wish I could just take the stuff but I can't. My husband has a hard time understand me as well.
And by the way-how is school Marieke???? I haven't heard from you in a long time!
Kath

School is good.. I put up a post in the General section, called Good News Off Topic, take a peak.

As for Lyrica, I was on 2400mg of Neurontin a day now on Lyrica I am on 150mg a day. 75mg in the morning and 75mg at night. Consider it, it's easier and much more helpful for many of us. 1 Pill 2x a day is not that bad.

marieke (32, LOBPI)