United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Anyone tried Elavil to cut the pain of avulsed nerves? How well does it work? What dosage do you use?

HEY SANDY
yes, i take elavil for nero pain. 10mg at night that seems to be plenty to get a good nights sleep and then some. I've been known to sleep for 12 and then take a nap. not every day but some times but without it i have difficute time sleeping at all [ as i type at 2am]
Red

Do you mean that 10 mg of Elavil taken at bedtime takes care of ALL your pain, through the night and day as well? I'm currently taking 5 mg of methadone (3 x day), and the side effects are worse than anything I've tried except Duragesic, which is why I want to get off it.
I know what you mean about sleeping a lot, I feel so drowsy I limit my driving to the morning, which is a huge loss of independence for me since I used to drive all over taking landscape photographs. However, your experience suggests that Elavil might not reduce that particular problem.

Sandy
no, elavil does't take care of all the pain. it only gives me enough relief to be able to sleep and that makes the rest of the day more managable. nothing takes all the pain but the drugs will make it easier to cope by keeping the pain managable. distraction is the berries for pain if i can keep the meds in their place. it's a juggling act to keep awarness and pain in equalibrium.
still learning RED

How well I know that nothing takes away all the pain, and I agree that distraction is the best "treatment" by far. What I meant was, is the Elavil the only pain medication you take? Based on your answer, I'll assume it is.
My rehab doc has said he's willing to let me try substituting Elavil for methadone, but he's never prescribed it for severe pain. So he suggested I ask what dosage other tbpi folks use, just to get an idea of where to start. That's where I'm coming from.
Thanks for taking the time to respond, Red, I appreciate the input.
Sandy

Hey Sandy
Sorry to give you the wrong impretion about my meds. I take Bextra, 24hr anti inflamitory,Lexapro, anti depresant, and Nexium, so the others don't eat a hole in my stomach, every AM. During the day I take Percacet and Ultram for pain as needed and in the evening I take an Elavil to help me sleep as well as for pain. The anti depresants help me to not focus on the pain which seems to help more than I imagined they would. The Dr, a pain specialist, and I have worked with some combinations to get where I am now though it tends to change with time. I try to deal with the pain during the day as I would rather not end up a junkie if I can avoid it. My need for relief has alot to do with my activaties during the day. Any extended activity fires up the pain and if I ignore it I regrete it later sooooooo.
Please be careful with Methadone as it is more addictive than heroin I've been told.
The other

Hey Sandy
Sorry to give you the wrong impretion about my meds. I take Bextra, 24hr anti inflamitory,Lexapro, anti depresant, and Nexium, so the others don't eat a hole in my stomach, every AM. During the day I take Percacet and Ultram for pain as needed and in the evening I take an Elavil to help me sleep as well as for pain. The anti depresants help me to not focus on the pain which seems to help more than I imagined they would. The Dr, a pain specialist, and I have worked with some combinations to get where I am now though it tends to change with time. I try to deal with the pain during the day as I would rather not end up a junkie if I can avoid it. My need for relief has alot to do with my activaties during the day. Any extended activity fires up the pain and if I ignore it I regrete it later sooooooo.
Please be careful with Methadone as it is more addictive than heroin I've been told.
RED

Hi, I take amplitriplyn, 2 to 3 before bed.....I sleep now, Never could before. It doesnt help the pain though. My Doctor told me I can take as much as I need he says he knows patients that need this anti depressant and take up to 6, I wake up in a state of pain that would make u cry. For pain, I take vicoden 750 mg. 12 of this every two hours. I take vioxx which doesnt help but my Doc insists I take it. I also have frova for migraines. It really helps me, taken with 2 tylenol....if it doesnt work I can repeat it as necessary. Any advice here?......... wings

My husband Jason has 4/5 avulsed nerves to the lbp. The doctors tried various dosages of elavil but it never did work for him. They also tried a bunch of others but the only thing that works is clonazepam, an anti-anxiety. I don't know if it directly helps the pain, but it does take away the anxiety and reduces the stress, which will all know intensifies the pain. He sleeps through the night and is well rested in the morning. He takes 1mg 3 times a day. It works really well, and I can tell when he misses a dose.
Elavil is a great drug and works well for many people. But everyone reacts differently to drugs. I say if you have the opportunity, give it shot. It can't hurt!

Are you the one with the avulsed nerves? How did it happen, if you don't mind.

Amy and Jason