Mild PN Newbie Needing Guidance

[calluna]

I think it is really hard to know if the pain indicates further injury is happening or not, this is an interesting question and I don't think it has been much discussed.

My thinking on this is along these lines. Anything that sends a message along the nerve can cause pain - like sex, or sometimes touch, or urinating. In my opinion it is hard to see how that can be causing damage. But we also get pain when something is physically happening to the nerve - for instance sitting or bending or getting constipated or cycling can compress the nerve - and in my opinion, this pain might be an indicator of further damage.

Most of us do find this condition to be progressive, unfortunately, so that's something to bear in mind.

With regard to the constipation, this may well be responsible for some of your aches. Please don't let this continue, constipation can put pressure on the nerve and that's not a good thing, in general. Movicol/Miralax is good stuff and is safe for long term use as it is not a stimulant.

With regard to pain relief - really there is no need for you to be in pain. You know that you have this condition, and you know what to do to help it - and what not to do. At the moment you are on a very low dose of gabapentin, and it is really good that you are feeling improvement already.

I would say - take the meds, enjoy the improvement in your quality of life, and just keep on with the lifestyle changes.

[donstore]

Brad,
There is a school of thought that says that untreated pain sensitizes the nerve and makes it worse. good luck.

Don

[bradley]

I'll keep that in mind Don, thanks.

I had become very constipated after 3 days of taking neurontin (unsure if connected but never been constipated before) and will talk to my Doctor when he is back from vacation. I also went in for a very swollen lymph node at my groin yesterday and my epiditymis was swollen and inflamed as well, turned out I had a subecuous (sp?) cyst that was infected and wasn't a lymph node. Got it opened and filed with antibiotics and he said thats why I had been having body aches and my epiditymis was irritated (he said it felt fine).

On antibiotics and am feeling better. Getting a bunch of other issues along with PN sure makes me appreciate just having PN. It could always be worse.

Brad

[donstore]

Brad,
Colace (stool softener) is available over the counter and I find it quite effective for constipation which would otherwise be a problem for me due to my regimen of opiates.

Best Wishes,

Don