Neuropathy relief

skigrl

I went to the local health center to see about getting some sleeping pills for my horrible insomnia brought on by the painful neuropathy in my feet.(worse when I stop moving and lay down) the Dr. Was not whom I usually see, when he came in the room he asked" what can I do for you?". I told him I would like some sleeping pills for my insomnia. He raised his eyebrows and said " we don't like to give out pills for insomnia"! And why do you have insomnia? Really Dr. Sherlock?! Um if you looked at my chart you would see it says I have neuropathy. Ok." why do you have neuropathy"? Well Dr. Sherlock, it says ON MY CHART the result of chemotherapy. Why mam, " did you have chemotherapy"? WTF Dr. Sherlock , well if you would look on the second line on my chart , it says BREAST CANCER! Oh I see says Dr. Sherlock. At this point I wanted to cry and just walk out the door, he made me feel like I was just there for drugs for no reason. Then he wants me to explain what my neuropathy feels like. I was so pissed. Finally he very reluctantly gave me a script for 12 ambian.

Then when I got home 10 minutes after my appointment with him, he calls me and says I was

Thinking after you left, there is a drug out there that can help insomnia and neuropathy! Huh? Ok. He says it's Amytriptinine". Supposedly it is used for depression, but helps with the pain and causes drowsiness so I would sleep. I picked up both scripts but have yet to use the Amytriptinine because of all the side effects I read, suicidal thoughts, dizziness, weight gain, ( which I am trying to loose from all I gained on Lyrica).



Anyway I was wondering if any of you ladies have taken amytriptiline? I worry about the side effects.

Thanks and sorry for the long post.

Skigrl .

diana50

have you talked with your oncologist about the neuropathy>  my onc had me on neurontin which is often prescribed for neuropathy.  also, cymbalta is helpful; it is an antidepressant but has an element that decreases pain .  i would make an appt with your oncologist and see what he or she would prescribe.

cinnamonsmiles

I have severe neuropathy resulting from my bmx with node dissection. I was going to a pain clinic that was absolutely wonderful. I did not get the you are just a drug addict looking for a fix for pain and inability to sleep. As soon as they heard that pain kept me up, stopped me from sleeping well, they gave me amitrityline 25 mg to take at night. I am already on gabapentin (generic form of neurontin) 2100 mg per day and a muscle relaxer at night. I have not noticed any more side effects from the amitriptyline, but I am glad I am on it. They are adamant that good sleep is essential for pain management (and life!!).

Another pill I find that works well when the neurtopathy pain gets worse is tramadol 50 mg that I take throughout the day if I am having to use my arms more, mostly 2-3 times a day. I told one of the pain clinic nurses that is works better than vicodin, which really did nothing. He said he hears that quite often from neuropathy patients. I have a friend who has other health problems that results in a lot of pain and when I told her about Tramadol, she tried it and said it works great.

Your clinic mgr. needs to know about the atrocious attitude of this moron dr. you saw!! I know the frustration of being treated like that!!

I am not a dr. but I don't believe that amitriptyline alone will help  you with your pain.  It sounds like to me that  you need someone to take charge of your pain treatments. Could you talk to your regular dr. or oncologist if  you have one and get a referral to a pain clinic? Believe me, if  you get into a good pain clinic, you will find so much relief that they are in charge of the pain and willing to help you WITHOUT the "you are looking for a fix attitude."

Unfortuneately, most of the drugs that help pain can make you drowsy or loopy. My pain doctors have been fabulous with working with me to find the best therapeutic drug levels with the least amount of side effects I can live with. I am on disability, so I am able to get thru my days on the drowsy and loopy side. 

I hope you contact someone to help all your pain needs and take charge for you. It is such a relief, compared to struggling with drs. like the one you saw who just don't get it.

Let us know what you find out!!!