Pain Medications
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 23:20
Experiences with Elavil
Has anybody taken it for nerve pain?
My only experiences with anti-depressants have been using them for depression. I was on Celexa for about 18 months with little issue. I was switched to Effexor XR for about a month and found I had a terrible time. It knocked me on my butt, I was always sleepy. I switched back to Celexa due to the drowsiness issue as well as sustained tachycardia (heart rate in 110's to 120's.
I found that Elavil affects serotonin and noreprinephrine, the same chemicals as those that Effexor affects. I'm a little bit worried about having the same side effects.
I'm starting at 25 mg/night to eventually build up to 75mg/night in the next two weeks. I'm taking it for sciatic pain in my left leg.
Just looking for a little input! Thanks!
Christine
_____________
MRI Oct '07:
*L3-L4 moderate central disc protrusion with moderate central stenosis
*L4-L5 1.3 x 0.9 cm central & left paracentral disc extrusion; mild to moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis
*L5-S1 mild posterior disc bulge & endplate spondylosis, moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis
ESI Nov'07
Microdiscectomy L4-L5 Dec '07
<(unrelated) Resection of left liver lobe for 6.5cm benign tumor June '09>
MRI Oct '09:
*L3-L4 Stable central disc protrusion producing mild central stenosis but no definite nerve room impingement. Annual tear is present mildly compressing thecal sac. No foraminal stenosis is seen.
*L4-L5 Findings consistent with recurrent left subarticular disc extrusion, slightly extending inferiorly, compressing & displacing descending left L5 nerve root (extends 5-6 mm beyond the L5 superior endplate). Minimal foraminal narrowing is seen. Clinical correlation is recommended.
*L5-S1 Central disc protrusion without nerve root impingement or central stenosis. Mild facet arthropathy. Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
ESI Oct '09 Unsuccessfull attempt x3 @L5-S1; success @L4-L5! Waiting to see if it has worked...so far so good on day #2 (Oct 23rd)...
ESI #2 Nov 11th '09 Considered unsuccessful...
Nov 14th Left big toe, top of foot, outer left leg now numb. Started another Medrol dose-pack. Referred to NS...
Nov 30 NS appointment
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I also take elavil. I was prescribed elavil to help me sleep which it does help. It also knocks me on my butt. I am asleep within an hour of taking meds. I have found with a good nights sleep I am able to deal with the pain a little better,
Susan
Early on in my spine journey I was given Elavil to help with nerve pain. It did not touch it at all. I seem to respond far better to anti-seizure meds.
I hope you find it works for you.
"C"
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. "
- Dolly Parton
Generic version of Elavil for about a month now. I asked the doc to take me off of it though. It was prescribed for nerve pain but it does not help. It does put me into a coma like sleep at night though. So much so that my alarm clock has not woken me once since being on it. This is a problem as I still have to go to work! Maybe it will work for you. I am going to try increasing my Lyrica dosage to see it that will help.
One Love,
Stephanie
"If we fall, we don't need self-recrimination or blame or anger - we need a reawakening of our intention and a willingness to recommit, to be whole-hearted once again."--Sharon Salzberg
28yo female, pain for the last 11 years, DDD, Stenosis, Discectomy Sx 2000, nerve block 2001, 2005, 2008. Discogram 10/9/08. Two level (L4-S1) TLIF (transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion) completed on 11/21/08.
Post surgery symptoms: burning and odd nerve sensations in right hip buttock and thigh, clicking noise in back when I flex. Low back pain on left side.
Currently taking Percocet, Robaxin, and Lyrica and walking as much as possible!
I have had it avialable for the last two years. For me - it is a med for emergency use for myself. It puts me out into a deep sleep - and allows my body to heal. I get reduced pain levels and if I keep it up for 3 days - I can normally get rest @12 hr sessions.
For me it is a rescue drug. I have hit the pain wall, have time available and take several days off to heal myself.
I cannot use it in my normal life - it gives me dry mouth - feeling like I am hung over - into the evening and by 8pm the next night - whether I have taken it or not - I must sleep again.
That is my experience with it. C45
25 years, sciatica, severe Central and Lateral Stenosis, L3-L4, DDD, Cervical C6-C7, and finally diagnosis confirmed Oct07 Chronic Pain, too cause no one treated the acute pain.
No surgery yet - but I am going for a consult.
I am not a Dr, only experience, living with this since the early 1980's. I thought for years that I would find a pill or exercise or some magic bullet to fix myself.
"Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught we will realize that we can't eat money."
Chief White Cloud
I have only taken one dose...
Just a little background, I work 12 hour nights and since I have no kids, I keep a night schedule meaning that I usually go to sleep any where between 6:30am and 9:00am.
I took the one dose at about 12 noon on Tuesday and slept until 8:30pm (which was fine for me). I then fell asleep again from 2:30am to 6:30am and then again from 8:30am til 5:00pm when I finally had to drag myself out of bed to go to work last night. I really want to give this med a fair try before moving onto something else, but as mentioned before its hard to if its going to knock me out like that. I have a job that requires me to be on my toes and able to think fast (I'm a nurse).
I can't handle a foggy brain but I'm also trying to find a way to deal with this nerve pain...the pain also makes it hard to concentrate most of the time too.
MRI Oct '07:
*L3-L4 moderate central disc protrusion with moderate central stenosis
*L4-L5 1.3 x 0.9 cm central & left paracentral disc extrusion; mild to moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis
*L5-S1 mild posterior disc bulge & endplate spondylosis, moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis
ESI Nov'07
Microdiscectomy L4-L5 Dec '07
<(unrelated) Resection of left liver lobe for 6.5cm benign tumor June '09>
MRI Oct '09:
*L3-L4 Stable central disc protrusion producing mild central stenosis but no definite nerve room impingement. Annual tear is present mildly compressing thecal sac. No foraminal stenosis is seen.
*L4-L5 Findings consistent with recurrent left subarticular disc extrusion, slightly extending inferiorly, compressing & displacing descending left L5 nerve root (extends 5-6 mm beyond the L5 superior endplate). Minimal foraminal narrowing is seen. Clinical correlation is recommended.
*L5-S1 Central disc protrusion without nerve root impingement or central stenosis. Mild facet arthropathy. Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
ESI Oct '09 Unsuccessfull attempt x3 @L5-S1; success @L4-L5! Waiting to see if it has worked...so far so good on day #2 (Oct 23rd)...
ESI #2 Nov 11th '09 Considered unsuccessful...
Nov 14th Left big toe, top of foot, outer left leg now numb. Started another Medrol dose-pack. Referred to NS...
Nov 30 NS appointment
Consider this a first med in the pool of tricyclics - they are a class of meds, but many do not have the side-effects that Elavil has. Try it again when you have a free spot in your schedule and report back to your Dr what your findings are. He does have a list of others in the same family that have differing effects.
Cheers - C45
25 years, sciatica, severe Central and Lateral Stenosis, L3-L4, DDD, Cervical C6-C7, and finally diagnosis confirmed Oct07 Chronic Pain, too cause no one treated the acute pain.
No surgery yet - but I am going for a consult.
I am not a Dr, only experience, living with this since the early 1980's. I thought for years that I would find a pill or exercise or some magic bullet to fix myself.
"Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught we will realize that we can't eat money."
Chief White Cloud
I was on Elavil 20 mg for a long time and it never seemed to help my leg pain. I'm on Cymbalta now which seems to be helping more for me. my brother who had a fusion for a shattered lumber spine 25 years and recently started taking Elavil for a few months now and only a small dose and he says it helps his leg pain. It still makes him sleepy at night when he takes his one dose, Good luck and I hope something can help you have less pain. Charry
My 2nd MRI showed no herniated disc and no stenosis. Mild loss of signal intensity in intervertebral discs L1-S1 and mild loss of height from L1-L4. Mild DDD throughout the lumber spine. Still have back pain and some leg tingling, numbness though. 3rd opinion Neurosurgeon Oct. 6, 2009.
1st report last year Feb. 2008.
L5-S1 herniated disc with annular tear with disc material in contact with L5 exiting nerve, arthropy facet joints L4-L5. 5 Epidurals. Facet joint injections and 64 trigger point injections. Off work 21 months due to back and leg pain. Not a surgical candidate x 2 Ortho opinions. (history C5-7 osteoarthritis and DDD)
Infrared Platinum heating pad 4x/day and while sitting.
MS Contin 120mg, Cymbalta 60mg, lasix 20mg, Diovan for B/P . oxazepam 30mg for sleep. Excercise ball, recumbent stationary bicycle 30 mins. day, posture-pump for lower back. Tried PT, accupuncture, traction. Pool therapy Oct. 27/2009
http://www.livestrong.com/article/14700-self-affirmations/
Charry
Feeling a little discouraged tonight. Had to leave work early due to the pain, started my shift off strong and 5.5 hours into it I was purely miserable with leg pain and spasms up and down my leg, hip and butt. Getting ready for my next epidural next week so I'm completely off my Aleve for now, tried Tylenol and it didn't do a thing. Somebody at work had a lidocaine patch and it didn't work. Finally left at 2:15 am when my friend came in for me. Once I got home I took a Zanaflex & a Vicodin and its not really done much. I also tried a warm moist compress to no avail. This is all so frustrating. I actually broke down and cried twice before I left (I'm usually the strong one).
So, I'm gonna go ahead and try a second dose of the Elavil, at least I'm pretty much guaranteed to sleep well!
I'm feeling kind of desperate right now, not finding many solutions. I can't keep missing work though I do have small amount of time available to me and I have been approved for Intermittent FMLA.
MRI Oct '07:
*L3-L4 moderate central disc protrusion with moderate central stenosis
*L4-L5 1.3 x 0.9 cm central & left paracentral disc extrusion; mild to moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis
*L5-S1 mild posterior disc bulge & endplate spondylosis, moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis
ESI Nov'07
Microdiscectomy L4-L5 Dec '07
<(unrelated) Resection of left liver lobe for 6.5cm benign tumor June '09>
MRI Oct '09:
*L3-L4 Stable central disc protrusion producing mild central stenosis but no definite nerve room impingement. Annual tear is present mildly compressing thecal sac. No foraminal stenosis is seen.
*L4-L5 Findings consistent with recurrent left subarticular disc extrusion, slightly extending inferiorly, compressing & displacing descending left L5 nerve root (extends 5-6 mm beyond the L5 superior endplate). Minimal foraminal narrowing is seen. Clinical correlation is recommended.
*L5-S1 Central disc protrusion without nerve root impingement or central stenosis. Mild facet arthropathy. Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
ESI Oct '09 Unsuccessfull attempt x3 @L5-S1; success @L4-L5! Waiting to see if it has worked...so far so good on day #2 (Oct 23rd)...
ESI #2 Nov 11th '09 Considered unsuccessful...
Nov 14th Left big toe, top of foot, outer left leg now numb. Started another Medrol dose-pack. Referred to NS...
Nov 30 NS appointment