June 10, 2008 - 2:50pm
I have been on meds for years. I was trying Lyrica, got great results until the numbness in my hands started. I tried to ignore it but it gradually got worse. Anyone else? I am also on Ultram. I have since quit the Lyrica, anything close to I could use? Any advice would be great, I deal with pain all day everyday, like I said Lyrica is the only "relief" I have had in a long time, I would love to find something similar...
June 10, 2008 - 6:34pm
#2
I also had the same thing
I also had the same thing with Lyrica where it helped, but made me too drowsy. Even if I took it at night before bed I would end up sleeping 12 hours, then being groggy for 2-3 hours after waking. I only take it now when the pain gets unbearable.
I'm a social worker, not a medical professional. All comments and thoughts are simply my opinion and experience.
June 11, 2008 - 1:55pm
#3
I did try Nuronton sp? but I
I did try Nuronton sp? but I had such crazy side effects that its out of the question. Could there be a medical reason I don't "feel" anything when I take a muscle relaxer?
June 11, 2008 - 2:18pm
#4
Well if you wanna be
Well if you wanna be technical lyrica isn't classified as a muscle relaxer as far as i know. It is for neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia although i'm sure it has off label uses. i am also led to believe it isn't a muscle relaxer because my mother is prescribed this along with a muscle relaxer.(zanaflex)
June 11, 2008 - 2:44pm
#5
Like I said previously, my
Like I said previously, my doc said it is a extended release form of flexeral. I am pretty sure that is a musle relaxer. I appreciate any and all information you or anyone else can give me. You mother hasn't had any of the numbness in her hands? Swelling? Extreme weight gain? I hope it works for her, if the side effects are not bothersome then Im happy for her! thanks again
June 11, 2008 - 6:29pm
#6
Flexeril and Lyrica are
Flexeril and Lyrica are completely different. I don't know why your doc would have told you that Lyrica is a 'long-acting Flexeril', but that is waaaaay off.
Lyrica has only one drug with a similar chemical structure and effects, and that is Neurontin.
I'm sorry the Lyrica didn't work for you. I have fibromyalgia and migraines, and Neurontin was great until it gave me headaches. The Lyrica made things better, too, but it wreaked havoc with my gut and I can't take that either.
June 11, 2008 - 6:34pm
#7
I just wanted to second what
I just wanted to second what floot-tooter said. Lyrica is in no way flexeril. Lyrica is pregabalin and flexeril is cyclobenzaprine. Flexeril is a muscle relaxer but lyrica is a med that works on the gaba recepters.
July 3, 2008 - 1:14pm
#8
Lyrica and numb hands
I was quite surprised to stumble upon this polemic as I take Lyrica in addition to opiates for pancreatitis pain. The Dr. told me Lyrica can cause sedation and weight gain via water retention, but nothing about numbness.
Now, I have a blown out disc at C5-6 on the left side that gives me intermittent numbness, tingling and pain shooting into my left hand. Shortly after starting Lyrica and then increasing the dose as per Dr's orders, I developed numbness and tingling and pain in my right arm and hand, which is MUCH worse than that on the left. I just assume the disc, which was herniated on the left side, managed to somehow blow out on the right side and impinge the nerve root. In fact, this discomfort is my major problem at the moment as it makes it difficult to swim every day --- a KEY component of my pain treatment.
I feel I get some benefit from the Lyrica as my pancreatitis pain is worse when I don't take it. If, however, it's causing these problems in my dominant arm and hand, then the benefits are NOT worth the costs and I should discontinue it.
Is there any documentation or studies about Lyrica and numbness? I MOST INTRIGUED by this report and I thank you for starting the thread. I hope folks can give me some much needed input here.
Best,
M
July 5, 2008 - 9:15am
#9
I THIRD THAT!
Lyrica and flexeril are Totally different. flexeril is for muscle spasms, and lyrica is for nerve pain, like the electric shock feeling that goes down your arms from your neck if u have neck probs like me, or for people with back probs the shock feeling goes down legs. I have been on flexeril and it doesnt do anything. its only good if u have a really bad spasm and it hurts like u cant believe. I am currently on lyrica after stopping neurontin, which was rxed for bedtime, but i woke up feeling drunk so i axed that stuff and he put me on lyrica, which he rxed for during the day and it doesnt really make me tired as long as i dont lay down.
As for the hand numbness issue, i have that anyways from my radiculopathy from my neck discs or bone spurs hitting the nerves that go to my hands. so i dont know what to tell u bout that.
I use to be on the Lyrica as well but had to quit due to daytime drowsiness and the Lyrica made my hands twitch. I know it sounds weird but it was so bad that when I would be smoking a cig, my hand would twitch and the cig would go flying. I am currently taking Neurontin but I am noticing that my hands twitch with it as well. I don't really know what else besides the Neurontin that would come close to the Lyrica. Have you tried Neurontin? If you haven't, maybe ask your doc about it.
KK