Nortryptaline working?

[Devin215]

Hey All,
Just an update. I started the Nortryptoline 4 days ago and am noticing a difference in my pain. I cant say yet if it is from the medication itself or just the crazy chiari cycle or maybe the Accupuncture working?. What I have noticiced is that my pain usually starts as soon as I roll out of bed in the morning. The last few days it gives me a couple hours before it starts ramping up. Like right now I have been up for 3 hours and I dont have any leg pain at all and a TINY amount of back and shoulder pain/tension. I have taken No Percocet today and only Taken 10 mg of flexeril which I use for my muscle relaxer cus my shoulders have huge knots in them. On top of that I had my 3rd session of Accupuncture on friday....I hope these good results are here to stay! I feel good!! Same thing yesterday but I was so excited I started playing with my neices and holding and picking them up and well, I did that to myself....lol Maybe this is proof I have nerve pain or damage? The nortryptoline is used for nerve pain according to my dr....Next week I start taking 20 mg compared to the 10mg this week and I am supposed to find an amount that works for me... every week it is up'd to a 10mg dosage higher.... Any feedback?

[zygy]

I too had the weight gain and constipation... bad enough that I thought I had some other kind of problem and then at my pre-op my nurse said that the nortriptyline can effect those nerves.. I quit it that day and have been so much happier even if I am nauseous!  My surgery is next Wednesday and I am hoping my stomach feels good by then, it is minimal now but still there.  I seem to be unlucky and get so many side effects of the drugs that the doctors always say... it will do nothing, easy to take, rarely side effects....  Sounds like you are in the same boat!!

[redkim]

Yeah, I am not happy about the side effects, I was gaining weight.  I was contipated, of course I usually have the other problem - which has already come back like nothing happened.

[zygy]

I don't know how it will go for you but my nausea got worse for a few days and was pretty bad for two weeks.  I look at it as extra help watching my weight.  :)   I am sure my neurologist will be mad that I stopped the meds but they only tried to help with migraines while I was finding out about Chiari.  I had explained when I went there that I didn't care about my migraines because I had been dealing with them for so many years, I was worried about the "other" head pains I was having!  I am sure they will be annoyed I quit the meds but I don't really need them.  I think you do have to figure out if they are really helping because otherwise... why take them????  I liked that they helped me to sleep and I do think they helped prevent some migraines but side effects were not worth it, that is why I stopped.  

[redkim]

I have been a little nausous...it does seem silly for me to stop and then maybe start back up again :)

[Devin215]

I have to say I don't know now that this stuff is working. The only thing positive is that it postpones the pain from starting when I roll out of bed. I start the does of 30mg Tonight and am waiting on a response from my Regular Dr. on if I should continue taking it or not.

[zygy]

Good luck with stopping, hopefully it does not bother you.  I had two weeks of feeling quite nauseous and did not sleep well for just a few days.  I was on a low dose of 25mg for about six months.  

[redkim]

I just stop the nortriptyline, which I was on for five weeks.  I am waiting to see how I feel being off and then will decide if I should get back on it.  I didn't notice that it really helped my arm pain, but will know if my arm pain feels worse after stopping.  If it did help I think it took away maybe 20% of the pain...my doctor thinks this is unrelated to Chiari.  I also posted on a thread of yours about blood work and sent you a PM.

[selmaS]

HI...sorry u hurt ur back, but glad to hear it appears to be giving u some relief!!


It is odd how some meds work for some and not others like Carolyn and the gabapentin...it did nothing for me but cause side effects.....


Sending good vibes ~~~~ and prayers that u continue to see positive results : )

"selma"

[*Stormy*]

Hi

As I mentioned b4, I am on Gabapentin which is also used to treat nerve pain. I had exactly the same experience with it...only a couple of days after I started taking it, my legs felt so much better!! Usually by noon I was in so much pain that I would have to go lie down or I wouldn't make it through the day!! Now, most days I can make it through the day just on the Tylenol Arthritis...One thing I have noticed though, is they are slowly upping my dose as well and I do notice just b4 it goes up that the pain does start to return but then when I up it, it gets better again. That  part worries me a little because at some point..you have to stop!!! I think that what is helping my pain the most is the side effect of it causing a relaxing effect...as many of my problems are still related to muscle spasicity. That is why it gets better every time I increase..
I do think though it proves that a lot of it is nerve pain b/c generally I have been feeling more energetic to get out there and do things and most days even my walking is better. I really hope that it continues to work for you and that both of us will find the dose that will keep helping us!
Carolyn

[Devin215]

OK I spoke to soon....I cracked my back about 20 minutes ago and now the pain has come to annoy me today.... Gotta take something before it gets bad and I will have to leave work....At least it is helping a little bit....Maybe the 20 mg doses will work better....I am glad it seems to be helping a little bit to manage my pain.... Maybe I will go swimming today if its not too cold or walk the dogs to see if that helps...