No, I don't think so. Treatment of the pain or paresthesias would treat an invisible symptom. The doctor can't "see" your pain and so can't "see" when it is relieved except by your mood/attitude. The meds won't treat your wobbles or weakness. They certainly don't treat mine.
If need be, like you are just feeling ttooooooo good, you could taper off the meds to be in more pain just before the visit.
Ideally, your neuro would understand that you are describing pain that you finally had to get treated and is not as bothersome since you started the medication. Any neuro that would dismiss you because you said the pain was relieved, ignoring all of the other stuff will not help you anyway. A good doctor will take into consideration that treatment is relieving some of the symptoms and still be interested in finding the cause of the symptoms.
It's the same as a orthopedist who would dismiss severe back pain because the morphine was relieving the pain. Huh???
Quix
Thanks Quix I will do that...but it wouldnt hinder me finding what is wrong with me??
andie
ask for a referral to pain management. Your GP's fears, though trying to be in your best interests, are unfounded and a little cruel (tho not intentionally, I'm sure).
You need relief - 3 YEARS!!! You need relief!
Chronic pain is not good for the body nor for the mind.
Explain that you need relief. Period! And ask for pain management. That is definitely what I recommend.
Quix
Thanks so much!! I will be ready to pounce!!
Hugs,
Kristin
My GP gives me Tyl 3...for when the pain is bad...that doesn't help much anymore with my leg pains....he doesn't want to give me meds that have alot of side effects as it might interfer with my Dx...(it's only been 3 years)....boy oh boy
thanks for this information...
andie
Based on Quix's response to me, I am guessing that if the OTC pain killers don't work for you, that's a sign that you have neuropathic pain. I refer to all the typical stuff---aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin, etc.
Hang in there till Thursday, but then pounce on that neuro to get a script!
ess
Yes, I am seeing new MS Specialist (Siddy's doc) on Thursday next week but just wondering if I can take anything in the meantime to get through the weekend.
My flare has set off my back sending little nerve electric jolts everywhere and I feel like I could jump out of my skin along with the constand pain in my feet.
I can make it til thursday but if you said "eating peas in the bathtub" would help right now I would be running for the pantry!
Thanks again!!!
Kristin
I'm not sure of the exact answer to your question, but I will formulate one based on what I know of nerve behavior.
Yes, if the pain responds poorly or not at all to regular pain meds, but does respond to a med for neuropathic pain, then it is very likely to be nerve-based pain. This may be an absolute. I will punt the question to paindoc.
Kristin - do you have access to a doctor who might prescribe one of these meds?
Quix
Thank you so much for all this info on nerve pain!! I am in alot of pain right now and have been all week. I have been noticing when I take ibuprofen or my Cataflam to try to see if it will help me, I start to get chest tightness and a bit out of breath. I looked these meds up and found this is a side effect so I stopped taking them as needed.
Do you know of anything over the counter I can take to get me thru that may help w/ the pain?
Thanks!!
Kristin
I responded in detail to the original thread about Neurontin that prompted what Quix has written here.
But my particular question is
... whether the efficacy of a particular med can confirm the source of the pain. For instance, if Lyrica works, does that mean the pain is neuropathic, and so on.
Thanks, ess