Thalamic Pain Syndrome Suggestions

[080707]

0n 08/07/07 I had a thalamic stroke on the left side of my brain causing right side weakness, but not vision, talking or walking problems.  I was back at work (desk job in FedGov) two weeks later, but the 24/7 pins/needles/weakness remained and I developed severe thalamic pain syndrome affecting my right fingers/hand/arm, right side of my face is VERY sensitive to even slight breeze, the right side of my scalp hurts when I take a shower under a very night water spray, and my right knee and foot cause pain, esp. the bottom of my foot feels like the skin/muscles are bowing out/away from my body.  I'm managing with neurontin, cymbalta, lisiniprol, lipitor, folic acid, aspirin, acupuncture, PT, but I would like to know if others have had better results with other meds, such as Lyrica or Trileptal.  

[TJordan981]

I haven't experienced any side effects from the Lyrica yet.  I will keep you posted should that change.  Thanks for the encouragement!  Same to you.  It somehow makes it easier to deal with this knowing that there are many more dealing with it.

[080707]

THANKS!  My rheumatologist has been suggesting I switch to Lyrica for over a year now, but my neurologist has persisted with gabapentin b/c he said most of his patients (20+ years old than me) have had best results with it.  Next visit I will request a switch AGAIN.
Any side affects?  The Lyrica TV commercials seem to have a lot of warnings. Appreciate your response.  Hope you continue to feel better and have increased recovery.  
080707

[TJordan981]

I had hypothalamic lacunar stroke on 01/09/09 with subsequent thalamic pain syndrome on my right side arm/hand & leg/foot/toes.  Constant tingling/burning/tightness/numbness & cold my entire right side of body.  After stroke, my doctor immediately put me on 75 mg Plavix same day.  After putting up with syndrome for 4 weeks, I went to my neurologist Thursday, 02/05/09 & told him the pain was really getting to me.  He prescribed Lyrica 75 mg twice a day.  He told me it would relive the tingling/burning, but not the tightness/numbness.  He was right on!  I've been on it for 3 days now and the tingling/burning sensations are just about unnoticeable now.
Hope this helps someone.

[bhups1]

Hi, clinical experience would suggest that the combination of low dose amitriptyline (10 - 50 mg at night) plus gabapentin (300 - 1800 mg per day) or pregabalin(lyrica) (50 - 600 mg per day) produces the best pain relief with the lowest incidence of side effects. Taken from http://www.****.org