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What Causes Numbness And Neuropathic Pain On Left Side Of Body?
Posted on
Sun, 8 Mar 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 8 Mar 2015
Answered on
Mon, 30 Mar 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : ok I have spondylolisthesis grade 3 in lumbar sacral area with piriformis syndrome to the point where from piriformis. I do the stretches that most the time help usually effective with in 24hrs. This time I have had it 48hour counting. The neuropathy, numbness down to my foot all left side shoulder back effected.I see a pain Doctor. I am very careful with Narcotics. ordered 15mg Oxycodone every 6 hrs. I how ever take only 7.5mg in am. 15mg at night with a cyclobenzaprine 10mg at night. I take 1-500mg to 1000mg apap only up to twice a day. I use arnica Lidoderm patches to bridge or stretch out. I am an RN. This leg is swollen today. My question would be Does alcohol set off a cascade of inflammation causing this . When I say alcohol I mean 1-2 beers once a week XXXXXXX Most weeks none. What else would help? I plan on taking a warm whirlpool bath adding Epson salt baking soda and lavender. I could add another morning flexeril. I also feel until I get this exacerbation under control. to take the oxy in am 15mg until it is better. I also put the thigh high compression stockings back on. Any other suggestions would you have to help? Thank You XXXXXXX XXXXXX. I am an inactive RN on disability due the back condition. I walk 1 mile aday when I can obvious not today.
Brief Answer:
Anti inflammatory drugs, gabapentin or pregabalin.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the pain you are in.
I don't think alcohol has anything to do with the exacerbation of your symptoms, certainly not the quantity that you describe, no worry.
Heat at times does help in pain relief so you can try it although the effect is only moderate.
As for medication have you tried an over the counter anti inflammatory like Ibuprofen, Naproxen etc. Or do you have any contraindications for those (ulcer, kidney condition)
Another drug which you could try, is treatment for neuropathic pain like Gabapentin or Pregabalin since the pain is caused by irritation of sciatic nerve.
You can take Oxycodone at higher dose as prescribe, but as you already know be careful with those.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Anti inflammatory drugs, gabapentin or pregabalin.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the pain you are in.
I don't think alcohol has anything to do with the exacerbation of your symptoms, certainly not the quantity that you describe, no worry.
Heat at times does help in pain relief so you can try it although the effect is only moderate.
As for medication have you tried an over the counter anti inflammatory like Ibuprofen, Naproxen etc. Or do you have any contraindications for those (ulcer, kidney condition)
Another drug which you could try, is treatment for neuropathic pain like Gabapentin or Pregabalin since the pain is caused by irritation of sciatic nerve.
You can take Oxycodone at higher dose as prescribe, but as you already know be careful with those.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am anti-inflammatory Arthrotec bid Lyrica I took for several years I also have osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia dx by a rhuematolgist. The Lyrica however effected my cognition really bad. It made me stupid. Besides Lyrical what else might work. I also 2 yrs ago had the medial meniscus removed due to a tear.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for giving some more info.
Arthrotec contains a potent antiinflammatory like Diclofenac, so you are covered on that regard.
As I said there's Gabapentin, but there's a good chance it might cause similar effect to Lyrica, both being two antiepileptic drugs with similar mechanisms of action.
The other category of treatment for neuropathic pain would be an antidepressive drug like Duloxetine or Venlafaxine, but apart from being prescription drugs their effect might take some days to kick in. They are used also in the treatment of fibromyalgia so could be beneficial for that as well.
If pain is persistent, also local injections with corticosteroids and anesthetics could be tried.
I understand that since you take Arthrotec, the rest of the solutions are more of long term ones, for the current episode I am afraid raising oxycodone is your only option. Flexeril can be useful in the first weeks of treatment but not much effect has been proven beyond that (actually its use is not recommended for long term), so I doubt raising its dose will be of help since you were already on it.
I hope you will get better soon.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for giving some more info.
Arthrotec contains a potent antiinflammatory like Diclofenac, so you are covered on that regard.
As I said there's Gabapentin, but there's a good chance it might cause similar effect to Lyrica, both being two antiepileptic drugs with similar mechanisms of action.
The other category of treatment for neuropathic pain would be an antidepressive drug like Duloxetine or Venlafaxine, but apart from being prescription drugs their effect might take some days to kick in. They are used also in the treatment of fibromyalgia so could be beneficial for that as well.
If pain is persistent, also local injections with corticosteroids and anesthetics could be tried.
I understand that since you take Arthrotec, the rest of the solutions are more of long term ones, for the current episode I am afraid raising oxycodone is your only option. Flexeril can be useful in the first weeks of treatment but not much effect has been proven beyond that (actually its use is not recommended for long term), so I doubt raising its dose will be of help since you were already on it.
I hope you will get better soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am on Effexor and lamtrigene for major depression andGAD as well Xanax o.5mg. I know I sound like mess. It is Unipolar depression. I thank you for you time. I think I got it. What to do and others that would not be that helpful. Also on C-Pap with oxygen at night due to severe sleep Apnea It is such a fine balance I have to do not to cause the worse Apnea. Again Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Hope you will get better soon.
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry, must be frustrating that you've already tried all my medication suggestions, you are right it is a fine balance in a combination of many conditions like yours.
There is still the local corticosteroid shots as I said, but hopefully the pain will subside before that is necessary. Good luck.
Hope you will get better soon.
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry, must be frustrating that you've already tried all my medication suggestions, you are right it is a fine balance in a combination of many conditions like yours.
There is still the local corticosteroid shots as I said, but hopefully the pain will subside before that is necessary. Good luck.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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