Duloxetine for Neuropathic and Chronic #pain Week 4

As you will see from my post on 11th March I was about to embark on trying Duloxetine for my chronic pain.

However, in order to try Duloxetine I have had to reduce my Tramadol right down to 100mg a day and my Amitriptyline to the lowest I could manage on. I started on 30mg of the Duloxetine tablet a day increasing it to two a day of 30mg and then in after two weeks just one a day of 60mg.

Unfortunately I ended up in a real mess with my pain. My worst pain is the sciatica down my leg which I was really hoping the Duloxetine would help but it didn't touch it, and with my Tramadol down so low the pain was excruciating.

The only way I could relieve the pain slightly was lying flat with my heat pad and taking Paracetamol regularly, but my sleep was also disturbed. I cope with pain 24/7 but "I" control it, and without my usual medication I had no control over it. Sleep deprivation is bad enough anyway as I am sure many people can relate to this but pain and sleep deprivation just make it all worse.

I saw my GP today and we decided I should just go straight back onto what I was taking before and she will let the Pain Consultant know the outcome. I have another appointment next week for some Physiotherapy so I am hoping that I can get some help with the sciatica as my next injection isn't for another couple of months.

I'm a bit disappointed but I will always give anything they offer a try, as you just never know you could be trying something that worked great.