TerrifyingStiffMad Severe Spasticity and Spasm due to Multi Drug Withdrawal ?

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi, I am a brand new member here. I know I messed up my tapering very gravely. I wish I had found this website and the thread "Taking Multiple Pschy Drugs" posted by Administrator Altostrata. But I had Not and now my life is in complete Ruins.

 

I know I was supposed to wait until my body could fully recover from Valium taper before I started tapering Gabapentin with a slow tapering schedule. However, I am currently being forced to get off Gabapentin ASAP per pain specialist's order since this med could potentially deplete my sodium. I found this out when I was forced by my PCP to go to ER as my sodium dropped to 126. I also now know I should have researched about Gabapentin before getting on it but it is too late for that now.

 

Now, in additional to severe cold burning skin and internal muscle vibrating along with many other symptoms, I am dealing with with acute symptoms that cause me to be bed ridden almost completely. These symptoms match exactly what have been described for Stiff-Person Syndrome. My muscles stiffen up acutely throughout my body. My entire body feels like I weight a ton of lead. My right side is much worse than my left side. Both my legs stiffen up stone and feel heavy like lead as well. I drag my right foot when I manage to walk a few feet. My stomach is bloated and tense and i can hardly eat. I have been forcing to drink Boost drinks for my diets. There are many more symptoms I have to endure but the acute spasticity of my entire body is the most severe. I lost the use of my right hand completely due to spasm. I am a paper pusher by profession but I cannot even pay one single bill to save my own life using my right hand. I can no longer sit at my computer due to severe muscle vibration of my upper body. My nerves on both of my legs and right hand feels like they are contrasting. I have to keep stretching my right hand throughout the day or it will claw up. Strangely, my left arm escape most of the symptoms described here so I have to rely on the left to do simple things eventhough I am right handed. I type this entire text using my left had one letter at a time on my Ipad while laying flat on bed. I am so afraid that I will become paralyzed with all of these symptoms.

 

I was prescribed Valium for spasm due to cervical spine surgery. I was prescribed Gabapentin for nerve pain. I read Gabapentin can also have muscle relaxant property. I also read tapering from Valium can cause the initial illness to resurface at a greater degree. However, the spasticity and spasm throughout my entire body, except for the left arm, is so terrifying and debilitating to the point of driving me into the depth of total and complete despair.

 

Has any Administrator or member come across or heard of any situation like what I am facing? Is this caused by the rapid tapering of Gabapentin or this is likely a new health problem that I am facing? Looking back, I now realize the spasticity has been developed slowly about 3 months into Gabapentin but it accelerated with lightning speed within the last 2 months or so. However, I has always thought the spasm had been the return of symptoms due to Valium withdrawal. I now realize how deadly it is to be dealing with multi drug tapering as I cannot tell why each symptom surfaces.

 

I also want to say that based on what I have been experiencing so far, I think Gabapentin is a much more difficult drug to deal with than Valium for some people. The website Drugs.com lists all of the dangerous side effects of a Gabapentin. This is a very very dangerous and evil drug, at least for me and few other members. The side effects are Satanic for those who cannot tolerate this med.

 

I am grateful if any Administrator or member can share some thoughts with me regarding the severe and life altering spasticity and spasm that I am facing. I have ignorantly walked into Hell and do not know how to get out. Sheer punishment on so many levels. Please Help. Thank you.

 

PS. I do not know why my drug history does not show up at the bottom of this text but everything is listed on my profile.

[Patoski]

My dear friend I am writing this post in servere pain caused by withdrawal from antidepressant.s I came of valium and ve raativan 28 years ago it was horrific it took about 4 years before I slowly started to feel better I have now been off antidepressants for 15 months today I hAve also recently had an eye operation and an operation on my water works the reason I am telling you this is so that you know someone else has walked into he'll with you many people have a very uncomfortable withdrawel from these drugs and think that it is the worst thing on earth because they can only feel their own pain and then there are people who actually do go through servere trauma and pain to survive this horror their are those too with grave immotional and mental dis orders caused by these drugs many of them do recover if they can just stay the course I am so glad I read your post and I'm sorry for your suffering but it's helped me to know that I am not alone in this servere state.you have given me some freedom from my fear thankyou

[stan]

hi

 

if you do not have "I was prescribed Valium for spasm due to cervical spine surgery", i do not know the impact of "spine surgery"

 

if you are in withdrawal caused by psychotropics, i would say it is not the classic stiffman, stiff-person,

psychotropics make muscles relax, homeostasie makes muscles tensed to have a balance with the poison, not to much tensed, not too much relax,

when you put away the psychotropic, your body is build in high tense, you put the relax away

rigidity, i had and have much less, it is classic withdrawal,

to have a normal muscles balance, you have to wait many time, sometime years, but it seem always improve, cure is another history,

i knew people testimonies bedridden one or more year, and then they walk again, but no more psychotropic

taking some relax med can help a little but worsen your case more and more, so the solution is to avoid meds

psychotropics do not give classic diseases, they give poisoned diseases, in random, everywhere,

example, you have not parkinson(which kills you at end), you have pseudo parkinson which improves, you have disorder everywhere which can mimic classic diseases, withdrawal from psychotropics(i speak antidepressants and benzos, not antipsychotics) is disorders, wrong amount hormones, wrong electricity, wrong refexes etc...

[Altostrata]

Welcome, TerrifyingStiffMad.

 

I am sorry you're going through this. When did the acute symptoms start?

 

Do you have any gabapentin left?

 

Where in California are you?

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi Altostrata,

I do not know how to post my response directly to you question on this page so I sent you a lengthy message via your profile link. I and sending this 2-sentence response as a test. I do not wish to reply to my own question but to you. I will see how this will post. I am Sorry about this.

 

I did the same with Patoski and Dan. Thank you.

[Petunia]

Welcome TerrifyingStiffMad,

 

I'm sorry to hear about everything you are going through. You can respond to comments and questions right here in your thread, just like you did above. You can mention the person's name you are replying to, or use the quote button at the bottom right hand side of the post you want to respond to. It will show up in the reply window at the bottom of this page, then you can add to it.

 

Your signature is now showing up fine, thank you for adding that.

 

Petunia.

[Nomoreheadmeds]

What a terrible time your having TerrifyingStiffMad.It must be aweful.You said your sodium level dropped.Do you know what caused this.

I hope things improve for you

[oskcajga]

Hi, I am a brand new member here. I know I messed up my tapering very gravely. I wish I had found this website and the thread "Taking Multiple Pschy Drugs" posted by Administrator Altostrata. But I had Not and now my life is in complete Ruins.

 

I know I was supposed to wait until my body could fully recover from Valium taper before I started tapering Gabapentin with a slow tapering schedule. However, I am currently being forced to get off Gabapentin ASAP per pain specialist's order since this med could potentially deplete my sodium. I found this out when I was forced by my PCP to go to ER as my sodium dropped to 126. I also now know I should have researched about Gabapentin before getting on it but it is too late for that now.

 

Now, in additional to severe cold burning skin and internal muscle vibrating along with many other symptoms, I am dealing with with acute symptoms that cause me to be bed ridden almost completely. These symptoms match exactly what have been described for Stiff-Person Syndrome. My muscles stiffen up acutely throughout my body. My entire body feels like I weight a ton of lead. My right side is much worse than my left side. Both my legs stiffen up stone and feel heavy like lead as well. I drag my right foot when I manage to walk a few feet. My stomach is bloated and tense and i can hardly eat. I have been forcing to drink Boost drinks for my diets. There are many more symptoms I have to endure but the acute spasticity of my entire body is the most severe. I lost the use of my right hand completely due to spasm. I am a paper pusher by profession but I cannot even pay one single bill to save my own life using my right hand. I can no longer sit at my computer due to severe muscle vibration of my upper body. My nerves on both of my legs and right hand feels like they are contrasting. I have to keep stretching my right hand throughout the day or it will claw up. Strangely, my left arm escape most of the symptoms described here so I have to rely on the left to do simple things eventhough I am right handed. I type this entire text using my left had one letter at a time on my Ipad while laying flat on bed. I am so afraid that I will become paralyzed with all of these symptoms.

 

I was prescribed Valium for spasm due to cervical spine surgery. I was prescribed Gabapentin for nerve pain. I read Gabapentin can also have muscle relaxant property. I also read tapering from Valium can cause the initial illness to resurface at a greater degree. However, the spasticity and spasm throughout my entire body, except for the left arm, is so terrifying and debilitating to the point of driving me into the depth of total and complete despair.

 

Has any Administrator or member come across or heard of any situation like what I am facing? Is this caused by the rapid tapering of Gabapentin or this is likely a new health problem that I am facing? Looking back, I now realize the spasticity has been developed slowly about 3 months into Gabapentin but it accelerated with lightning speed within the last 2 months or so. However, I has always thought the spasm had been the return of symptoms due to Valium withdrawal. I now realize how deadly it is to be dealing with multi drug tapering as I cannot tell why each symptom surfaces.

 

I also want to say that based on what I have been experiencing so far, I think Gabapentin is a much more difficult drug to deal with than Valium for some people. The website Drugs.com lists all of the dangerous side effects of a Gabapentin. This is a very very dangerous and evil drug, at least for me and few other members. The side effects are Satanic for those who cannot tolerate this med.

 

I am grateful if any Administrator or member can share some thoughts with me regarding the severe and life altering spasticity and spasm that I am facing. I have ignorantly walked into Hell and do not know how to get out. Sheer punishment on so many levels. Please Help. Thank you.

 

PS. I do not know why my drug history does not show up at the bottom of this text but everything is listed on my profile.

 

That's a very rapid taper from the benzodiazapine (valium) - have you tried taking a dose of valium to see if it remedies some of these symptoms?

 

I would recommend continuing a taper off gabapentin, especially if it's causing systemic issues such as lowered sodium, etc.  A "rapid taper" seems to be less dangerous than some of the physiological problems that can result from these disruptions.  If you reduce your dosage by 50mg or so once every 2 weeks, or once per month, it should be quick enough to avoid some of the downstream physiological side effects, and also slow enough to prevent the worst of the possible withdrawal reactions.  I wouldn't reduce it by 100mg anymore - that might be too quick of a drop and make you worse.  I would do no quicker than 50mg every 2 weeks, if I were you.  This is my suggestion, based on what you described and based on the recommendation by your doctor.

 

Is there any reason why you couldn't try a dose of valium to see if it helps relieve the symptoms, even a little?

 

The symptoms you are describing need to be addressed by a neurologist - have you been to see one?  A neurologist will have absolutely no idea about the drugs - but they CAN rule out any issues.  I would highly recommend NOT taking any drugs the neurologist gives you - they tend to be just as drug happy as psyciatrists, and are not particularly helpful doctors - but they can at least give you their opinion.  If you see a neurologist, please report back to us on this website before you decide to follow any of their "advice".  A neurologist can rule out any of the more serious possibilities, such as MS, ALS, etc. 

 

I doubt you have any of these conditions, it's most likely just a very very upset central, autonomic, and peripheral nervous system.  there are members on this website who describe similar symptoms that slowly recover over time as the neurons repair themselves and the neurotransmitter balance is restored after the medication has been out of the system, or is at least in the process of being tapered.

 

In the mean time - if you haven't already done so - you're going to need to find a reliable source of income, and some sort of support structure with your family or friends.  If I were you, I'd assume this is going to take a long time to heal - so start planning ahead - save money, tell people, and get your future organized.  Plan for this lasting a long time and this will enable to you to endure this period of your life without having to worry about things like money, friends, etc.  The MOST important thing is money - you need to get as much of it as you possibly can by any reliable means you know how to get - the more money you have in the bank the easier this process is going to be to get through.  I cannot emphasize enough how important having money in the bank is in order to get through this process.  Many people on this website have access to enough money to survive - without money you will lose everything, and possibly become homeless.  I'm not trying to scare you, but I'm demonstrating how important money is during withdrawal.  Also - Make sure your bills are paid on time, etc, etc - if you need to hire someone to help you and you have the resources to do so - hire them.  A local accountant could probably handle this for you for a certain amount of money.  Your affairs need to be taken care of and your job is to figure out a way to make this happen.

[Altostrata]

osk, please do not give out detailed advice like that without finding out more about the person's situation.

 

Terrifying is having a hard time figuring out how to post. We need more information.

[oskcajga]

Alright - sorry - don't listen to my advice unless it's relevant to your current situation, Terrifying. 

 

I look forward to your additional information.

[cymbaltawithdrawal5600]

T,

 

I am posting a video for you to view that explains a few things about the site, it is geared primarily toward those who only have access to a phone to view the site. Even if this is not the case for you, it explains posting and replying in detail.

 

 

When someone posts on your topic, you answer them here in your topic. You can address your reply to them by name or you can quote their message or a part of it and just reply to that. For right now, just get used to reading and posting here in your topic. As you become more familiar with the site and start reading the intro topics of other users, you'll get the hang of it.

 

You won't see your signature appear until you have posted your message. Yours is fine. It is not necessary to quote a message in order to reply, people reading your thread can figure out who and what you are replying to even if you do not quote. Often people quote an entire message (like osk above) and add their reply at the bottom, that just makes people have to skip down or else read the same thing twice.

 

Your thread is a record of your journey here and you can use it as a journal. You can ask questions, receive replies and entertain visitors all from here. Anything pertaining to your particular situation goes here, the other forums are for questions of a more general nature affecting most everyone. PMs are not generally used except for communications of a more private nature. Everyone benefits from the exchanges among members in each individual Introduction topic.

 

Watch the video and if you have any questions ask them here. I am monitoring your thread so I will see them and answer as best as I can. I am also sending you a link to the video in a PM in case you do not see this message.

 

Welcome to the site!. Please give us as much information as you can. I believe Alto has asked where in CA you are located because there are several doctors in that state that deal with withdrawal and tapering. She can point them out in a list we keep here on the site.

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Greetings Altostrata.


My acute spasticity started around June 2015. But it started to get really intense and scary around 3 weeks ago. That was when I did the research and found out about the Stiff-person Syndrome. As I have stated, the spasticity began to surface around Jan 2015, a couple of months after starting Gaba, but I failed to recognize it at the time. As the spasticity slowly developed with each month and then with each passing day, I always told myself that this was as bad as it could get, it just could not possibly get any worse. However, it always surprised me that it could actually get worse and worse and worse each day. It is truly amazing how the brain can punish the body this severely.


Yes, I still have some Gabapentin left. My pain specialist has refused to prescribe Gaba anymore because he wanted me to get it off ASAP but I have left over inventory. I am currently on 100mg 2x / day. I am going thru a fast tapering schedule due to low sodium. I have been tapering 100 mg every 6 days, except for the time I came back from the ER when I jumped straight down to 500 mg / day from 800mg / day.


As everyone has experienced with these doctors, this pain specialist and my psychiatrist have both refused to acknowledge withdrawal symptoms that could last longer than a couple of weeks. My psychiatrist even stated that I do not have to taper Gabapentin. I asked my pain specialist 4 weeks ago if this spasticity could be from Valium withdrawal (I was off Valium for 2 weeks at the time), he said no. I went to ER on July 30 due to low sodium and asked that attending physician if my on going spasticity was due to PAWS of Valium..he never heard of that term so I had to spell it out for him.


I just do not know how to respond directly to you on the main site so I had to send you this message.

I am located in the Los Angeles region. Thank you Altostrata.

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi Everyone

 

First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for all of the caring and love I have received thus far. This is truly overwhelming.

I was having a hard time with getting used the website since I can only have access for my Ipad due to my dire condition. But now I know the very basic to communicate, thanks to Petunia and Cymbalta. I find most most loving souls during the last 24 hrs on this website.

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Dear Osk

 

I just spent a very long time writing and provided a more info about my tapering history for everyone to see and advise. After pressing POST, everything seemed to post perfectly. However, when I went back and check, I found out i had been logged off prior to posting. My lengthy writeup was gone and had failed to post. Today is a very very bad day as far as the withdrawal and pain and spasm. I cannot retype what I just lost. I am on my last straw. I will try again tomorrow if I can. So sad about this.

 

Thank you Osk and everyone.

[oskcajga]

LA is a tough place to go through this - need to drive everywhere, the sun is always bleating down on you relentlessly, the air quality is poor, it's very crowded, etc.  I living in Socal for the first 2 years of my experience with psych meds, and found it quite challenging - hopefully you are in a living situation where you don't need to drive or do too terribly much on your own.

 

I living in the OC/LA region for 6 years, so I know it very well.

 

I know it's frustrating to lose a post - try again when you feel up to it.

[Altostrata]

TSM, it seems that the spasticity showed up while you were tapering the benzo, is that correct?

 

It looks like it could be from benzo withdrawal syndrome.

 

Have you discussed taking a benzodiazepine with your neurologist?

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi Alto and all.

 

Since the last time my write up failed to post I have been on a downward slide even more.

 

Regardless of my conditions, I decided to post a little at a time of my experiences as I am still able. I hope my mistakes can serve as a life or death type of lesson for all of my fellowmen as to what NOT to do during the tapering process.

 

I started taking 5 mg Valium around Dec 2013, started to receive muscular jerking motion one day out of the blue sometimes in March 2014; quickly figured out it was the a Valium and started learning how to taper. Was able to taper slowly quite well all the way down to 2.70 mg of a Valium. One day I ate some Grapefruits, and experienced burning skin and pins & needled. Was so terrifying since so far everything had been quite stabilized. Tried to stabilize by adding 0.5 mg, did not stabilize after several days; slowly and stupidly I updosed all the way back to 5 mg over a 2 months period and this was now Oct 22, 2014. I held 5 mg for 1month but still was experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms such as inability to walk due to leg weakness. I decided to start tapering slowly no matter what.

 

This was WHEN I made the mistake that I probably will end up paying with my life. My doctor prescribed Gabapentin on Dec 13th, 2014. So I then started digging my own grave at this time by continuing to micro tapering Valium and slowly updosing Gabapentin from 300 mg to 900 mg. Looking back my legs started to feel heavy and stiff shortly after Gabapentin was introduced. The symptoms continued to get worse but I always thought it was the spasm resulted from Valium tapering. I also thought the a Gabapentin was helping with the withdrawals of Valium. I started to have great difficulties with my legs around the middle of June 2016. But Things got really really scary around 2 weeks after my last dose of a Valium, which was in the middle of July 201605. I thought it was the Acute phase of Valium withdrawal. I was having the most difficult time walking as the acute spasm and spasticity kicked into high gears.

 

The conditions got gravely worse a few days ago, the same day Alto wrote me on Sept 1, 2015. I went to a medical appt 2 days ago and my friend had to push me in a wheelchair.

 

What I can tell you now is the one very prominent difference of withdrawal symptom before and after the time Gabapentin was introduced into the mix that I personally experienced. Without Gabapentin, my legs were very weak. With Gaba, entire body were stiff and I walked like a very bad model of Frankenstein. Just imagine the difference between a sack of potatoes and a log. Without Gaba, I would crumble downward like a sack of potatoes if I fell. With Gaba, it is impossible for me to crumble downward; I would fall sideway like a log if I fell....due to pure stiffness. The stiffness is very severe also in the mid section; my belly bloated. My back muscles were so stiff that my male friend could not make a dent when he tried to give my a massage using his Elbow along his entire body weight.

 

(To be continued tomorrow),

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

(Continued)

 

First, I need to make a couple of corrections to the typos to my previous post. Paragraph 4, line 6 should say June 2015 (not 2016); line 7 should say July 2015 ( not July 201605).

 

The muscle stiffness compresses my chest muscles lead to very short and shallow breathing. This leads to the lack of oxygen to my body and my brain. My throat muscles squeeze my throat which cause me to feel like throwing up. I do not know if the chest muscles will break my ribs one of these days.

 

My condition today has remained so grave. I no longer has the physical strength nor the will power to endure this hellish condition. The severe body stiffness, my inability to breath deeply, my violent vibrating and shooting nerves, acid burning skins, and inability to eat are unbearable.

 

All of my mental health issues are secondary to my physical sufferings. I am going absolutely crazy. I Feel like a mouse being burned alive slowly but still suffer tremendous physically while waiting for death to come. This is not the way to live and not a way to die. This is Hell.

 

My question to Alto and to those kind members who have possibly heard of something similar to what I am suffering is: What I should do next to buy some time and some sanity so I can have another day to fight this battle. I am going to see the pain specialist tomorrow. I think I am going to beg him to get me back on Valium to fight off this Deadly body spasticity while I can continue to taper Gabapentin.

Is this a wise decision given my grave condition?

 

I just became the patient of this pain specialist and he is very kind and concerned about my condition. I hope he will save my life from this Hellush nightmare.

 

I know today is Labor Day and every one is taking the necessary R&R. However, my illness does not take its time off and continue to punish me by the hour. I am grateful for your compassion if you can give me some advices. I am at the end of my rope today. In so much pain and distress from every part of my body.

 

Deeply gratefully yours.

[Altostrata]

TSM, this is all I can think of:

TSM, it seems that the spasticity showed up while you were tapering the benzo, is that correct?

 

It looks like it could be from benzo withdrawal syndrome.

 

Have you discussed taking a benzodiazepine with your neurologist?

 

Where are you located?

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi Alto

 

Yes, the spasm showed up while I was tapering but After Gabapentin was introduced. I really think the severe spasticity and all of the other neurological problems were caused by Gabapentin. I am in Los Angeles / Orange County.

[Altostrata]

Please consider that the introduction of gabapentin may have been coincidental and your symptoms may be due to benzo withdrawal.

 

Going back on a benzo may be helpful. You also need to consult with the best neurologists in your area.

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi Alto

 

It took me almost 8 months to withdraw from 5 mg of Valium. Do you think this was fast?

 

Have you ever heard of anyone who experienced the level of spasticity that I have been experiencing from Valium withdrawal? I ended up in a wheelchair few days ago going to my medical appt. I just could not walk.

 

Thank you Alto.

[Altostrata]

We have a few people with severe symptoms from benzo withdrawal. This is not unknown.

 

I don't know if your withdrawal from Valium was too fast. If you got withdrawal symptoms while you were doing it, it was too fast.

 

The gabapentin may have confused things more.

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi Alto,

 

Yes, it was a deadly mistake that I introduced Gabapentin into my system. I feel like I am a victim of chemical warfare. The only difference is I have no one to blame but myself.

 

For those who experienced severe symptoms from Benzo Withdrawal that you know, did they manage to stay alive Alto? Did they ever recover to the point that they can function a little bit without going insane or worse?

 

I am so terrified of what has been happening to me that during the last few days I thought I went mad.

 

Thanks Alto.

[Altostrata]

Don't blame yourself.

 

Have you tried acupuncture or osteopathic manipulation therapy?

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Oh No, I have not now that you mention it. I just saw my PCP a few days ago and I meant to ask for acupuncture but i completely forgotten due to high distress. I will go back and request for it.

 

Do you know of any member who had suffered from severe spasticity but was able to get better with acupuncture? Thanks.

[Altostrata]

Acupuncture and osteopathic manipulation therapy can be very helpful for muscle spasm. Osteopaths (DOs) have the same authority as MDs. Many of them go into neurology, physical rehabilitation medicine, etc.

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Thank you Alto.

 

Also thank you to all of the members who spent time to read about my problems. I hope my hellish nightmare can help others NOT to make the same mistakes that I did. I most likely will end up loosing everything I have worked for all of my life and much more. The prolonged sufferings from all angles are just unimaginable.

[Pugknows]

Hi TSM,

 

I'm in Orange County. Welcome to the forum, neighbor.

 

I was put on 900 mg Gabapentin and opiates in January 2012 for spinal stenosis and lower lumbar pain.

 

While I was on Gabapentin, I didn't experience any of your muscle symptoms. I became nauseous 24/7 when the Gabapentin turned on me in February 2014.

 

When I jumped off the Gabapentin, in November 2014, I didn't experience any of your muscle symptoms. My post withdrawal symptoms from Gabapentin have been the "classic" Gabapentin WD cr*p--insomnia, anxiety, heart palps, akathisia, 3am cortisol surging and pulsatile tinnitus.

 

We're all different and my Gabapentin withdrawal will, most likely, be unique to me and whatever weaknesses I have in my own body. Since Valium has a long half life, and you came off it rather quickly, it could be the V withdrawal that's causing your muscle stiffness and spasms, not the Gabapentin dose reduction.

 

In 2013 and 2014, I was on Gabapentin and I had two surgeries. My pre-op bloodwork while I was on the Gabapentin was always normal for sodium. Now that I've been off the Gabapentin for 10 months, I just got recent bloodwork done and I tested high-normal for sodium. I have no idea what the sodium levels in bloodwork are indicative of, and since mine were normal, I never asked the doctor.

 

If tapering slowly off Gabapentin is not an option for you, due to your dangerously low sodium, you'll have to ride out the withdrawal or get another pain doctor. (There sure are lots of them where we live!)

 

PM me anytime, TSM. Gabapentin is not the safe, self-tapering drug the doctors say it is. We know better, and so do a LOT of other patients who are still on the drug because they are too afraid of the WD symptoms.

 

You'll be okay. I'm getting better slowly.

 

Love, Pug

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi Pugknows

 

Thank you kindly for your very loving post. The last 2 days have been a nightmare. I went to the pain specialist 2 days ago and he thinks there is a probability I am suffering from cervical spinal compression. I will have a MRI done very soon. However, even if I do suffer from spinal compression, I cannot tell whether the nerve vibration, the pins and needles, the toes being painfully shot in different directions by highly excited nerve endings, the painful foot cramps, and the most painful cold and burning skin on my legs and feet that felt like I was poured with acid are from the spinal compression or the withdrawals. The severe body spasticity is probably resulted from both spinal compression and withdrawal. What a mess I am in. It is amazing how the body can punish the soul so badly.

[Pugknows]

Your symptoms sound more like Valium withdrawal, than Gabapentin, unless you are having an allergic reaction to Gabapentin. If the Gabapentin is not helping control your pain, then you should taper off it. Apparently, it's not even masking or alleviating your V withdrawal.

 

Have you tried contacting a different pain management doctor? I'm done with pain management doctors because all they offer is a buffet of drugs. Duh? They're pain management doctors. What should we expect?

 

The burning skin symptom is not from spinal compression or Gabapentin IMO. It's the V withdrawal, from what I've read. The muscle contractions, spasms, nerve pain, numbness and tingling could be related to your spine compression. I'm glad you're getting an MRI soon. That will give you some answers.

 

Love, Pug

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi Pugknows

 

You are so right. The Gaba does not even help me with the withdrawal symptoms from Valium. You are also right about the burning skin being from a Valium. Last year when my Valium tapering became corrupted after eating grapefruits, the first symptom I got was burning skin. At that time, I was not even taking Gaba so the burning skin could not possibly come from Gaba, for me at least. However, I did come across a few forums on Gaba withdrawal and some people indicated burning skins being one of the problems. However, for me I think it yis from Valium. I also read, just like you, burning skin is a very common withdrawal symptom of V. There are different degrees of burning skin. I was, sometimes, fortunate to experience a lesser degree of it. Lately, I seem to get the most severe form and it is pure punishment. It sends chill up my spine. In addition to the pain, the skin feels so cold. It was 100 degrees where I live this afternoon but my legs ffeel like they are being submerged into ice water. The more the skin burns, the more it feels cold. It is happening now as I am describing about this symptom. This symptom can elevate to the most severe form within 1 minute. I can feel the speed in which it comes, lightning fast and terrifying crippling. I have never experienced anything like what I am experiencing at this very moment in my life. I feel my legs are either being skinned or cremated as I witness the torture.

 

Do you know or have you heard whether the burning skin will subside overtime? I am going crazy because it is so painful. Burning skin combined with pins and needles along with nerve pain is such a winning combination. And it seems like all of my blood vessels and nerve endings on my feet decide to surface. All I see when looking at my feet are green blood vessels. The feet are all red due to all of the blood being there. Red feet and tons of green blood vessels...ah...so painful.

 

I micro-tapered 5 mg of Valium over a period of 8 months but it was not slow enough. My last dose was on a July 14th, 2015. I think the failed tapering earlier during the year was to blame. Altostrata was right, once the withdrawal symptoms appear all bets are off. Such wisdom. Only If I had found this forum and that topic 1 year earlier.

 

When will this subside? Please give me some breathing room from this torturous nightmare to survive.

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Dear Pug

I forgot to mention that I am tapering off Gaba. May be too fast because I was loosing Sodium, and Gaba was the main suspect because I was not taking much of anything else. One problem piles on top of another. Why did I not win one lotto on top of another and of another?

[Pugknows]

TSM,

 

Have you tried lavender Epsom salt baths for the burning and muscle pain? Magnesium is great for both symptoms. I was taking about 600-800mg Doctor's Best Chelated mag a day for about 7 months, but haven't taken it much lately. Also, I hear arnica cream eases these symptoms, as well.

 

An 8 month taper is not like CT. Once off the V you were probably going to go through withdrawal anyway. What's done is done. The severity of your symptoms will decrease in time, but right now I know you're in the worst of it.

 

There are "ice socks" you can buy on Amazon. I know your skin is burning, but cold at the same time, so I don't know if they would help.

 

I have the huge green veiny hands too. Really weird, huh? I thought it was because of all the weight I lost. I learned something new from you today. This is all quite a roller coaster ride inside a fun house.

 

Sending you hugs, Pug

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi Pug

I have been taking Magnesium Glycinate 500mg / day average for about 1 year now. I also have taken Epsom salt baths. I do not feel any noticeable relief from taking Magnesium. However, things probably would have been worse if I had not taken Magnesium. It is just unfortunate we found ourselves in this situation.

Thanks Pug.

[TerrifyingStiffMad]

Hi Experts

 

I have one quick question. I have been off Valium since July 14, 2015 after 1.5 years on it. The maximum dose was 5mg when I was taking V and it took me 8 months of micro tapering.

 

Today I will have a CT Myleogram done and the physician will plan to give me some Ativan for the procedure. I read somewhere that Ativan is 20 times stronger than V. For this reason i do not wish to take Ativan. However, is it safe for me to take a small dose of V, may be 2mg, for the procedure? Will this corrupt the healing process?

 

What about 0.25 mg of xanax since Xanax has a shorter half life than V but with give me more anxiety relief during the procedure?

 

I am very anxious about this invasive procedure so it would be nice to have some helps. However, I am also anxious about corrupting the healing process on V. I am currently on 100 mg of Gabapentin 2x / day and am in the process of tapering that as well.

 

I will be grateful to receive advice for this last minute inquiry.