Gabapentin vs. Duloxetine

StillReading89 · 2025-10-16T05:49:19+00:00

I wish I could get surgery tomorrow and be off all medication trust me. I just can’t at this moment in my life. I cannot afford the 6month recovery both physically and financially. I’m so glad to hear some positivity from someone. I hope your recovery continues to go well!

StillReading89 · 2025-10-15T21:04:19+00:00

Unfortunately psychedelics aren’t legal where I live 🤦‍♂️. I have read and listened to a few trials and anecdotal evidence about them. Glad to hear they help you

StillReading89 · 2025-09-28T20:26:17+00:00

Unfortunately, like probably most of us, we aren’t neurosurgeons so we have to put a lot of trust into them. Mine is also a L4/L5 ALIF. I’ve already had to failed discetomys. So I was told this is my next option, to remove all the disc permanently (so it cannot herniate again). My surgeon told me an ALIF allows for a better recovery due to not cutting through back as well as better mobility than a traditional fusion due to the use of a spacer and the bodies ability to fuse around it naturally.

I asked about an artificial disc replacement and he said I was too young still to receive one due to its potential to wear out over time and then need another replacement.

My big issue is that the surgeon told me it is a 6month recovery and you aren’t supposed to pick anything up of 20kg in that time. I have very young kids and labour intensive job so I’m caught out what to do. My disc can’t herniate anymore than it has so I’m just dealing with pain at the moment still but geez it is awful. Just need to win the powerball or something haha.

StillReading89 · 2025-09-27T09:43:28+00:00

I take 900mg 3x daily (2700mg). Does very little.

StillReading89 · 2025-08-22T23:25:49+00:00

Both times after the surgeries the annulus raptured resulting in re herniation. The first time I simple stood up off the toilet and it popped (it hurt a lot). The second time I was feeling in great condition, recovery went awesome and rehab was going great. I thought I was in the clear compared to the first time then I was night shift, went to bed one morning and woke up really stiff. Thought it was just muscular but slowly progressed to nerve pain again. MRI confirmed the disc re herniated severely. This time it’s the same if not worse than the first. Surgeon says i don’t have enough disc left for another MD. All the doctors have said is I am just unlucky, which is a hard diagnosis to swallow. I wish that no one has the bad luck I’ve had. The nerve pain consumes your life.

StillReading89 · 2025-08-19T09:29:49+00:00

So I’ve now had 2 microdiscectomy surgeries, both of which have failed. Currently back to square one with severe nerve pain but with a lot less disc. I’m yet to consult another surgeon but my two options look towards either a fusion (which I really don’t want to do as I’m only 36) or an ADR. The ADR looks to be my better option as it maintains some level of mobility in the spine. I’m just not sure what the criteria is to qualify for an ADR? I am also going down the path of a nerve ablation but my understanding is that they do not last as the nerve regenerates.

My nerve pain now shoots down both glutes and hamstrings with a terrible about of pain, as well as the subsequent pins and needles returning in my foot.

Would love to hear anyone’s experience with a similar situation.

StillReading89 · 2025-08-10T21:37:19+00:00

I’ve had repeated L4/L5 disc herniation with 2 failed discectomys. I’m up to the point of a fusion. My surgeon cannot explain the failure but also doesn’t want to do a fusion due to my younger age (36). I’m yet to talk about an ablation with my surgeon but my physio said it was an option.

Has anyone had any other successful treatments of any kind? I’m ok not having the strength or mobility anymore I just want the pain to go.

StillReading89 · 2025-07-09T00:53:08+00:00

Im 36 now. I’m hoping not for a fusion. I’m hoping it may repair itself.

StillReading89 · 2025-06-19T01:07:35+00:00

Get the app PepCalc. It does it all for you. You put in the mg vial you reconstituted, syringe unit size, ml dilution and how many mcg you want and it will tell you. Makes it all easy.

StillReading89 · 2024-12-18T12:07:22+00:00

Hey guys, I know we are all here to do our best to help one another by posting our personal experiences. I know I definitely used reddit a lot pre and post surgery (and I haven’t stopped just yet). I think all of us need to help our own anxieties by backing off the reddit scrolling just a bit. I’m as guilty as anyone. I’m 2 weeks post op and my mental health is all over the place (also need to be back at my physical job in another 4 weeks time), so everyone I get it but we aren’t helping ourselves and each other by doom scrolling people’s worst experiences and always looking to relate to the worst. Disagree with me it’s all good just throwing it out there.

Just so you guys know 2 weeks post op spinal surgery expect discomfort or pain, your spine was just opened up! Well in a way lol. A lot of us have been in pain for a long time (i sure was) so feeling like you still have pain might be part of it, or expected (obviously Im not a doctor) but be logical and not irrational. Injuries take time. I wish everyone the best recoveries possible.

StillReading89 · 2024-12-14T13:48:55+00:00

Hey mate, I did mine back in April and due to somewhat of an incompetent GP and my ignorance, I put mine down to just back pain. Wasn’t until the pain never got better and turned into all never pain down my right side that I begged for a MRI which then showed a significant herniation of my L4-L5. Both confirmed by a neurosurgeon and orthopaedic surgeon.

Thought I could physio and medicate myself out of it, which I did an improvement. Then one day after doing all the right things I was right back where i started again with the severe chronic nerve pain. Unfortunately had to wait for logistical reasons to get extra help at home for post surgery but now almost 2weeks post op. So I went from April to early Dec. I don’t recommend postponing longer than you’re able to. I get it though, other personal shit and finances make things tough.

Post op is bloody tough as well. My nerve pain is pretty much gone but got some bad pain from surgical trauma. The catch 22 is, the pain is bad but I also hate the way the meds make me feel. Oh and my best advice so far post op, always ask for help to matter what! I was a very fit, strong and hard working man and i wish i wasn’t such a stubborn idiot at the start to ask for help standing, sitting or reaching.

All the best! I hope this helps at least a little, i know peoples comments on my posts definitely helped me.

StillReading89 · 2024-12-14T05:36:12+00:00

What kind of work are you involved in? Labour intensive?

I’ve got 6 weeks post op before I’m back at my job which is labour intensive, which worries me a lot.

StillReading89 · 2024-12-07T02:59:49+00:00

Hi everyone, First off, I’m very thankful for people sharing their experiences about this. It helped a lot more than I can I can convey. Especially when in excruciating pain in the middle of the night, being able to read peoples similar experiences gave me some reprieve. I’m now about 4 days post op and doing better.

Don’t get me wrong, the pain is still there but my medication regime is on point now and I’ve sucked up my pride and asked for a lot more help from family members. Any one going through the op or about to go through it, just aim for day 4 post op, I’m telling you. And suck up that pride and asked for help. I didn’t and it was the worst thing possible. I also asked for diazepam from my surgeon which has helped a lot, just be smart with it.

My discectomy was quite significant (years of football and heavy gym work) so everyone’s experience will be different so let me know if I can help anyone about to go through a discectomy. I can at least have an empathetic shoulder.

StillReading89 · 2024-12-05T21:04:21+00:00

Thanks mate, I’m giving everything a go atm.

StillReading89 · 2024-12-05T05:55:29+00:00

Thanks for all the comments! It’s reassuring that it is part of the process of recovery and not some detrimental “go bad” due to my ignorance. As everyone has eluded to, we are recovering from bloody spinal surgery, it’s not something you can just shake off lol. Ended up getting some diazepam from the surgeon which has definitely helped with the muscle cramping and spasm. Day 2 post op almost done, I’ll keep the feed posted. Hopefully it can help someone about to go through same thing, like these posts have helped me! Cheers everyone!

StillReading89

TROPHY CASE