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Suggest Treatment For Diabetic Nerve Pain And Abdominal Pain
Question: I am a 66 year old WM who suffers from diabetic nerve pain. I have been taking Gabapentin (Neurotin) for 10 years. My pain has worsened in the last year. I currently am prescribed 4 three hundred mg capsules, taken 3 times daily while awake. Each dose takes an hour to 'kick in'. I have resorted to smoking marijuana. It gives almost complete, but temporary relief for about six or seven hours with a few puffs intermitenly during that time. This allows me to skip the middle dose and get a good nights sleep with a few puffs in the evening.
I have been losing weight. My GP/Internist ordered an abdominal and pelvic CT scan after I revealed that I have abdominal pain. This had it's onset some months ago. The CT scan came back negative. I am an alcoholic, but it has been more than nine years since I've had a drink. I am in AA. I had a "Whipple" surgery 10 years ago to resolve a pancreatic blockage.
The abdominal pain is almost eliminated when I smoke marijuana.
I have been losing weight. My GP/Internist ordered an abdominal and pelvic CT scan after I revealed that I have abdominal pain. This had it's onset some months ago. The CT scan came back negative. I am an alcoholic, but it has been more than nine years since I've had a drink. I am in AA. I had a "Whipple" surgery 10 years ago to resolve a pancreatic blockage.
The abdominal pain is almost eliminated when I smoke marijuana.
Brief Answer:
Nerve pain
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to learn about your diabetic nerve pain.
It is clear you are on full doses of gabapentin. I suggest you see a neurologist for a thorough evaluation and further options.
When I see someone like you in my practice, I offer them medications such as duloxetine or amytryptilline. Then we also try topical capsaicin and lidocaine.
Often I need to refer them to a neurologist or pain clinic, for consideration of other options like electrical nerve stimulation.
Marijuana although medically legalised in some states, has not been approved for use in diabetic nerve pain.
Sometimes diabetic neuropathy can cause abdominal pain too but it is important to rue out other potential causes first before attributing it to this diabetic neuropathy.
Nerve pain
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to learn about your diabetic nerve pain.
It is clear you are on full doses of gabapentin. I suggest you see a neurologist for a thorough evaluation and further options.
When I see someone like you in my practice, I offer them medications such as duloxetine or amytryptilline. Then we also try topical capsaicin and lidocaine.
Often I need to refer them to a neurologist or pain clinic, for consideration of other options like electrical nerve stimulation.
Marijuana although medically legalised in some states, has not been approved for use in diabetic nerve pain.
Sometimes diabetic neuropathy can cause abdominal pain too but it is important to rue out other potential causes first before attributing it to this diabetic neuropathy.
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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