Peripheral neuropathy..anyone else?

It's good to finally find a place where I dont feel alone dealing with my chronic pain. Does anyone else here suffer from PN? What meds have worked the best for you? I'm currently on Fentanyl and Lamictal to calm the nerves... I FINALLY found the right combo of meds only to have my insurance taken away. Lamictal is okay to pay for because I use NeedyMeds, but Fentanyl is still expensive and I can't pay for it... any alternative suggestions?

hi chronica is it in your legs?.....pal pete

Thank you :) I already feel at home here with everyone who seems to be so familiar with these conditions and all the pain!


Yeah, pete, it's in my legs too, it's actually in all my extremities...

Same with me right now. I am sure mine is from my spine. When I see the surgeon Fed 12 I will be asking. See I have a herniated disc right now and numbness down the leg and tingle is not abnormal. I dont feel my toes and many fingers most times.My hands are so swollen and red. I was sure it was OR and Dr. Said it was PN!

Shell yes you can post the link for the script info so please post it whenever you get a chance.

Thanks, Susie

I suffer from Pn due to diabetes. Was on 90 mg of Cymbalta for quite some time before being forced to find something else due to changes in Medicaid coverage in my state. Went through several mediacations including gabapentin until finally trying Effexor which is the only one that I found that worked for me. I am on 37.5 mg a day. It is available as a generic. I can't tell you the actual cost because I already tossed the receipt that shows both the full price and my co-pay.

I do not suffer from the same ailment as you do but I am also on Fentanyl and yes it is expensive. I had health insurance which was great because I could get my patches for $3 each month. However, I lost my insurance due to my recent divorce and I was covered under my wife's coverage (ex-wife now).

Luckily I was being seen at my local university hospital and the kind doctors there told me to apply for the Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) there. Its not health insurance but it may as well be. I applied and was immediately accepted solely based on the fact that I had not worked in the previous month (I was taking care of my son).

It is just as good if not better than my previous health insurance, however I can only be seen at the hospital, can only use their pharmacy and they will only accept scripts from a doctor at the hospital. Instead of $3 a script its now $5. My co-pay is $7 a visit vs. $15 w/ my old insurance. I can have procedures/surguries for a max of $30 and an ER visit is only $20. This is all cash up front but you never get billed afterwards and if you hit your deductible (mine is $120/year) everything after that is free for the rest of the year.

I am sure they have this program in other states and it is a great help. I know I cannot afford to pay $400/month for my patches alone. I highly recommend looking into this if possible. I tried switching to methadone from fentanyl and it was terrible. I was switched back right away and remain on them.

Good luck. If you have any questions let me know.

Also I saw you live with your parents. If you are a certain age when you apply for this program it does not matter who you live with, as they don't count their income with yours. They only count your income and a spouse (if you have one).

FYI what I am on for indigent care is strictly through UCH (University of Colorado Hospital) so that may be why they do not count anyone else's income other than my own. From what the nice lady told me who took my app (and btw it took her about 3 mins to take my app, tell me I was accepted and to print out my card/prices) unless you are 21 or under, at least here, the hospitals do not count anyone other than you for income.

Also, just a side-note but I do think a loyal dog should be listed as a method to deal with CP. I have/had a cocker spaniel (who lives with my ex-wife now) and I was with him since he was a small puppy. He was with me through thick and thin when I first hurt my back, kept me company when I was alone or in pain, and was always there to look after my son when he was first born. The simple fact that a dog who will be loyal and love you and keep you company even after hard times (and especially when they wake you up at night) is enough to keep anyone going, even if you are in constant pain. My cousin has 4 yellow labs. I love them to death, even if they do maul me when I walk in the door. :)

Gonna mention Methadone to my doctor on the next appointment, although it does have a stigma of a abuseive drug, right? I guess Ill have to pony up for fentanyl right now.