Systemic Pain meds- any luck?

[Katewest]

Dr. Jacobs at BFS suggested systemic pain meds i.e neurontin, gabapentin, lyrica etc b/c of the abnormal results from a confocal microscopy scan. Possible corneal neuropathy. She also suggested low dose steroids and serum. I went to my local corneal specialist yesterday with Dr. Jacobs letter in hand and my doc said absolutely no to the pain meds b/c of the side effects and no to the low dose steroids for the same reason. She reluctantly gave me a referral for a doc that does serum. So my question...has anyone had luck with these pain meds for corneal neuralgia?
Dr. Jacobs said she has seen patients that went on them have a complete personality change b/c they no longer are in pain. Dr. Latkany said I would be the "first person diagnosed" with corneal neuralgia basically meaning he doesn't believe in it?
So confused!!!! And annoyed with my current doc for not being more open to Dr. J's suggestions.

[Faith1989]

I was given Lyrica and it didn't do anything.. I think a low dose steriod would help...I am surprised they said no. If you have any allergy with something like Lotemax you would feel better. Serum has reduced my pain for sure but not to the point of comfort all day.

[bunnyrabbit123]

Kate-
Could you contact Dr. Jacob's office and ask her to write Rx's for you?

[Katewest]

I'm going to try but she is across the country from my house

[soaps]

They may b able to fax to pharmacy. My dr suggested pain med for corneal neuralgia but then said no due to side effects. of course it depends on how much pain u r in. i manage pain by being extra conservative which my Dr prefered. i also prefered to not do meds as the pain signal is often a signal for me to stop before i do more damage but then evryone is different.

Hydrocortisone eye ointment might also b an option if u put on ur eyelids it would serve as a very mild steroid. u can get preservative free.

[Katewest]

Soaps what do you mean extra conservative?

[soaps]

Staying in eyes closed and basically taking a break from everything. thank fully i have family who help me out with shopping housework etc otherwise i couldn't manage and would b begging for pain meds
But i truly think this has allowed for healing though i know its not an option for most.

But my tbut were at 1 at beginning so my case perhaps is extreme and i had to do above to manage pain.

[Cali]

Dr. Jacobs at BFS suggested systemic pain meds i.e neurontin, gabapentin, lyrica etc b/c of the abnormal results from a confocal microscopy scan. Possible corneal neuropathy. She also suggested low dose steroids and serum. I went to my local corneal specialist yesterday with Dr. Jacobs letter in hand and my doc said absolutely no to the pain meds b/c of the side effects and no to the low dose steroids for the same reason. She reluctantly gave me a referral for a doc that does serum. So my question...has anyone had luck with these pain meds for corneal neuralgia?
Dr. Jacobs said she has seen patients that went on them have a complete personality change b/c they no longer are in pain. Dr. Latkany said I would be the "first person diagnosed" with corneal neuralgia basically meaning he doesn't believe in it?
So confused!!!! And annoyed with my current doc for not being more open to Dr. J's suggestions.

Katewest - maybe refer Dr. Latkany to this article on cornea neuralgia:
http://eyeworld.org/article-treating-unexplainable-pain

And, the serum drops have been lifesavers for me personally. Finding an "open" doctor is imperative to getting better, someone willing to be open to new ideas and techniques.

[Katewest]

Great article! I'm going to print that and have it for my next dr appt. I don't see Dr. L, just did that once because I was on the East Coast. My local Optho is awful though. I live in a small southern Utah town and there are really no other options. I went to her with Dr. Jacobs (BFS) letter about the confocal scan, corneal neuralgia. She read it and said no way to pain meds or low dose steroids. I walked out of her office with samples of artificial tears that I was to use for 6 weeks and report back. Needless to say I sobbed all the way home.
I did get a referral for the serum drops, reluctantly! I was adamant though. She suggested after 6 weeks I try them but I put my foot down there. I'm not sure if she was offended that I went to Dr. Jacobs or just didnt know anything about corneal neuralgia? Either way she was awful and I am no closer to getting better with two packs of Systane. LOL

[chimera]

I have the same problem with doctors not wanting to consider corneal neuralgia or steroid/pain meds to help me. I dont know if its my age (Im 39,) maybe they think Im too young to be taking those type of meds? All they give me is AT drops & to do compresses.

[wagnermid]

My son has a lot of pain especially when he has erosions , his pain is managed really well by a pain specialist, in a multidisciplinary pain clinic. They use a lot more strategies than Ophthalmologists in our experience, I guess that's their area of expertise.

[Faith1989]

Chimera, what r u using now? I wish I didn't have the red eye problem but I think it's from my doc making me use Restasis again. I have been on it five months and now just using it at night or else my eyes r red all day from it and I am honestly sick of it. Lol thanks

[chimera]

wagnermid,
so you can see a pain specialist & they will treat you for eyes? I didnt know that...



Faith1989
well right now all i use is Refresh Plus PF every hour & 3 days ago I started using Refrrsh Optive Advanced PF to try it out. Im only using it 3 or 4 times a day b/c it kinda stings.

I used to use Restasis but went off it again about a week ago. I also was using Dr Tsengs lipid ointment but had to stop using it b/c it was starting to make me itch & was giving me excessive mucuos.

[Faith1989]

Why did u go off of Restasis a week ago? Do u feel better without it now?

[chimera]

Faith, I had been on restasis since Sept 2010 with only very minor improvement(I mean really minor, b/c i still have to drop AT every hour) & Dr. Tseng told me I should just get off it b/c he didnt think it was worth it. So I tried going off it twice & this time I think Im staying off it for good.

I dont feel any better or worse really...