Insomnia

[Juneau114]

Hello,

        I am still trying to get a diagnosis, going to Cleveland Clinic the end of the month. I am now experiencing leg, feet, hand and arm spasms, pain and tightness at night. Alot of nights it wakes me up, can't get back to sleep, Some nights I can't even get to sleep.

          I am taking 600 mg of Gabapentin at bedtime, take 300 during the day. I am always tired even if I don't take it or if I get a good nights sleep, I am still always tired. I work 40 hours plus a week, struggle every day.

          My hands hurt, can't wriite like I use to, having problems typing. Please,( if anyone has any of these symptoms ) help....

[HVAC]

Sometimes it takes some tweaking to get the right cocktail of medications for each person. My MS Specialist sent me to a Pain Clinic. It took awhile but they finally got me on the right meds for me. There is no one size fits all.

If Gabapentin does not work there is Trileptal or Lyrica. These are for nerve pain. For spasms you need a muscle relaxer. A lot of people with MS take Baclofen or Zanaflex. But like I said each person is different. My problem was Doctors kept adding meds and not taking any away until I was on over 20. I got off everything and started from scratch.

Too much of a medication or combinations can make you hyped up.

Alex

[onyxnz]

I am having very similar symptoms;
early evening I often get onset of severe lower back spasms. Other areas to spasm randomly are knees, ankles, thighs, fore-arms, wrists. But the worst is the lumbar region. MRI and X-rays have turned up nothing. I know it's non-mechanical, as I have full range of movement, and strength. (Male, mid-40s, this has been going on for 3 years)
I am trying to get an appointment with a Neurology Specialist, but that is not so easy where I am ( rural New Zealand ). I would be very interested to hear what diagnosis you eventually get!

I take the following medications:
Breakfast: Paracetamol, Norflex, Naproxen
Lunch: Paracetamol
Dinner: same as breakfast, and add 900mg (3x300) Gabapentin.

Usually the Gabapentin makes me very sleepy - head hits pillow, and I am out to it for 8 hours. Occasionally there is some sort of inverse reaction with the Gabapentin where I am wired - totally unable to sleep - but I haven't yet figured out what causes this.

[HVAC]

The problem is your symptoms could be many things. I would be tired if I took that my Gabapentin, but it sounds like you need it.

Alex