Suggest Treatment For Pain From Sciatica And Spinal Compression

Posted on Mon, 7 Jul 2014

Question: I'm 36 years old and have run 10 full marathons so consequently i have very bad sciatica and possibly spinal compression. Would fentanyl patches be appropriate?

Answered by Dr. Hardik Thakker (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Gabapentin/ pregabalin

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX

Greetings from health care magic!!! I am Dr Thakker and shall be answering your question.

Pain from sciatica and spinal compression is a neuropathic pain due to irritation of the nerves. Fentanyl is an opoid analgesic which is best used for visceral pain.

Fentaly patch will help you only partially. However a better idea is to use a drug like gabapentin or pregabalin. Gabapentin can be taken from 100 mg twice a day to 300 mg XXXXXXX twice a day. This is meant specifically got neuropathic pain. I would also suggest you to have a MRI of the lumbo-sacral spinal to delineate the pathology.

I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker.

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