So I copied the Robocop post link to the Spine Doctor in their messaging system a couple weeks ago, and got a call back asking to try the Gabapentin again. Too early to tell if it does anything, but maybe it will mask symptoms for awhile.
“2 SEP 2020: After experiencing ongoing neuropathic dysfunction due to the nerve root damage, Dr. Donner’s PA (Bob) gave me a new prescription for Gabapentin. With things back to baseline in terms of overall pain and inflammation levels, I can tell the lumbar symptom remaining is pretty similar to the C6-7 injury I got 18 years ago. It produces a constant low-level signal crunching the muscles closest to the injury site, radiating out from there to a lesser degree. At it’s worst before the lumbar surgery, the entire right side of my body was joined in this fashion with moderate paralysis engaging through the scapula to the right shoulder, all the way down my back, though my hips and down the right leg. Interestingly, I have a big, painful callous on the tip of my right big toe from it crunching up subconsciously. We’ll see if the Gabapentin calms it down. I was taking a max dose of that stuff for years back when the C6-7 issue was raging and did not seem to have much luck with it. We’ll try it again…