Neurontin and leg pain

I am 49 yrs old. Had been on Neurontin from Aug '08-Jan '09. Was taking it for lower back pain & leg pain due to two bulging discs pressing on nerves running down my leg. When I began taking Neurontin, I couldn't walk because the pain was so bad. Long story short, Neurontin greatly helped my pain - it totally went away. HOWEVER, the entire time I was on Neurontin I felt drugged (dizzy, lethargic, depressed, paranoid). I determined it wasn't worth it (for me anyway) to live in this state of mind. So, slowly, I came off Neurontin and found out that my leg/back pain had eased. What I also learned is that I developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Neurontin masked the pain from that as well, so I didn't even feel it coming on! I think it's dangerous to be on a drug that masks all pain. I now go to physical therapy and so far, experience only minor, tolerable pain (I'm lucky so far). But I know one thing, I will go for injections and even surgery before I ever consider this drug again. It was just awful living like that. I hope this posting has helped some of you.

I have been taking Neurontin for 2 months. I didn't think it was really helping because I still couldn't function normally. I have had 3 disk surgeries on L4/5, and still have severe pain in my right hip and down my right leg all the way to my foot. I am told there is scar tissue build-up in the area causing the nerve pain. I started taking Neurontin in small doses and have built up to 1200mg 3 times a day. I still couldn't walk more than 20 feet without leaning on something, but the pain was noticably less severe. My doctor put me on Trileptal instead, and the first day off the Neurontin was a nightmare...the pain was worse than ever. I went back to the Neurontin immediately. I have experienced some weight gain, but have attibuted that to no exercise. It does seem to make me forgetful, tired and somewhat depressed, but without it, the pain is completely debilitating. I want my life back, but I don't know what to do from here. Neurontin has helped the pain to a more tolerable level, but if I still can't even walk, I'm not even close to functioning normally. If anyone has a suggestion, I would love to hear it...thanks.

URGENT URGENT death-connected symptom (swelling and pain in legs):

The death of NBC journalist 39 year old and otherwise-healthy David Bloom in the Iraqui war last weekend made something "click" in my mind: The cause of his death was a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lungs brought on by sitting and sleeping in a cramped position (knees up under chin, in a Humvee) for days at a time, and (HERE'S WHAT IS IMPORTANT) he was dehydrated.

Taking Neurontin dehydrates a person, and many have posted side-effects of leg pain and swelling. Dehydration reduces the blood's ability to flow freely -- or rather -- increases clots, which then can travel to the brain (strokes) heart (heart attack) or lung (pulmonary embolism).

It is the same thing that has killed people who sit in airplane seats for long overseas flights, while not drinking
enough water.

Our society discourages us from drinking as much water as we need, and urinating frequently enough -- from lack of public restrooms to not letting school children go to the bathroom frequently enough (left to itself the human body will void the bladder every 20 minutes).

To all my fellow Neurontin userids: drink more water, your life could depend on it! JanK