Hi Danny,

We went through the phantom pain, it was horrible.  We got gabapentin about the 3rd or 4th day after his amp.  It took about 2 to 3 days once the phantom pain started for it to subside completely.  The first night after I got the meds for him, he continued to have his phantom pain moments off and on through out the night, shaking, falling, screaming out, howling, then it seems they started to become less intense the middle of the next day.  In the middle of the next day they only lasted 5 to 10 seconds, and it was howling and shaking.  By that night it was 1 or 2 seconds but they came quicker.  The last day he had them they were moments where his muscle would sieze and he would wimper or halt in his steps and start to fall, then it would go away. 

It is horrible, awful, heartbreaking to watch.  If you can, just be calm and the shoulder he needs to lean on.  Like what you would want if you had a nurse at your side.  It is always better to start the gabapentin a day before surgery.  I wasn't told that until after I changed vets though.

Much luck, and may your night be peaceful.

Elizabeth

Hi Danny-

We didn't use gabapentin for the phantom pains (they were prescribed for a pinched nerve in her back), but I had luck with Cali's phantom pains by using a tight compress on the shoulder of the missing limb.  Check with the doc before doing that since you have a fresh surgical area first.  My understanding is the brain has to re-map what the body looks like, so the more gentle stimulation you can give to the area that would indicate "you have no limb there, it is not hurting you" the faster that can be done.  Cali did lick and chew at the dog bed where her missing leg was for a good 6 months or so after surgery.  For the nerve pain, the gabapentin seemed to work pretty quick, but would make Cali sort of out of it.  We ended up halving the med for her unless she was having an acute episode.

Gus started with phantom pain about 5 days post, which is when we started Gabapentin. I can't say for sure how quick it took effect, but I would say about a day later the spells weren't as severe. Gus didn't get along with Tramadol so he was on Gabapentin and Rimidyl. His phantom pain lasted about 4 weeks, but by that time when it hit him he would just give a light whimper. As Elizabeth said, just try to be with him when it hits him, pet him and reassure him everything is OK, I really think being with them when it happens , if thats possible, makes them feel better. Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan

I personally have been on gabapentin for over 10 years (a residual effect of the radiation/chemo I got, horrible tingling in my fingers & toes) and I have to take it 4x a day at regular intervals.  It doesn't kick in like aspirin and if I miss a couple of doses, taking more trying to catch up doesn't help.  When I first starting taking it, it took a couple of days to start helping and just because my pain is gone, I can't stop taking it at the required intervals or I go backwards.  I have no problems taking it with other medications.

That's my experience with it.

It's been 12 days since amputation and 3 full days on Gabapentin.

She isn't panting or shaking anymore and is sleeping really well.

She does still cry when she gets up but it isn't as intense. Before it would last about 1-2 minutes before she calmed down, now it's about 20-30 seconds.

I would say before I put her on Gabapentin the pain was about 10/10 now it's about a 5/10. The one concern I have is when she does get up and the pain starts she wants to lay right back down. I have to use a dog lift aid to walk her outside to go poop/pee.