Neurológia pre prax 4/2016

Pregabalin and gabapentin in patient with failed back surgery syndrome

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is an example of a so-called mixed pain combining nociceptive and neuropathic pain. We are presenting a patient with history of a low back surgery (disc herniation L5S1 dx), suffering persisting pain irradiating to his right leg. Administering gabapentin the neuropathic pain lowered by about 50 %, after switching to pregabalin the neuropathic pain lowered by about 75 % from the initial value. Both drugs were accompanied with drowsiness, which should be controlled through dosage adjustment. Available studies dealing with similar cases support our results.

Keywords: failed back surgery syndrome, neuropathic pain, gabapentin, pregabalin, side effects