Hi All. New here. Thought I would relate my experience with Flector. I have been using it for about 3 months. I have pretty bad arthritis in my lower lumbar area causing lots of pain and shooting nerve pain down my right leg into my foot. I was walking around bent over and couldn't get up from chairs and couches without help. Was going to a pain doc who was doing steroid epidurals and had me on Norco for the pain. I am also on Ultram to control the arthritis I have in the rest of my body. The steroids helped for a little while but scare me and the norco works some but has to be increased as I kept getting use to it and the docs hate prescribing it because of the DEA hassling them all the time.
Anyway, I got a Flector patch from my hip doc to try on my back and it seemed to help so I got a scrip from him. The difference this has made in my life is amazing. Seriously, I have no more pain in my lower back just some stiffness and no shooting pains anymore. I do have to wear one around the clock and I noticed that there was a build up of relief. It didn't happen over night. Took a few days of continuous wear and the pain comes back if I try and wear only one a day instead of two (these are insanely expensive).
I called Flector because I was concerned about the NSAIDs and my stomach, which reacts really badly to them, and was told that only 1% of the drug enters your body systemically through the patch as opposed to the same amount taken orally. I am having zero stomach problems with the patch.
I make sure to thoroughly clean the area each time I remove one to avoid skin problems and have experienced no rashes, itching etc. to date. They do feel weird, like a cold wet noodle, on my back but I will take that over my pain any day. They stay on ok but I think that is because my underwear keeps them on. My son tried them on his middle back and he couldn't get them to stay on even with tape.
I will keep using these (despite the cost) as long as they work because I no longer need epidurals or pain meds (except for the Ultram for total body arthritis relief and I may even try getting off that). So 5 starts to Flector!

I started using Flector patches for severe pain in my neck after the doctor decided not to do surgery for a ruptured disc. I have severe osteoporosis, which has caused ruptured and bugling disc up and down my spine. The last time he did surgery he had to use a plate and screws. When he put the screws in my bones was very soft. Anyway......... The flector patches have been a godsend!!! I can't take any kind of arthritis meds because they cause acid reflux and ulcers in my stomach and throat. I was concerned to start with but I haven't had a problem so far. Thank God!!!! Did you guys know you can cut the patches up and place anywhere they are needed?? My doctor said I don't have to use the whole patch on one spot. Just cut them up and use them where ever I need them. I end up paying 5 cents a patch because I have Medicaid. Thank God for Medicaid!!!!! I hope everyone has as much luck as I do with the flector patches!!!!

Annborden

Hi Everyone -

I was prescribed the Flector patch from my Dr for a herniated disc in my lower back. I understand that these patches are VERY expensive, however it seems to be a great alternative for me as I don't tolerate oral anti-inflammatory meds. **

After Celebrex became dangerous to my kidneys, having lost 40 percent of my output function, my pain physician gave me Flector patches, which treats both my fibromyalgia and my arthritis discomforts well. I have malformations in my neck and spine, from the arthritis.

However, my insurance will no longer cover the medication, saying it is only for "acute pains due to sprains, etc."

Except it works, allowing me to stand for the six hours a day that I have to each day for work. Without it I'm incapacitated, unable to think for the severity of the pain.

I truly believe it is a great drug; and, as I have hyper-sensitivities to many allergens and didn't have any problems with this drug, nor did it negatively affect my kidneys, I hope you have a similar positive experience.

And, I pray that the Insurance Gods will allow me to get my needed medications again.

I use a patch I got from korea it is awesome and much less medicine 30 mg and I have bad knees and wow it makes them work again. I'm 65 and still playing softball because of these patches.

The doctor just prescribed flector patch for my low back pain caused by sacroiliitis. My concern is all the warnings concerning heart related side effects. 6 months ago I had a block artery with a stent placement. Can't anyone elaborate on the seriousness of the heart side effects. Should I worry???? Stop usage?

There are 3 types of things to watch for:

1) cardiac effects (basically for all NSAIDs used over long periods)

2) GI bleeding effects (the bleeding effects are centrally done thru the blood stream and occur with swallowing this drug or absorbing thru a patch)

3) Liver toxicity--- recently this warning was put out;

black boxed warning here:
http://www.rxlist.com/flector_patch-drug.htm

http://www.arthritistoday.org/news/d...-damage025.php

My doctor would not give me this patch, therefore.

I use OTC Salonpas with some success.

There is also a new OTC very strong rub, called Precise by
the makers of Tylenol.