Hello there!
I hope it's ok that I've started a new thread instead of writing in the thread a started yesterday. I have a totally new question, so I thougt a new thread would be better.
I've read in the internet that topical capsaicin can help with nerve pain.
Look at this:
forums.aboutmecfs.org/archive/index.php/t-1678.html
(I tried to insert a link but I'm not allowed to insert links yet. so please put a "http" and a "://"in front of my link, ok?)

Has anyone tried this with MP? I'm a litte afraid, I don't dare to put my capsaicin creme on my sensitive, painful MP-skin. Capsaicin creme even irritates normal skin (burning!!), so I don't know what will happen with my MP-skin
At the moment I try the lidoderm patches. I have 20 pieces left, so 20 days. If I get no success, I think I could try the capsaicin. What do you think?
Lovley greetings from Germany,
Penny

Very few of us with peripheral neuropathy can tolerate capsacin.

I know it has been around for a long time now, originally came out for shingles pain. But it takes about 2 weeks for it to really stop Substance P generation, and in the meantime it is agony!

I can't even tolerate it on normal skin. I never tried it on my MP.

You could try an ice pack....I use ice sometimes for nerve pain.
Don't leave it on too long, say 20 min tops per treatment.

I saw a big resolution in my MP in 2 weeks of every day Lidocaine patch use. Maybe yours will be the same. But everyone IS different.

Yeah I think its very difficult to survive the 4-6 weeks in which the capsaicin does nothing for you but burning.
I've heard of a patch called "Qutenza" which is applied by your doctor for 1 hour and than your nerve pain goes away for 3 months. It burns like hell but only for one day or so. It's very expensive (in Germany 350 Euro), but well, 3 months without pain would be great....

I've been applying capsaicin creme for 2 months now. And I'm very happy with the result:
The pain is nearly gone, only after a lot of physical activity it comes back - but not in the intensity it was before. I can nearly walk everywhere I want without or with very little pain. I also can do a little bit of sports like biking or inline skating. (but I stop skating after 30 minutes, just in case... I don't dare to do more sports right now but this can change:-))
But my skin is still very sensitive regarding clothing. I still have to wear my loose trowsers or my skirts. jeans is not possible. But I can live with that circumstance. The most important thing is that I can do more physical activities again!:-)
The capsaicin only burned in the first week. Then my skin got used to it. I applied biofreeze 30 minutes before the capsaicin. This helped a lot against the burning. But I needed the biofreeze only in the first weeks. Now I apply the capsaicin creme directly. I started with 4 times a day, meanwhile a use the creme only 1-2 times a day.
I hope this can help you!