I joined this forum a few weeks back as IWantToCutMyLegOff. Seriously, I felt so bad and was so depressed! I have been struggling with horrible MP pain every night, throbbing pain, that I could do nothing about. The pain started in December and just got worse and worse. The weird part is that it started only as pain at night! It developed in to pain all of the time and especially leg weakness when I worked (I am an ER/ICU RN). I was diagnosed with MP by an ortho doc, who gave me a steroid injection which only helped temporarily. I then went to see a pain doc who agreed with the diagnosis and put me on maximum doses of lyrica, which also helped temporarily. I saw chiropractors and then a neurologist. I even asked all of our neurologists at work. They all had different opinions. I had an appointment at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago with a neuro doc that I waited FOUR MONTHS to get in to see. I was at my wits end by the time I got in to see him on Sept 12! I would cry often and really seriously considered amputation!!!! By the time I went to Northwestern, I had added neurontin (gabapentin) 1200mg three times a day AND Elavil at night! The Elavil was helping. It was the only thing that finally put me to sleep. The doc at Northwestern recommended Capzasin. I was actually kind of mad that I waited four months for a prescription cream that I knew was not going to help me! I drove home in tears, feeling defeated, but went to the pharmacy to buy what I thought was going to be another quick, but short lasting fix. The first couple of times, it did burn when I put it on....then.....amazing things happened! I was told to put it on five times a day for three days and then three times a day from then on out. It works! I still have MP. I can feel it when I miss a dose. I feel the tinge of pain, or a muscle contraction in that outer thigh and I know it is time to re-apply....but.....I now have almost ALL of my strength back in my leg and I can sleep EVERY night with NO pain. I have weaned down to just a small dose of neurontin every night. I still take the Elavil because I sleep like a baby when I take it and I feel RESTED the next day. A couple of hints for using Capzasin:

1. Use only a SMALL amount! The Lat Fem Cut nerve is a superficial nerve. You don't need to rub it in deep to get results!

2. Do NOT apply after taking a shower or bath!!!! Your leg will feel like it is on fire!

3. Stay out of the sun and away from heat! ( I cannot sleep with the area that I applied it on touching my husband at night because he is a furnace!)

4. Do not apply BEFORE exercise...

I hope this helps. I know many people cannot tolerate the cream, but try to stick it out for a few days. There are still times where it burns me, but it is always after one of the above circumstances.

Sincerely,
INoLongerWantToCutMyLegOff

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I had a complete remission from my many years long MP by using Lidoderm patches. After 14 days of the patch (which was new then), I have been a new person.

The MP does twinge now and then, mostly if I over-extend that leg or expose to any heat source (hot tub, heating pad, steam room etc).

Placement is critical as I only found results by placing the patch where the lateral femoral nerve exists the abdomen. Any other placement failed. My MP started after a c-section, where I had the long incision to look for a hormone secreting tumor. All that stretching and retracting affected my right side.
Wearing tight clothing is also a no no... Jeans especially. This can compress the nerve when you sit, and very tight waist compression from girdles and body shapers can also do it, in the back area where the nerve begins. There are many triggers for MP and it varies from patient to patient.

There are posts on this forum that may be helpful for you.
So use the search engine to find them.

I do believe your cream is working...it does work for some. I personally hate it and cannot tolerate the burning. Also consider magnets... a very strong magnet placed properly will also block pain signals.