Thing is HOW you SIT, where you sit, and what you sit ON all can ease or contribute to problems! For me? It was an exam, which pressed on the key nerves/muscles and caused issues, then another exam 6 months later did the same? You will reallly have to look up things on a nerve chart to see what might have been aggravated? Better yet? Ask and talk to your docs candidly. Which is what I did, and I'd suspected 'pressure's? But yep, they were there.
This is a good site to explore and see how things inter-connect to other things? http://www.innerbody.com/image/nervov.html
It's easy to use, just click on?
As for Lidoderm patches working for your pain? That I cannot tell! Sometimes the patches work great for me? Other times they do very little...no matter where applied or what the issue. I've used them to the point where feet were totally numb? Once numb, feet can be dangerous or be injured dangerously....which is why I always support that anyone w/pn feet treat them as if they've diabetic PN? The dangerous side effects etc. are all likely to occur to US w/PN as those w/Diabetic PN.
As for pain pills? I've found nothing that eliminates PAIN. Plain and simple. When injured and hospitalized? I was on morpheine [likely a good dose?] and it cut, say about 15% of the total pain? [It was about a 9 in my low key estimations] Brain-wise tho, those meds? Well, I didn't care! Nor could I make rational decisions? IF I coulda bit someone or did serious damages somewhere? I think I might have felt better? The trade offs of pain killers vs meds and then our behaviour have to be carefully assessed by US the patients? Caution is the rule here, and I'm betting your docs are cautious too?
Ask your doc? Even w/good insurance know they are NOT CHEAP! Use prudently, read all the 'prescribing information' and know what could go wrong. I use them, infrequently but with prudence. I don't want to be dependent on any med too much. [Because I'm on too many other meds anyhow? for other things] I use these with CALCULATION - meaning, when I know I'm gonna get whupped somehow? I use them in advance to either avoid or lessen whupping!
s! Hope this helps?