Hi All,
I've posted here before about my meraliga paresthetica and leg and foot peripheral neuropathy that has plagued me for the past 8 years after a rock climbing injury. I recently saw my physiatrist and, at my request, he prescribed me Lidoderm patches. I've been placing 1/2 of one on both sides of my pelvis (covering the top iliac crest and extending down to the hip flexros) for my MP although can't tell if they are working because I had cortisone injections in those spots just 5 days ago.

Any other suggestions on placement for MP or is that a good spot???

How about spots for skin crawling sensations going down the buttocks and hamstrings, and for vibrations in both feet??? So far I've just been placing one patch covering the L5 lumbar extending down to about L3. I noticed that if I place the pad lower it must be interferring with S4 and S5 because the rectum areas starts to tingling. I'm more interested in effecting the buttocks...Should I be placing one pad on each buttocks instead of near the sacrum??? I get all confused about placement because the doc told me to put them where I have the problem, but other people have noted success with placing them at the nerve root. It's been 4 days of use but no decrease in symptoms.

Anyone have success with Lidoderm patches for similar situations??

Thanks,
Joe

You want them over the nerves that are problematic. Please look again at that link I gave you showing which lumbar the femoral nerves exit. That is where to catch them, before they go into the deeper pelvic area. For real MP...which is the front of the thigh only, placing the Lidoderms in the groin where they exit also works. (that is where I place mine). But you say you have BACK thigh pain--hamstrings, and that is NOT MP it is something else. For the feet, you can try behind the knee, above the bend on each thigh 1/2 patch. I rarely put Lidoderms on my feet. You have to use them regularly, at least for a few days to see effects. They are not like drugs, working quickly and then wearing off. Think of it this way-- doctors inject Lidocaine for numbing parts where they know the major nerves are. They will inject the ankle to numb the whole foot. The peroneal nerve that supplies the feet is behind the knee. This is where compression palsies occur and foot drop when the knee area is compressed or stressed.

Don't use Lidoderm over muscle or fat pads. The Lidocaine in the Lidoderms works on nerve tissue only. It cannot get thru inches of other tissue.

If you want muscle action, you have to ask for Flector patches.
http://www.flectorpatch.com/
These are more for tendon/muscle/ joint pain.
But do not overuse Flector...as reports of liver damage are surfacing with topical diclofenac patches or transdermal creams.

Did you ever get electrostim treatments or ultrasound for your injury? I found these very effective for my tendon injury (which is independent of my PN issues and arthritis). I had an adductor injury and was in great pain and disability for quite a while. The PT using both treatments worked well for me.

Thanks MrsD....Yes, I checked out your previous links but was still unsure. I didn't realize the stuff only works on nerve tissue. So, I'll make sure I place them over the spot where the sacral nerves exit the sacrum. I think alot of my problem is with sacral nerves. I asked the physiatrist about the chances of my my peripheral nerves being able to heal even after 8 years post injury. He wasn't very optimistic saying that the nerves might have tried to regenerate but then bundled up and that might be why I still have skin crawling sensations that have never calmed down. I'm not buying his answer as I'm still holding out hope for me.

What do you folks think about me getting a CT scan with myelography? I want to be able to determine which sacral nerves are scarred and or being inflammed even 8 years after my injury.

Also, no I haven't had electrical stim for the nerves.Is it the same thing as TENS? I heard TENS won't help.

Txs,
Joe

A TENS unit might make you feel better while its turned on, and shortly after, but thats about it. I love mine, but its not a cure.

--might even be better than a CT scan; it tends to visualize the nerves mroe specifically.

It does not tend to be covered by many insruances, though; unlike MRI's, many still consider it "experimental". But a lot of the pelvic pain, pudendal nerve dysfunction, and sacral pain people have had them.

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magneti...ce_neurography

http://www.thecni.org/reviews/13-2-p18-solsberg.htm