I originally posted this on the thread regarding something for immediate relief of pain, the other day, I & believe since it was an older posting, it was largely ignored. So, if anyone can benefit, here it is again:

Like the Vowel Lady, I have had good luck with Kerasal Neurocream. It is a capsicum cream (hot pepper cream) which is considered a third line treatment for neuropathic pain. Unlike Capzasin-HP, the Neurocream comes in a tube with a nice sponge applicator attached to the end of the tube, so your hands never touch the cream. It also contains some cyanocobalamin B12 and camphor. In my case, it has reduced to the "folded sock" pain behind my toes to a bearable level, and for her, the burning in the soles of the feet, I believe.

I have been using it just every 12 hours in the ball of my feet area. I tried skipping the morning application, and after 3 days, the pain started to return, so I know it's still working for me. LOL. A tube has lasted me a couple of months. You can get it at Walmart (just under $16), and most drug stores. Kerasal has been putting a $2.00 coupon on their website pretty regularly.

Incidently, my Neurologist referred me to it, as one of his other patients told him about the Neurocream. He knew I wasn't keen on adding another drug as I also take 30mg daily of nortriptyline.

http://www.kerasal.com/neurocream.shtml

Tramadol and Cymbalta
 

I took Tramadol and Tylanol for 10 years for Restless Leg and insomnia, and then for RLS, insomnia, and fibromyalgia. It worked great until... it stopped working. I had no side effects when I stopped. But have had no happy solutions since. I've tried Celexa, Cymbalta, but Tylanol seems to be the best, though not perfect by any means.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...52#post1093052

Doc

SSRI antidepressants can cause derangements
In dopamine levels (lowers it)
Which results in RLS type movements
In the legs, neck spasms, mouth and tongue
Movements that resemble Tardive diskinesia.

You can Google this --
"SSRI movement disorder side effects"

I take 30 mgs of Cymbalta daily and have for about 5 years. It helps me with the pain, yes. It would be a lot worse without the Cymbalta. So far I've not had to up my dose.

I have no side effects from the Cymbalta at all. I went from 75mgs of Effexor a day directly to the 30 of Cymbalta. So I wouldn't have had or rather expected any side effects. Give it a few weeks. The sides should ease. And if not, than the drug simply isn't going to be a good one for you. It can take 2 to 4 weeks or so for the side effects to go away. And even then, if your doc wants to up the dose you may experience a bit of the same side effects again for a few days, at that time.

I also take Ultram (Tramadol). It mutes a lot of the nerve pain for me. It doesn't work for everyone and there are drugs that are much more...disruptive, shall we say? Like true narcotics such as Vicodin. I've been taking Ultram for about the same amount of time as the Cymbalta. I can't take gabapentin (Neurontin) because it makes me suicidal and that's the first line drug given for PN.

Unless they figure out some way to heal the nerves and prevent any further damage medications and such are the only recourse we have as far as I know. I look at it as sort of like being diabetic and needing insulin. I need these medications to live a semi-normal life. :Dunno:

Holy cow! According to the Walmart website that cream is $15.98 for 2 ounces! :-(

I assume you were directing this comment about the price of the Neurocream. They always have a coupon for $2.00 off on the Neurocream website. Even without the coupon, a tube last me 2-3 months, which is under $8.00 a month. My insurance c0-payment is $10 a month for generic drugs. Doesn't seem bad to me since it completely relieves the 'folded sock' pain just behind my toes. And it's still working for me after 10 months now.

How about all these "wonder supplements", such as one I've seen for $60 for a months supply? Is that worth trying out? Not for me.

I've been taking this combination for a number of years with no issues. True, I'm on the lowest dose of Cymbalta one can take without dividing up the capsules. I also seldom take more than 150 mgs total of Ultram (Tramadol) a day.

I'm limited in what I can and cannot take. I have no insurance, can't work, can't get disability. My docs simply throw meds at my symptoms. Though with PN I think that's the majority of treatment anyway.

As I've said before, I can't take the most common drug given for PN: Neurontin. It made me suicidal. So I'm kind of stuck. I tried the B12 and other supplements listed here and had no change. I just plug along hoping and praying Va will get off its butt and expand Medicaid. That's my only hope. Or wait a few more years and then try for disability going back against my late husbands social security.

If and when they expand medicaid I might finally be able to get the testing done I so desperately need. Even then, it may still be idiopathic. sigh

Ah! Thank you for that! I wasn't sure how long 2oz should last. It might be worth a try for me.

Right now my sleep issues are because the pain is always worse at night but if I take the dose of Ultram needed to stop the pain enough to sleep, the Ultram keeps me awake. This cream might be what I could use at night instead of Ultram. So thanks for the added info! <3

You are welcome. It works really well for my particular pain & for another lady on this forum. As they say, your results may differ. It is a cream made from captain hot peppers, but has a foam applicator on the end of the tube, to help keep it off your hands, & out of the eyes. Of course, pay attention to the instructions before using.

I was given a "tryout" on Tramedol (Ultram) at my last visit to my primary Dr. Made me happy the first very few times I took it, but now has just dulled the ache in my feet, and also helps me keep from thinking about my feet (a more subdued "happy", LOL) I only take one occasionally at the start of my day (lasts me about 10 hours or so), knowing that that particular day will be a bit better than the others.