I get this SFN flare up too. The back of my entire head, neck, back, shoulders and butt will burn and flare. Sometimes only certain parts burn, but once in a while they will all burn and it is awful. How much gabapentin are you on? Talking to you doc about increasing it. I take 2400mg/day and it really helps with the burning. I do have a skin cream that was made by an acupuncturist. I only use it when I get bad flares so I can sleep. I think one of the main ingredients is St. John's Wort.

I set my nerves off on this past Monday because I took a warmer than usual shower and I paid the price for almost 24 hours afterward. It was the worst work day ever. I couldn't hardly sleep later that night. Are you watching the temperature of your showers? This can be a trigger for some of us.

canagirl

Sorry to hear the PN is still causing you so much pain. I don't have much in the way of medical advice that hasn't already been offered by others but there is something that you might try for short term relief. It's easy to do and can't hurt you - although I can't guarantee it will help.

Get an old towel and put it in a plastic bag in the freezer - not until it is frozen into a block - just until it is chilled. Take it out and spread open. Sprinkle drops of menthol oil in the center area and wrap it around your head.

Let us know if it helps at all. Again as MrsD said - if it makes the pain worse, when you see your doctor Tuesday tell him and ask for investigation into RSD
(Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy).

Take care and hope you get relief soon.

Thank you, I think someone mentioned to me long ago that life wasn't forever. I managed to ignore that and to believe I was an immortal. But alas that subterfuge was not to last and for that I'm grateful as I had not factored in all the things that could go wrong and would eventually make life not so worth it. Disease, old age, accident not to mention the emotional slings and arrows we humans are prone to.

For me a conscious death is to be prefered also. I really don't want to be medicated to oblivion and miss the show. This may be tricky to achieve but it's what I want.

Thanks all. I don't know what to do. I'm taking all the pain medication I can. Nothing is helping. The pain is going down either side of my nose, from my lower jaw down by ear and both pains culminate in my teeth. My burning al over is excruciating. I thought I was in the worst pain before, but it's worse than ever. I don't know why this happened. It's not just my head flaring but everywhere. But the pain in my head is so bad I can't concentrate. I can't go on like this.

Anybody know if u can take flexeril, gabapentin, Advil, and marijauna? Together in the same day?

Icelander, thanks for ur input. I'm so sorry to hear that u have other more serious issues. I'm not one with words ( unlike most of the other members) and I really don't know what to say to help. I'm thinking of u and hoping for whatever healing may take place.

Are you not able to see pain mgmt doctor? Is the waiting list too long, or just not available? This is what you need...someone that specializes in pain mgmt. It doesn't even sound like anyone is doing further testing/investigating. What is the plan?

The only cream I can think of that might help is what others have suggested (epsom lotion).

Emergent Medical Assistance?
 

Hi Canagirl,

Are you able to seek emergent medical assistance if needed?
I am hoping you have this option.

Thinking of you.

:hug:
DejaVu

My pm doc said he wanted to defer to the neuro on the pain management doc. However, my neuro has been on vacation ALL summer. I had my biopsy on May 20 and I had do get my pm care doc to hassle the neuro office to have the results sent to him so that I could find out. The neuro didn't inform me of the results and just called last week to schedule an appointment for Tuesday. I am Hoping that the positive result will make her take me seriously and do some testing ) although I know the major pain I'm dealin with is from trauma to my large nerves from acupuncture) but I'd like further testing for the sfn. Sooo... I don't know what the plan is. I hope to find out soon and I hope she refers me to a pain doc.

I've tried all the suggestions on this thread except for the lidocaine patch ( couldn't find it in the store, maybe it's a prescription here?) and the menthol oil because I didn't make it to the health food store before it closed. I'll try the oil tomorrow and the taurine mrs d suggested earlier.

I could go to the ER...i tried that a few months ago before I started meds. I spent sonething like 8 hours there and all they did was send me home with Ativan ( a benzo). So I don't really want to do that unless I can't handle another second. I dont know what they would do for me this time. It's unfortunate

The lidocaine patch is an RX here in the US too. You'll have to get your doctor to prescribe it for you.