[canagirl]

My entire scalp is excruciating. I can't touch it at all and I don't need to to touch it for pain. It's excrucuating without being touched. I want to try and soak my entire scalp I something that will help. I was thinking maybe something anti inflammatory cream? Home made concoction or store bought, anybody know something? I can't think, move my head, I can't function. Any remedies?

[canagirl]

No ideas? The pain is horrific. I will be seeing my neuro on Tuesday and requesting a pain management doc, but what do I do in the meantime? I can feel the physically damaged nerves in my back close to my spine. They run up and down my back and pulsate and are hot. I have immense heat and pressure starting at the nerves in my back and this feeling travels in lines down my arms and legs and up into my scalp. It's the scalp that I need to deal with right now because I can't function, think, move my head....
I took an extra strength Advil this morning, put voltaren on my scalp and soaked my head in Epsom salts last night. Along with my mj and gabapentin and nothing is working. Please any ideas?

[mrsD]

An ice pack on the back of your neck may help. I use ice for my nerve pain and arthritis sometimes when I have a flare.

Ice can be very helpful in calming PN pain.

If it makes things worse?...then you will have to investigate RSD in detail. Those patients with this different type of neuropathy cannot tolerate cold.

I do hope you only use lukewarm showers, as heat is a trigger for irritated PN nerve pain.

[DejaVu]

Hi canagirl,

Sounds very uncomfortable!
I like the ice idea from mrsD, if it's tolerable for you.

Is it possible to reach your doctor? There are all types of topicals for the scalp.

Many people use topical steroid lotions for severe scalp itching and burning (skin reactions). I am not sure if these might work for your nerve pain. One used often for dermatological scalp burning is: betamethasone valerate lotion 0.1%. This is a prescribed product in the U.S.

Do you have, or have you tried, repeated daily applications of magnesium chloride or magnesium sulfate lotion ( Morton's Epsom lotion). I feel the key in trying either of these may be in using multiple applications throughout the day.

There is also topical lidocaine, which is sometimes use for nerve pain. This is a topical anesthetic.
OTC, Aspercreme (brand) offers a topical cream with 4% lidocaine as the only active ingredient.

(Higher concentrations of topical lidocaine are available by prescription.)

I do not know the potential adverse effects of using either magnesium chloride or magnesium sulfate lotion, or topical lidocaine (4% is max OTC) on your scalp.

Please consult with your doctor and/or pharmacist.
Your condition sounds extremely uncomfortable.

I hope you find relief pronto!

With Concern,
DejaVu

P.S. I know these options are not "home-made." They are available OTC, however, should you not find a home-made option. I find pharmacists glad to offer suggestions and some guidance, both on the phone and in person.

[DejaVu]

Hi Canagirl,

Has this condition been diagnosed?
If so, is this "Occipital Neuralgia?"
There are descriptions of symptoms and some suggestions for relieving pain in "occipital neuralgia" in these links:

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-heada...ses-treatments

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neuro...neuralgia.html


DejaVu

[canagirl]

Originally Posted by DejaVu

Hi Canagirl,

Has this condition been diagnosed?
If so, is this "Occipital Neuralgia?"
There are descriptions of symptoms and some suggestions for relieving pain in "occipital neuralgia" in these links:

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-heada...ses-treatments

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neuro...neuralgia.html


DejaVu

It hasn't been diagnosed but that sounds right. I've tried massage, Advil, etc....
I'll talk to neuro about nerve blick

[DejaVu]

Originally Posted by canagirl

It hasn't been diagnosed but that sounds right. I've tried massage, Advil, etc....
I'll talk to neuro about nerve blick

Canagirl,

I hope you can find relief before your appointment.

Have you tried massaging your neck and shoulders with either magnesium sulfate (Morton's Epsom lotion) or magnesium chloride (usually an oil base)?

I hope you can get help with a massage.

If there is neck level impingement, it may be made worse with muscle spasms.
It may be helpful to calm the spasms. WebMD had mentioned a muscle relaxant and heat, which often relaxes spasms. At the same time, heat applications can aggravate inflammation. Thus finding relief may be a bit of trial and error.

Some people use the essential oil of lavender (a few drops) in a carrier oil (jojoba, almond, others) for muscle relaxation, and mind calming effects.

I am still trying to think of a home-made remedy for you.


DejaVu

[icelander]

Originally Posted by canagirl

My entire scalp is excruciating. I can't touch it at all and I don't need to to touch it for pain. It's excruciating without being touched. I want to try and soak my entire scalp I something that will help. I was thinking maybe something anti inflammatory cream? Home made concoction or store bought, anybody know something? I can't think, move my head, I can't function. Any remedies?

I have had great results with compounded creams from a pharmacy. You'll have to talk your doc into it but it's been great for my burning pain etc. They even have one with Ketamine but it's VERY expensive. Ketamine acts as a nerve block. I have a little of it but need it very rarely as my other "free" compounded cream works very well so far.

I'm going to mention a couple other things that have done wonders for my neuropathy pain. At least twice a day I do what's called "The Body Scan Meditation. It has the ability to really relax the body and that reduced my pain greatly due to the fact that I was so scared anxious and freaked out most of the time. I'm pretty relaxed these days. The other thing was challenging myself to use a Vegan Diet based in raw, fermented and sprouted food.

My pain right now is a 2-3 as opposed to a 5-7 just a few weeks ago. And I have a life again.

Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your views I'm dying anyway. I have something else going on that is causing massive weight loss and my doc is concerned that I'm "failing to thrive". And I'm allowing no invasive tests for reasons I'll explain. I'm retired, I'm old, I have no family to consider. All my affairs are in order. Whatever is causing the weight loss is not painful. My neuropathy is both small and large fiber was getting very painful indeed. Now it's not so much but could all come roaring back as I just don't know. I don't think it's going to right away but in my view dying of something non painful is quite appealing. I'm not afraid of becoming what I was before being born but I do greatly fear a painful life.

Best of luck and maybe something here will help you.

[icelander]

Originally Posted by icelander

I have had great results with compounded creams from a pharmacy. You'll have to talk your doc into it but it's been great for my burning pain etc. They even have one with Ketamine but it's VERY expensive. Ketamine acts as a nerve block. I have a little of it but need it very rarely as my other "free" compounded cream works very well so far.

I'm going to mention a couple other things that have done wonders for my neuropathy pain. At least twice a day I do what's called "The Body Scan Meditation. It has the ability to really relax the body and that reduced my pain greatly due to the fact that I was so scared anxious and freaked out most of the time. I'm pretty relaxed these days. The other thing was challenging myself to use a Vegan Diet based in raw, fermented and sprouted food.

My pain right now is a 2-3 as opposed to a 5-7 just a few weeks ago. And I have a life again.

Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your views I'm dying anyway. I have something else going on that is causing massive weight loss and my doc is concerned that I'm "failing to thrive". And I'm allowing no invasive tests for reasons I'll explain. I'm retired, I'm old, I have no family to consider. All my affairs are in order. Whatever is causing the weight loss is not painful. My neuropathy is both small and large fiber was getting very painful indeed. Now it's not so much but could all come roaring back as I just don't know. I don't think it's going to right away but in my view dying of something non painful is quite appealing. I'm not afraid of becoming what I was before being born but I do greatly fear a painful life.

Best of luck and maybe something here will help you.

And if you are interested in that body scan there is a wonderful book and tapes that will walk you through it. It's called " Full Catastrophe Living" It's a book and you can purchase the CDs of the meditation along with other thing like light yoga etc. This program (8 weeks) was used in a major medical hospital on folk who doctors had given up on due to pain meds no longer working against massive pain issues. The success rate was a whopping 70% for improvements in pain profiles. These are the worst cases that the medical profession had given up on. It's a beautiful program for dealing with pain issues.

[bluesfan]

Originally Posted by icelander

I have had great results with compounded creams from a pharmacy. You'll have to talk your doc into it but it's been great for my burning pain etc. They even have one with Ketamine but it's VERY expensive. Ketamine acts as a nerve block. I have a little of it but need it very rarely as my other "free" compounded cream works very well so far.

I'm going to mention a couple other things that have done wonders for my neuropathy pain. At least twice a day I do what's called "The Body Scan Meditation. It has the ability to really relax the body and that reduced my pain greatly due to the fact that I was so scared anxious and freaked out most of the time. I'm pretty relaxed these days. The other thing was challenging myself to use a Vegan Diet based in raw, fermented and sprouted food.

My pain right now is a 2-3 as opposed to a 5-7 just a few weeks ago. And I have a life again.

Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your views I'm dying anyway. I have something else going on that is causing massive weight loss and my doc is concerned that I'm "failing to thrive". And I'm allowing no invasive tests for reasons I'll explain. I'm retired, I'm old, I have no family to consider. All my affairs are in order. Whatever is causing the weight loss is not painful. My neuropathy is both small and large fiber was getting very painful indeed. Now it's not so much but could all come roaring back as I just don't know. I don't think it's going to right away but in my view dying of something non painful is quite appealing. I'm not afraid of becoming what I was before being born but I do greatly fear a painful life.

Best of luck and maybe something here will help you.

icelander
Thank you for the information about the Body Scan Meditation and for sharing about your situation. Your calm and rational approach to the inevitability of dying is reassuring. I hope you continue to maintain your relatively pain free life for as long as possible. Your words of wisdom here on NT are much appreciated.