Nerve damage due to chemical burn - looking for non-medicine options
 

Hi all! I'm new to the forum. I have been looking around online a bit to see what options people use to manage their nerve pain and buzzing and only see medicine options. I received a 2nd/3rd degree burn to my sacral area on 11/30/11. The burn itself is healing okay, considering, but it's obviously damaged my nerves. I have increasing pain and buzzing on the bottom of my feet since I think March. The past week it's been much worse, and I'd be happy to chop off my legs about mid-thigh. I've been stressed at work, so I'm guessing that's part of the increase, but I don't know for sure obviously. From the nerve maps I've looked at, the s4-s5 areas are mostly affected. It seems when I'm more relaxed or have no pressure on my feet I feel it more. I feel like I'm standing on pop rocks sometimes, other times a tens unit.

I go to the neurologist next week. I *know* he's going to try to give me meds. There was an anti-seizure med that the doc who burned me recommended (yes, got burned during surgery) and it looked awful. I'm very sensitive to drugs.

When I first was burned I was put on Oxycontin. It wasn't a ton, a few a day (I actually used under the rec. dosage), but when I tried to not take one about 10 days out I went into full withdrawal mode with huge shakes and everything. I had to wean off it, which took about 6 weeks. I can see why and how people get addicted to it (awesome high, horribly addictive).

I currently have a prescrip for xanax that I take very rarely, it's a small amount and is just dealing with the PTSD. I also have a prescrip for pot, and my regular doc wants me to use that before the xanax, but obviously I can't do that at work. I've used the xanax at work, but only 1/2 a pill towards the end of the day if I'm totally spazzing out, but haven't tried it for this yet (should I?).

Too much ibuprofen will upset my stomach. Most things I take for pain either barely work if at all (like valium, doesn't do a thing), or they make me sick (ultram was horrible).

From what I've read, it's probable the pain will get worse. Hopefully not, but I have to be a realist with this. Expect the worst and hope for the best. Has anybody here ever dealt with the nerve damage caused by a burn?

Is there anything I can do on my own to help this? I'd love to not have to work and be able to destress, take the time to heal mentally, but I don't have that privilege. I'm the breadwinner and my husband is a SAHD (of a very difficult child). I find exercising hard because of joint issues. It's only gotten worse with the injury. I do not have access to a pool. I do not have much money either, although some doc appts have been covered because my lawyer has made arrangement to be paid after the settlement comes through. I'm done being poked and prodded as well, and don't look forward to going to see the neurologist next week.

There will be better advice coming, I am sure, but I wanted to offer my sympathy for what you are going through. It sounds horrific, but it also sounds like you may be able to recover, at least partially, or perhaps not progress.
While it may seem hard to believe, chronic pain sometimes has a way of becoming more bearable over time as you learn how to live with it. Also, there are many more medications than OxyContin that you may be able to tolerate.

Neurontin, or Gabapentin is the medicine I believe that you are trying to avoid. It is not always effective, but on the other hand some people are able to take it without experiencing side effects. I have not had a problem with it and it does control the zapping and burning to some degree. On the other hand it does nothing for the sharp or crushing pains. I take oxycodone for those, as needed.
If you need pain medicine to function then you need pain medicine. That is a medical necessity like antibiotics or anything else. Do not stigmatize yourself.

As for working and dealing with your condition, it is incredibly important that you treat yourself as well as possible and get as much rest as you are able. I am sure that will be difficult, but it will pay off. You are under enormous stress and it will affect your pain levels.

Your doctors should be bending over backwards to help you under the circumstances.

I am sorry for what you have gone through. Maybe you can find a good integrative MD. Someone that knows how to work to heal the nerves with diet and supplements. There is a lot of information about supplements that will give the nerves a great chance to heal. I hope you can find a good doctor.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I wonder about Lidoderm patches?

They cannot be applied to skin that is damaged or open.

But you could try them just above the burn on intact skin along the spine. Might work.

Once the skin is closed over the burn, you could apply them there.

Some of the posters at our RSD forum get Lidocaine IV infusions.
One of our posters here, Malawigirl gets them too. Typically you have to be in a hospital for them. And they don't work for everyone. But when they do work, there can be substantial relief. This wears off over days, or weeks, and then is redone. I think alot depends on what kind of damage you have.

You can ask your doctor about it.

Oh, I have no stigma or fear of taking pain meds. I've been in chronic pain for a decade already due to issues with pregnancy. It's all about knowing what my body can and can't deal with. I also have taken Wellbutrin for years because of the pain induced depression, and upped my dosage when this all happened. I'm just not good with meds in my stomach, my body will revolt on me at times. And I don't want to take oxycodone again unless it's a one off (like I slammed my hand in the door, something super temp) because I got addicted FAST. My doc didn't believe me when I told him about it. Acted like that much wouldn't cause an addiction, but it sure as hell did.

Yeah, Gabapentin was what was recommended. I looked it up and it didn't look good to me at all, but again, I have had so much stuff pushed on me that I'm resistant to take more. I HATE pills.

I guess I want to be able to go to the doc next week and say "well I know you want me to do x, but there are options y and z too".

Just curious as to what type of chemical gave you these burns? I didn't see where you might have said. Thanks.

It was undiluted acetic acid that was applied during a Leep procedure. I was getting endometriosis cut out at the same time and was knocked out. I was burned from my cervix, out, down and it pooled at the tailbone.

Wow! :eek: :yikes: I had the Leep procedure once and thank goodness that didn't happen to me. I was not knocked out though. I remember that procedure well and I would never, ever want another one. I had an awful gynecologist who did it and he should have retired long before that. That procedure wouldn't be happening to me again at this time anyway.

Yes, ditto that awful WOW WOW... how terrible. What a nightmare! I hope you have a good attorney!

So you have INTERNAL damage! No telling how this will resolve.
I'd still try the Lidoderms on the outside sacral area. They may block the pain signals going to the spine. If you have intact skin on the outside, that is.

My thoughts are with you!

Yes, I have a good attorney :) Saw the plastic surgeon last week and while he told me as a patient the scar is looking decent, as a doctor to a lawyer, he can't do anything about it to make it better and can't say it'll get better, it could get worse. But all the docs so far say I'm healing well.

The internal burn wasn't as horrible as where the acid pooled at the tailbone was because it sat there longer. There are scar issues I'm dealing with too, but that's another forum, another doc.

I'll look up the lidoderms stuff. Thanks!

Back when my when my neuropathy was diagnosed, The doctor gave me the lidocane patches. The were over three hundred dollars , It didn't kill the pain at all and my favorite the fall off so I can't go anywhere its like being held hostage, You could cut it to fit your foot but. my toes hurt too, I tried to cut little patches for them it didn't work.

The Lidoderms may work better on your spine.

Placing them where you feel the pain, is sometimes not where the
actual pain is being generated from.

You can also use tape to hold them. If you use soaps and don't rinse off (if they have lotions in them), the patches don't stick well. So clean the area off with some alcohol and they may stick better.

Most failures with Lidoderm patches are because of placement errors. My experience is that doctors haven't a clue about this.
And neither do the drug reps, as I have talked to them as well.
The manufacturer has not made any attempt to direct placement advice for these.

OMG!!! I honestly feel for you but im also glad to have found this post. I am also here because of a burn injury. 20% burns with half being deep 2nd deg burns that covered the length of my left arm all the way down to my fingers. The back of my hand was the worst and its here i seem to have nerve damage.
I was burning tree rubbish before fire season (Aust) and decided to burn a box of documents. Unfortunatly someone put a full can of spraypaint in it. Luckily i was about 2 metres away from the fire because it burnt me bad enough from there. I believe a fire ball hit me then burning stuff fell on me. my face, tounge, neck, arm and some of my back were burnt. I also suffered for doctor stupidity and went to my local small town hospital and was kept in over night with only penedene forte and ice to help me. then told to "go home and let it heal" with only mild painkillers and mild antibiotics. I saw him again after that and he treated me like i was over reacting and then 4 days after was in the Royal Adelaide burns unit with the added bonus of a infection ripping through my body. But they gave me all the drugs i needed. Plus surgery and amazing care. I was there for a week. it should have only been a few days if it were not for the infection. That was 5months ago today.

I would say ive done really well until the last few weeks. it started with my midle and index finger, and now i have pain right up my arm. for the past 2 weeks the entire arm has been swollen and ive had to return to my pressure garments. my hand feels slightly paralysed, numb and tingly. I get sharp pain through my fingers and then deep aching pain through my arm. Im back to see the doctor in 2 days and im hoping to get some answers. I haven slept much since this set in and its starting to wear me down. As of yesterday most of the swelling has gone down and im only on painkillers at night, i think my pain threshold is pretty good now. but the pain is worse at night. I kind of feel like im back to where i started just as i got my self sorted. my post traumatic stress had only just reduced. I expect everything to explode these days lol.
So far ive just been managing the pain with nurofen plus (Ibuprofen and Codeine) but it just blurs the pain and im trying to keep my arm elevated for the swelling. Im not sure if i should be using my hand or not but the doc has told me not to work. ive been using it a little and i feel like its helped but when i stop the pain is there. i am scared of making it worse though. Im left handed and need that hand.

Anyway i guess i wanted to comment because so far i havent found many of us burn victims with this problem. Its a pretty lonely situation and its unfair for both of us. I would love to hear how you are going now. I hope your scaring is going ok.
Cheers sarah

Sarah,

Now, a few months later, I'm not sure if the burn is responsible. My hands started having neuropathy as well, so that would rule out the burn. But I've ruled out so much of everything else. My guess is that my trauma just made everything that could go wrong with my body to do so. Yeah, they gave me a ton of meds, but I'm not sure if I was on any that could have made this worse. I did have a bad reaction to Flagyl, which is on that list of possible causes, but I didn't take it for more than a few days.

The PTSD and healing that our bodies have gone through is bad enough, why does everything else have to break down? I know my thyroid is low because of the burn (go get yours checked, my Endo says it happens a few months after trauma).

Nobody has been able to give me an actual answer about what is causing this. I am currently taking an alternative to Gabapentin, it's Oxcarbazepine. Still having nerve pain, but I can't take more meds or I'll sleep all day. Waiting for an EMG for my hands. I think my Neuro is dismissing my issues as not a big deal. Going to see a different doc for the EMG. Many symptoms are pointing to hereditary. Did the burn bring it out? My guess yes.

I went to the DR and she thinks its Rsd. So tomorrow im off to the physio and im on Endol (amitriptyline). Ive finaly gotten some sleep for the first time since i was burnt but at the same time im a little bit of a zombie on it. So ill give it a few days to see what happens. I dont think its doing much for the pain. in away i feel its making the pain worse or more consistant.

I have wondered if the RSD was just exposed by my burns. I get numb hands after excersise and a few other things that i havent taken notice off. So we will see. But this did start at the point of my deepest burn.

Im really trying to see the good in this, other than the time off work that i dont realy need. but who knows hindsight can be a great thing. The sleep im getting is good. lol

Thankyou though. I wish neither of us had this to follow our burns but im glad to have found someone who had been through the same thing.

hello chaos...i was wanting to reach out to you because you are the first person i have read online that had these types of chemical burns. i too had chemical burns from a leep. if you are still on this board please feel free to contact me. i hope to speak with you soon. take care.

cdmartin - I just sent you a message :D

hey ....glad to hear from you. i am also in the middle of a law suit as well. i am still having a lot of medical problems from the acid burns. its been almost a year and a half. do you have an email where i can talk with you off of this public board? i would really like to talk with you, someone that can relate to what i have been going through.

Check your private messages, up at the top right side of the forum, there is a link. I'll send you my email.

Nevermind - I tried that and it said you couldn't receive a private message. Can you send one to me? I don't want to post my email here as it has my name in it.

hello chaos. i havent been on here latley. i had a surgery that took me down for awhile. and i really dont know how to find my way around on here..lol anyway if you would like to talk some more that would be great. you can email if you like..*edit*look forward to talking to you. thanks.