Anything for immediate burning pain relief
 

It has been a while since I was bothered by the burning pain in my left foot. I thought all the meds I am taking would keep the pain from rearing its ugly head! I usually stick my foot in a large pan of ice. Leave it for 5 minutes then take it out and repeat. The last week I have had the pain everyday. And the ice hasn't helped. I am about to scream! Any suggestions for some fast relief?

You could try Biofreeze rub on gel. It can often reduce burning considerably, but it does wear off over time and need to be reapplied.
You can find it now at iherb.com or Amazon.com

If you developing RSD (now called CRPS), then ice is not useful and sometimes harmful.

Another option is to get Lidoderm patches and try 1/2 patch on the top of your foot and see if that blocks some signals.

Some PN pain is generated in the spinal cord along the dorsal roots. If you have this type, then the drugs are usually more useful, like gabapentin. But these are not 100% effective.

If you have compressions in the lower back, then the Lidoderms should be placed there.

I am seeing in your profile you list high blood pressure. What drugs do you take? If an ACE inhibitor you should try having that switched to another. ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin in the body, which can cause swelling and burning in the skin.
(vasotec, altace, Lisinopril are examples). Some people cannot metabolize away the excess bradykinin, and then they develop all sorts of unpleasant side effects.

Do not discontinue your meds suddenly yourself... discuss any changes with your doctor.

Going to doctor tomorrow and will discuss your suggestions. I take (I think) way too many drugs for HB. Labetalol, Lisinipril, Hydralazine, Nifidical, Clonidine, and Lasix. My BP is very hard to control and it still isn't controlled. That's why I am in Stage 3-4 Renal failure!!! But just for the moment, I would like relief from burning!! Thanks

Forgot to ask. What is RSD (CRPS)?

Complex regional pain syndrome Wiki

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) forum

Doc

Well, the doctors like lisinopril for renal patients. I had a terrible attack with it of angioedema... It was awful. I swelled up and burned all over and couldn't breathe...etc. Lisinopril actually made my blood pressure higher...because the side effects stressed me so much that cortisol was a factor in raising the BP higher!

There are some kidney conditions that contribute to PN issues.
I don't know their details.

Low magnesium levels can lead to uncontrolled blood pressure problems too. Magnesium gets low when you use Lasix. Best to try the lotion form sparingly (because you have poor kidney functions), just on that foot.
Morton Epsom lotion may help the circulation in that foot. I use it that way also and find it lowers my blood pressure.

I went from 3 drugs ( lisinopril, cardizem, and Lasix) to just a low dose magnesium application at night + low dose beta blocker atenolol. Getting rid of the that lisinopril changed my life!
It also revealed that I have hereditary angioedema!

I really can't recommend much orally for you because of your poor kidney functions.
You'll have to discuss that lisinopril with your doctor. With all the rest you take, it can't hurt to drop it for a short time to see if you notice any differences. But you have to ask your doctor about that. Excess bradykinin causes swelling and vasodilation all over the body including the blood vessels. Try to keep that foot elevated, because the other drugs you take, also cause edema
(not the Lasix and not so much the beta blocker, but the others cause dependent edema in the legs).

The Biofreeze should be okay for you. It is really nice. So start with it.
Lasix is going to deplete Thiamine over time, and so you should take that to replace what is lost.

Just accept you will be difficult to manage with that renal damage. And also be careful with vitamins and minerals, and many drugs like the Benzos... which can accumulate in renal patients.

So for now, Biofreeze seems to be the first thing to try.

This is Morton Epsom lotion:
http://www.amazon.com/Morton-Epsom-L.../dp/B008X365AU
Apply only to intact skin. And don't use large amounts. A dollop about a quarter's diameter once a day can be enough for your swelling foot.

When you find the answer to this question let me know. Been asking that for over a year now. No immediate in dealing with a flare for me. Nothing works quickly or easily and its different every time. When you think you found a saving grace it will suddenly stop working.

Dimples and Stacy, does your burning pain come on with hot weather, and does it also involve the foot turning red and swollen?

I'm asking because that's my problem. Red/swollen foot and leg came on simultaneously with sensorimotor neuropathy. (Started in left foot, which is always worse, but then spread.)

Your postings were amazingly timely. I had heard of something called "biofreeze" and was wondering if it would help. I too get relief from putting the foot into cold water. Once again I'm grateful for this chat board and the people who contribute their time and expertise.

Lynn

Yes, sometimes. Depends on the day. Some flares are horrid which causes the toes to swell and turn bright red, sometimes it is my heel, or side of foot. Sometimes it is not too bad and I can avoid the painful swelling. There is no rhyme or reason to it, what sets it off, what helps, how bad, its a crap shoot.

Biofreeze ONLY works for me if I use a fan along with it. By itself it does nothing for me.

Heat of ANY kind will send me into a flare, a too hot shower or even a warm shower, it must be quick. Wearing shoes, walking on carpet, or nothing at all can send it into a flare, no rhyme or reason but heat is definately evil for me.

When the toes and foot swells it is worse cuz it hurts so bad. I will stick my foot into cold water, it wont make it go away but it breaks the pain and brings down swelling fast, then I will put it in front of a fan. But cold cold water is great for stopping the painful swell quick.

I also find the spray can biofreeze works better for me than the gel or roll on. Others here say different but for me, the spray is colder and ONLY with a fan does it remotely help.

Probably the spray on is an alcohol effect. Try spraying on isopropyl alcohol.. with the fan...it will cool quickly as it evaporates. This is why nurses do alcohol rubs for fever patients.

The rub on gel has high amounts of menthol in it...which then stimulates cold receptors, and then the burning is masked until the menthol wears off. I don't think the spray Biofreeze delivers the same concentration in the same amounts as the rub/gel.

Using the gel, one should not need a fan at all.

I have the gel, it does nothing for me. I still use it until its gone but wont buy it again, instead I bought the spray. Whatever the reason is, the spray just works for me. The gel does not, even with a fan or not. I guess I should say it does not work as WELL. I do get some cooling but not like with the spray.

Biofreeze is a cooling agent. Menthol is the active ingredient. It is for use with a simple backache, arthritis, bruises and strains. It is a cold therapy and better than ice. Never use heat with it. You can read about it at:

http://www.biofreeze.com/

I tried it once on my feet and could not stand it. It drove my nerves there wild. But, I use it on my calves and my lower back and it is great.

I use Biofreeze and on really bad days, Salonpas Deep Pain gel which is like Biofreeze x10.

I'm getting very good improvement with neuropathy on my feet with Kerasal,NeuroCream. My discomfort is bad tingling, which when I don't treat, turns into a burning feeling. Although Im unsure if my pain is as severe as yours, this cream began working in like two days. I put it on twice a day on the bottom of my foot only. Kerasal makes many foot creams; only the Neurocream works.

Yes, thanks for the reminder:
these are the ingredients:
Stronger than Biofreeze (which does not have the methyl salicylate) and

and stronger than Salonpas Arthritis strength patches.

I am going to order this today! I haven't been out lately, due to the ice and snow, but I will certainly get out for this item! ;)

I am not finding it at stores near me, but I see Amazon has it.
So Amazon it is. ;)

http://www.salonpas.us/product/salon...relieving-gel/

I am currently still using the patches, on my fingers... as I have some inflammation there lately. I cut these into thin strips for 3 fingers so I can bend them.

I may try it also. On a side note, my walmart stopped stocking the epsom mag lotion and wont reorder. This is sad news. :mad:

No kidding! It is still listed on their website!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Morton-Uns...fl-oz/23711655

You should ask the pharmacy to order it for you.

It is showing "in stock" on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Morton-Epsom-L...n+epsom+lotion

I guess some walmarts carry it while others do not. My mom lives in Florida and she has to drive to a further away walmart to get it. I am going to try other walmarts. I did talk to the person in the pharmacy she said they would not be getting it in but did not offer to order it, but I can go back and ask. I will try the other two walmarts first. They are not so great with ordering or caring much there. I hate dealing with them.

I get it from Amazon too. It's so potent that when I apply it to my hands, I have to keep them away from my face until it is absorbed or it makes my eyes water. But it really does work.

Well, Beatle....

I found the Salonpas Deep at our WalMart. And I applied it to my swollen finger...which has been acting up for weeks now.

At first the sticky stuff bothered me, but it has been 2 hrs now and the swelling has gone down considerably...the skin had been tight and shiney, and now that is gone. I can flex the finger normally!

Tonight will be my left ankle...as it is acting up this week too.
That will be a bigger test...;)

Thanks for pointing this out here. I appreciate the information
immeasurably! It was only $7.97 for 2oz too. ;)

Hi MrsD,
I am so glad it helped! Hopefully will help your ankle too. I find it to be very potent and that's exactly what is needed sometimes. ;)

You found it at a great price too. I looked at my purchase history on Amazon and the first time I bought it, it was $11.85 and the second time $13.94.

Well, beatle...so far it is working great on my right hand.

So last night I decided to use it on my right knee, with the right hand applying it, I got a double therapeutic effect.

I've always thought my knees are referring to my feet, so I will apply again only on the right side tonight. It appeared that the knee itself is about the same and maybe a bit more unstable but my right foot feels better, this morning. I applied the gel down my right shin too.

So I do agree, this is a nice product. But the vehicle it comes in --the gel-- is rather messy and sticky and takes a long time to dry. (Biofreeze is more elegant IMO).

Tylenol had a product like this with a lotion base, and high menthol content and it did not work for me at all. But this Salonpas is doing well.

I am continuing with it to find my rhythm for best results. And I do appreciate your sharing it with us here. Others can try it too.
(it is not at Target yet, hubby looked this morning) So only WalMart so far locally for us.;)

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. 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

Having read the two posts about Salonpas Deep Relieving gel, I placed an amazon.com order. So far it seems to be helping--actually reduces the redness and some of the burning. THANKS for the tip.