Pain Patches
 

I know quite a few people use patches for pain relief - what are you folks using? I need to come up with some ideas to throw at my doc as my pain levels are still high and the short acting pain killers she has given me make me feel like I am on a pain-roller coaster.

Thanx!

Lidoderm patches are what I use. I like them, you can wear a maximum of 3 patches 12 hours on, 12hours off. My skin get a little irratated if i used them for a few days in a row, but somewhat less often they are great.

ALso- I ahve mentioned on the today I thread that I really like Opana ER, which your doc may not be familiar with since it is new. It is long acting (12hour) oxymorphone. I was on vicodin before it, and 1 10mg Opana is equal to ~4 vicodin over the 12 hours.

I like the Lidoderm patches too. They are expensive but my prev Dr said that they can be worn longer as they only lose 5% of the drug after 12 hrs of wear. The 12 hr limit has to do with having the patch on the skin. I place the patch on saran style wrap after I am done wearing it and reapply to clean skin again for up to a week. I use medical tape on the corners of the patch to reapply the next time. You may need to try diff. medical tapes to find one that works w. your skin. shhh--don't tell the pharm co. And yes, you can wear up to 3 at a time in this cost effective manner.

I have been trying lidorderm patches but have not felt they work. Dr. Togut told me to cut them in half and wear for 23 hours per day. I haven't noticed a difference. Or, maybe it would be worse if I didn't use them. I don't know. I used to use a pain patch 7 years ago that I don't recall the name. But, that was more of a narcotic absorbtion patch instead of injesting I believe. It has been so long. I'm going to stick to the lidorderm and hope that helps. Good luck. Linda

different kind of patch
 

Hi Jamy,
My patches are mailed to me from a compounding pharmacy. They don't hurt when you take them off as they are like a huge bandaid. They contain ketamine and lidocaine. I can wear each of them for 24 hours. I noticed a huge difference when I switched over from the Lidoderm patches a couple years ago, but I have a few of those to use also. Also, some people have lido, ketamine and antiinflammatories like ibuprofen & elavil (antidepressant) added to a cream and use that.
Hope


reread

ola chicita
 

Hi J,

We can get lidoderm up here...funny you should ask now I just asked my pharmacist on Thursday!!!!!:p

I am looking into drug com. and will update you with the info!!
love V

LIDODERM PATCHES ARE DEFINITELY HELPFUL
Have learned where the mainstream nerve to place them for maximum relief.
I wanted to use a box full everywhere
Just had to find the right nerve channel that would help ALL my areas of pain.

:D Yes, I really need one big enough to cover my whole back :D

[QUOTE Just had to find the right nerve channel that would help ALL my areas of pain.[/QUOTE]

Olecyn-can you describe the placement that works for you?

Thanx...I have had problems with local freezing in the past (esp at the dentist) but have 'challenge tested' O.K. to lidocaine which I understand is the main ingredient in the patches...so there should be NO reason that she shouldn't at least consider perscribing them...I need to get more relief...

lidoderm
 

I don't feel any difference from the lidoderm patches. I am placing them where Dr. T. told me and I do not feel a difference. I wish they would help. This way I could lessen up on pain meds. The pain is basically centralized so I think the patch would be the best. I don't need meds for my whole body.

Linda

Grrrr
 

My doc had never heard of Lidoderm patches and couldn't find any info on them so wouldn't perscribe them...but is open to me finding info and giving it to her...

LJ
 

I use the max which is 3 and wish I had a whole body patch myself just like Jkat.

At the beginning they worked FAB.
Then I stopped cause i didnt think they were doing anything.
It kinda wore off???
When I found Dr. Agnew he said to USE them.
I just had to play with placement until it worked and for me
For me they work on my inner upper arms where the nerve bundles start to thread out
Sometimes I'm walking around with them on my brachial plexus sites cause it feels like someone has literally socked me.
Then there are times I use them on my traps, my hands and wrists.

My PT also does phonophoresis on my BP, pec minor and traps so thats been helping too.

Lidoderm patches
 

JohannaI've got to use these more often. I haven't felt a difference but maybe I am not placing them properly. My right trap is my PROBLEM. This is what is causing ALL the pain. Dr. T. said I have to tame this and then sympotms will "hopefully" go away. My husband caught me three times the other night with my arms over my head. I have tried sling, tying with a bath robe belt and putting my arm in my shirt while I sleep. Not working well. I am reincarnated from Hoodini(?) sorry don't know how to spell his name. I doh[t know what else to do! When I wake up after having my arm up, the pain is terrible. I don't know how else to restrain my right arm.

sleeping troubles...ACK!!!
 

:Hum: :Dunno: :Scratch-Head: :Bang-Head:

What if you sleep with your head right up against the wall/headboard? then there won't be room for your arms above your head- just a thought.

My hubby put my arms down this AM when he got up- woke me up while he did it- who knows how long i slept that way *grr*

another thought- get a body pillow and curl up with it on your side- make sure you have good support under your head, though. I only do the arms above head thing when i am on my back. :Zzzz:



I have also been searching for the answer, so i really really sympathize. I tried my pil-o-splints on the other night and they hurt- not sure why. i wonder if it is that my hands are a bit swollen (or just plain fatter) and now they are too small :Sigh:

Thankfully with my thyroid resolved i have been able to have a little energy left for exercise...GOT to shed some pounds!! I have about 5 extra from the 3.5yo and 15 more from the almost 2yo. :eek:

Keep at it, maybe you will stumble onto something.

Johanna

Thanks Johanna. I slept with my arm inside my shirt last night. I woke up with it out but don't know if arm was over my hea. I'll keep trying!

Linda

I sleep on my back 50% of the time (and SNOOOOOOOOOOOORE)... doc suggested seweing a tennis ball to the inside of the shirt so that when i roll to my back..... i won't stay. I also sleep on my left side, which is a HORRIBLE idea for me.

as far as lidoderm patches - i love em!

Fentanyl Patches
 

Hi Jamy,

After being on short-acting pain meds (vicodin, percocet) for quite some time and being disappointed with the pain relief, my pain doc switched me to the fentanyl pain patch, which releases medicine at a constant rate & does not have the peaks/valleys associated with the short-acting pain meds. It's been far more effective for me, although of course for our type of pain nothing helps entirely but I get a noticeable, steady decrease in pain and increase in functionality with the patch. I started with a 25 mcg/hour dose but that wasn't strong enough so we quickly moved to 50 mcg/hour. The patches get changed every three days. You can shower, bathe, swim, etc, with the patch on but I buy a tape to cover it to help it stick and seal better, and last longer so I can soak in the tub, etc, without worrying about it coming off. The tape is called "OpSite Flexifix", I buy it in rolls of 2" by 11 yds online.

I do also use the Lidoderm patches, and even use the Flexifix to affix the Lidoderm patches!

Good luck, Jamy!!!! It can be difficult to ask for stronger/different meds but believe me, the improvement in quality of life can be worth it so I encourage you to have an honest, open discussion with your doctor and hopefully you will have good results.

Take Care!
Nolina

no luck yet
 

Hi,
No luck yet with the pathes.....sorry....hope to find more time this week to call pharmacutical companies to see who makes what!!

hugs,
V