gels and creams
 

do any of you use ketamine or lidocaine compound gels?
steff

Not tried them. I have just recently tried the Bio-Freeze gel (go to their site and ask them to send you a sample) and I must say I'm very impressed. I expected a feeling of extreme cold or heat and had neither. All I felt was 'normal'. No pain and the sensation of burning in my feet was gone. I'm going to get some more as soon as I can afford it.

Word of caution...this stuff is strong and will clear your sinuses better than anything I've ever used. So make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after using the gel. I can only imagine how painful this stuff would be if one were to get it in their eyes.

Barbara

I use the lidocaine patches, not gel. I don't know anything about the gel, except once being given it for a mouth sore.

I find the lidocaine patches work 100% on one nagging problem: I get itching on the top or sides of my feet that has the potential to drive me nuts and keep me awake. But the patches silence the itching totally.

I also have gotten relief when I get a repetitive sensation of stabbing that seems to be from one nerve over and over, usually, again, on a foot. A patch the size of a nickel over the spot can stop the shocking sensations.

I'm wearing the patch right now. I forgot I had it on.

I have sciatica and the weather here in Brooklyn is nuts. One day you freeze, the next day it's 90 degrees.

So around 4 p.m. I couldn't move without pain, so I got a patch, gave it to Alan, he put it on my lower back. Forgot it was even there.

And Alan walked to the Feast (a festival they have in Brooklyn in August). The man hasn't walked anywhere in 18 months.

Tonight he walked 12 blocks there and back to our house.

Now that is a miracle.

Melody

i use the lidocain patch, they do almost nothing for me. just a little surface skin pain. does nothgin for the deep nerve throbbing up and down my legs or in my feet. i wish it would do something for one spot. i have on in each foot that is horrid.
it seems when i read the posts that many people can walk a little. i really cant walk and i hurt so bad i want to check out
i was wondering about the ketamine.
steff

Steff:

What does the neurologist say about this?

From the way you describe things, it sounds more like you need a medication that works all over. I think you mentioned Cymbalta or maybe Lyrica, neither of which I know anything about, but maybe it would be a good idea to just accept that you are going to have to take something like this to get some relief. All meds have some side effects, but those beat checking out.

I still wonder if inflammation is not the key here. If it is, it probably would not take very much inflammation of sensory nerves to make you miserably uncomfortable...

Hang in there,
Cathie

cathy
 

What did you mean by this:?
I still wonder if inflammation is not the key here. If it is, it probably would not take very much inflammation of sensory nerves to make you miserably uncomfortable...
lyrica cant take-
might try another antidepressent on monday-
neuro out of town-
cant seem to get anywhere-just want to drug me up-
seems to me other people get more care or different help-
maybe mine is hopeless according to the docs
steff

suggestion--
 

Lidocaine patches (Lidoderms) often have to be placed carefully. I have found that placing them over the nerves where you think you feel pain, can fail.

Try placing them higher...in the lower back on the side of the pain. This works
better for me for 90% of my issues. This numbing then interrupts the signals before they get to the spine or nerve roots.

Hi Steff:

What I meant was that if inflammation is playing a part in your pain, perhaps treating for inflammation, rather than just pain medication alone, would have some positive results...

Has anyone tried you on any anti-inflammatories? I am sorry I can't remember if you have posted about this or not... Old age, I guess...

Cathie

I agree w/Mrs D
 

Also the size of those 4x6" patches? Well, I cut them up with a pair of 'dedicated scissors' [the glue stuff is very sticky on the scissors and ....] and use 2/4" or 3x3" bits where I need them, when I need them. Remember you can't use any one on you for more than 12 Hours. I use them about every other day sparingly as needed. At times I find I'm more irritated by the adhesive than the actual stuff in the patch.
I've found that for some reason the patches' stuff can go in deeper than topicals, but if I've a deep pain, the Tramadol and the like is MUCH better. - j

PLO gel
 

Steff,
One of the neuro's I saw precribed PLO gel which is a mixture prepared by a compounding pharmacy. It's a combo of neurontin, ketamine, tegretol, amitriptyline and magnesium chloride in a cream which is used for pain. It can help w/ severe burning and lancinating pains in my feet and toes.
Alkymst

Hi Alkymst:

I have a question. Alan sometimes has the pain between his toes. Two on the right and three on the left (maybe I have it backwards), but these are the toes that are affected. No place else.

Are you saying that he can go to a pharmacy and they can make up a compound that he can rub into his feet and he will be pain free.

He has used the blue stuff, the capsaicin (forget about what that did to him), and bio-freeze but honestly, none of that stuff does a thing for him.

So exactly what does he ask the pharmacist to do?

Thanks much.

Melody

Great for Alan being able to walk somewhere! It is so exciting...I went to a grocery store last week and was able to shop WITHOUT a motorized cart for the first time in a while and was so proud! It feels so good when you are able to do something again that you thought you would never get to do.

Mel...
 

a doctor has to write an RX for any of those compounded creams.

I don't know if Tegretol, or gabapentin is necessary for Alan ...
as he can get around pretty well.

Perhaps just lidocaine in ointment form would work for him. That requires an RX too. Is he still on Lyrica? So no gabapentin is necessary (that is Neurontin).

You can ask the podiatrist next time you go...you find out if your insurance pays. Many compounding pharmacies do not take insurance. They make you pay, then submit your own claim.

No, he's not on lyrica. He took it a long time ago for about a week. Did absolutely nothing for him. He can't take neurontin because it made him deathly ill. We did ask the podiatrist about the trigger point injections but he said "that's not my field, you need to speak to your doctor, or a pain management doctor".

When Alan asked his doctor, he was told to "ask the podiatrist".

If you think he's going to start playing musical chairs with these guys, you don't know my husband. He'll just go back to the gym because that's what got him better in the first place. And now that the ulcer is healed, he'll think he's Rocky Balboa except he can't go on treadmills.

I will ask about a compound cream Just for when he sleeps. Even with the sponges, cotton balls, whatever, there is still a residual pain there. Over 15 years now. But it's much better. It would be so nice if he could be completely pain free when he goes to bed at night. But it is better with the sponges or cotton balls between his toes. That much I know.

Right now, he is sitting in the kitchen looking at a Harriet Carter Catalogue.
His recliner broke last week so he has to sit on the couch when he watches his programs.

He just sat up in the kitchen and shouted "I've found it, I've found it". I said "you found what??" and he showed me in the catalogue this blow up mattress (kind of like an aerobed). I looked at Alan like he lost his mind and I said "Have you lost your mind?" "You want to buy a blow up mattress and put it in the living room to watch tv?, why on earth do this, just go and sit on the couch". He said "no, this is nice, it's only $19.95 and we can blow it up, and I can put pillows and lay down and watch tv".

My response: "over my dead body".

Don't know about Dunkin Donuts tomorrow

lol

MelodyA follow-up to MrsD's
 

comments re: the compounding pharmacy, she's absolutely right the gel requires a prescription and most compounding pharmacies do not take insurance. They require payment up front, then you submit on your own, at leas tthat's bene my experience. The advantage to the compounded gels is that the drugs are absorbed locally and not taken systemically so much of the side affect profile can be reduced but you'd realy need an in depth discussion w/ your PCP to konw if this is reasonable for Alan. I was told the gels generally weren't prescribed for use between the toes because of the possibility of providing an environment for a fngal growth like athlete's foot.