Lidocaine IV infusion?
 

I am going to post this here and on PN so if that is not ok I understand and you can delete one. I have RSD and PN as of now but they are still looking more into figuring this out. Anyhow my new pain doctor set out a treatment course starting with the lidocaine IV infusion which I think is a few hours at the hospital and then possibly oral. We are trying to do a few more less invasive things before the temp scs which is a possibility as well. Anyhow can anyone tell me how they responded to the iv and what relief if any,for how long,and side effects?Thank you

My wife received a one day 4 hour infusion of lidocaine several months ago with no benefit. She seemed to have taken the infusion well considering having RSD for 7 years as far as side effects. She and I think that she didn't receive relief from the lidocaine, and earlier ketamine infusions and shots, is because of the length of time she's had RSD. She does, however, like lidocaine cream that she applies on her sore areas, temporary as it is.

Thanks for your reply. I am sorry your wife did not see a benefit and hope she has found or will soon some relief. I think this is more to see how I respond and the next step though he did discuss oral if this helps. I have tried the patches though he said this is way different cause those increased my pain. I have it set just a little nervous which I am usually anyways.

Lidocaine research info
 

Hi - The following is a link to an article that is available on the RSDSA website in the medical articles archives area. It is dated March 2009 and is in regards to 5-day continuous Lidocaine infusions, and is written by Schwartzman:

Author: Schwartzman RJ, Patel M, Grothusen JR, Alexander GM
Title: Efficacy of 5-Day Continuous Lidocaine Infusion for the Treatment of Refractory Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Source: Pain Med. 2009;10(2):401-412.

Other medical articles that might be of interest to you are also available at RSDSA.org. Here is the link to the archives:

http://www.rsdsa.org/2/library/artic...ive/index.html

Good luck. Sandy

Thank you so much I will read that now.

daniella.. could please tell me what Lidocaine infusion is? i had a beir block and what they did was put a cuff on my lef which made all the blood run out of the veins in my foot and then put in a iv in my foot and in the iv was Lidocaine, they did that for 1/2 hour. is that the same thing? thank you michelles

No I think it is different. This one you get an iv in your arm of lidocaine for 2-4 hours in the hospital and they see how your pain responds. If you feel relief then you may do more or try the oral.I have PN too and am not sure if this is more for PN or RSD or what as I have not heard that many doing this on either.

I know a woman on another board who responded very well to the lidocaine infusion. She still takes some meds but over the course of getting her infusions it enabled her to go back to work full-time. Yet again, it's one of those things you just have to try and see what your reaction is.

Daniella is correct. A bier block isn't the lidocaine infusion.

Hugs,

Karen

i have had this once with lido and it is bascily like an iv drip just with the lido.. beir blocks are differnt .. lido isnt a block

hope this helps

carrie

Angel rsd did you recieve any benefits from this and was it the 2-4 hour one and any side effects?
Galena thank you for the hopeful story I appreciate it

YW Daniella! :hug: No matter what we must never give up hope. There is also hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT) which has helped a lot of people too. HBOT isn't covered by insurance though unless it's for an approved condition. The money to do HBOT is usually the stopper for most people because we don't have it and most likely never will. I wish I could get it done but know I'll never have a few thousand dollars unless I win the lottery. LOL

Hugs,

Karen

I looked into HBOT and was going to do it and may but this doc thinks it won't do much. He did suggest acupuncture though not in the areas effected and I talked to the lady yesterday so we will see. I think I will start with this iv and the new meds and go from there. Thanks again

Lidocaine helps
 

Hello there..
I get subcutanious lidocaine infusions every month here in BC Canada and they help me quite a bit, it is left in for 8-10 hours and I take it out myself at home. When I first started the infusions they did an lidocaine IV tester and hooked me up for just over an hour, the nurse asked me questions every now and then about my pain levels and any symptoms. I noticed a little bit of nausia and a headache towards the end and ear ringing so I let the nurse know. I think they may have judged my starting out subcutanious dose on that, but I am not positive (they go by weight as well).

Results didn't last very long, less than a week, but enouph to know it would work well for me.
Side effects only last while you are hooked up and they can be drowsiness, disorientation, slurred speech, respiratory depression, tinnitus, muscle twitching, seizures, slight nausea and/or headaches. Lidocaine is well-tolerated and is relatively safe they say.

Lidocaine got me out of my bed, I was haing a very dificult time with clothes and any slight touch hurting and a breeze anywhere would raise my pain levels sky high, after my first dose I could tollerate more and more it seemed as the treatments went on.. I started in May and by summer I was able to sit and weed in my garden even when there was a slight breeze! And when I think now of what pain I was in before I started these infusions.. my life was going nowhere fast.. I saw no hope before, everything was so oversensitive, even sounds hurt me..

This works for me and I just wish we were all the same so it could work for all of us, it is not a cure, not even close.. but I can laugh again and play with my grandchild, do a chore or two if I pace myself and even walk a few blocks. I hope this can help.

Sandra

Thank you and I am glad you are seeing benefits. I am not expecting a miracle and any relief at this point I would be thankful. It is more I think a starting point of treatments with the scs being the last. What I did like about this pain doc who is doing this is he had a plan if this does not help or if it does but was open to what I wanted to try. Anyhow I have never read about the one you take home. He did say he has a patient who comes in monthly and some he puts on the oral. Well thank you again I like hopeful stories

HI..
 

The diffrence is subcutanious lidocaine infusions meaning into the tissues systemicly, they only give em to patients who have more than one area effected I was told.. because it floods the whole body, I now have full body RSD. They look for fatty tissue to place it in rather than a vein, and though they use a needle initialy they replace it with very thin tubbing soas not to be so invasive usualy..
I will try to post pictures next time I get an infusion done.

Take care and good luck,
Sandra

Any questions just ask.
:hug:

I think I read about what you are talking and they showed it but I could be wrong. The one I will have though is just like an iv bag right for ex if you get fluids like when you go to the er but there is meds in it? I am sorry you have fully body. That is hard as I have now both legs and possibly eyes/ear though it may not now but something neurological/ Well many thoughts and thank you

it was an hour infusion if i remeber correctly.. i didnt help with my rsd tryin to remember tho so i am no help there this was all the way back to 2001 soo its been years.. LOL and i cant remember my name sometimes LOL

carrie

I had one hour of the lido IV infusion. I had no pain for my entire body for only 15 minutes. It was heaven. Unfortunately, pain has gradually return after the infusion stopped. Does insurance cover this treatment? I wonder whether or not i should try for longer period.

Danelia,
Did you have pudenda nerve issues?
Numb

I hear it is very limited amount of time of relief. I think this doctor is usuing it as more of dx of what is causing my pain more. I have peripheral neuropathy and rsd. Not what you stated but who knows anymore. So many doctors and so many opinions.

Liz,

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I don't get it. Why won't they want to keep paying for something that actually works for you? Is it because they know that you'd need it for a long period of time? Is it just the financial side they're worried about? That's terrible.

What treatment are you on now?

I am so sorry Liz that your insurance stopped paying that is horrible. I have heard others with a similar problem. They find something that works and then the insurance makes them stop or switch. I am scheduled for Tues. I am fearful because my body with all the other problems besides RSD I have though the doctors know that I do they are not sure why. I will keep everyone updated. I hope you can fight the insurance company or find something that works for you again. Many thoughts and thanks