Topical or ointment for nerve pain relief
 

I'm a 41-year-old with small fiber periperhal neuropathy, diagnosed about 6 months ago. Experiencing moderate pain, tingling, burning and numbness, mostly in my feet. Also deep aching in my arms and legs.

I've been taking Cymbalta 60mg/day for 4 months but, after running out of pills during Hurricane Sandy and being forced to go cold turkey, I've decided to stop taking it. The withdrawals were horrible (like a bad stomach flu + complete sleeplessness); my pain level increased only slightly.

Because my pain level is moderate for now, I'd like to try an ointment or topical solution before resorting to pills again.

My doctor suggests Zostrix, Traumeel or Sombra.

Any recommendations or feedback would be most appreciated!

Thanks and be well,
APJH

This is what is in Traumeel:
http://www.vitacost.com/heel-traumee...ntment-3-53-oz
This is homeopathic meaning the amounts of those ingredients are thousands to a a millionth of a gram in content.
You cannot apply it over large areas either, according to the manufacturer.

In fact I don't know of any topical you can apply over large areas.

For burning feet, Biofreeze is very good. It is available on Amazon now (less money) and iherb.com for a bit more $$.

Also for pain in the feet, Lidoderm patches placed on the instep may work. This is RX only.

There are also compounded creams from compounding pharmacies that doctors order...that contain various recipes.
They may have gabapentin, ketamine, clonidine, amitriptyline, lidocaine, etc combined or with other ingredients too.

Deep aching may respond to NSAIDs taken orally. Or aspirin if you can tolerate it or your doctor approves. Aspirin is very effective but must be used carefully, because of bleeding potential. Of all the NSAIDs naproxen has the least affect on the heart, so is often the most commonly prescribed. But all NSAIDs carry risks.

There is another cream called Zonalon--it is mostly for itching, but
some people here have used it successfully on the feet for tingling etc.
Can't use all over the body either...it comes in a small tube to discourage this.

Sombra looks similar to Biofreeze. But I don't have personal experience with it. Biofreeze has been out for so long and has a
huge success rate therefore. Sombra has a boatload of other ingredients, which may or may not be useful.

Hello APJH
 

Welcome to Neuro Talk. I do use a lotion, that works great. It is a compound recommended by my orthopedic doctor and a physiatrist. I have PN or RSD.
Here are the Ingrediants, it would be worth asking your doctor about. Takes away burning and pins and needle like sensations.

KETAMINE/CLONID./GABAP./IMIPR./MEFEN ACID/ TETRACAINE (5) 10/0.2/6/3/3/2%CREAM..
This is not 100% effective but it does help. ginnie:hug:

I was prescribed Neurocain by my pain doctor. Lists Keta, Gaba, Lido, Clon on the label. Doctor said it had pharmaceutical cocaine in it. I use it on my feet. If you have mainly topical pain, it will definitely help you. I would recommend it. Great numbing agent. It comes out of Eagle Pharmacy in Birmingham, Alabama.

Hi brue
 

Your med. compound is very similar to the one I use. Glad it helps you too. I am not sure why more PN and RSD sufferers, are not told about this more often. ginnie:hug:

I can tell you that Zostrix has the hot feature in it. You almost have to take medicine for the fire it causes. However, if you are stiff as a board from arthritis, zostrix is great for that. Zostrix causes the burning pain I am trying to get rid of.

Hi APJH,
I am new to this board, and recently stumbled across your earlier post (from May when you were recently diagnosed).

This is not in reply to your most recent post, but to your earlier one. You said causes had been ruled out. I saw there were then some discussion of Vit B12 (worth checking into and I am certain that was useful). Someone pointed out there are recent changes to the concept of what constitutes a low B12.

Did you know that some of the blood tests can turn positive (for certain antibodies, such as for Lupus) even 2 years after the initial diagnosis of SFN. Some doctors seem to believe these antibody tests should be repeated every 6 months or so for a couple years after a SFN develops, and one initial negative test is not necessarily a full rule-out (as the SFN can precede the positive antibody status).

Second thing I wanted to mention: there is such a thing as antibody negative celiac disease. We have it in my family. Some members were antibody positive (mostly the younger people) while the adults with it have been serology negative (even with what was in retrospect obvious celiac, including lactose intolerance, weight loss, etc, and then damage to villi). I have also seen so-called "silent celiac" (no gastro symptoms but other damage which is shown on full workup).

So my advice is make sure you don't have one of the stealthy forms of celiac. If you don't mind me saying it, I would not rule it out based on one negative blood test.

Since you live in NYC maybe you could make an appt at the Celiac Center at Columbia. They are terrific. Very helpful and they will get it right. Many/most physicians (even great ones in other ways) do not know the ins and outs of celiac. If it is celiac then a gf diet would treat the SFN, it might even cure it.
:cool:
Good luck. I hope this was helpful. And I hope my post went up properly, as this is my very first post to this board.
Merry Christmas!
Fiver

Re: celiac disease, etc.
 

Fiver, thank you so much for your post. It did go up properly--nice job!

As this new year began, I made one resolution: to keep investigating what could be causing my SFN in order to treat it. I've been suffering for a year and I'm fed up with being in pain and being slowed down by SFN.

I started seeing a nutritionist last month and she wanted me to spend 2 wks eliminating toxins from my body before going forward. So I've eliminated all chemicals and what she calls "Frankenfoods" (anything artificial or processed). So... no more high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated oils, soy lecithin or other chemical additives.

I will follow up with her next week and talk about eliminating specific food groups. If she thinks celiac disease could be lingering, I will make an appt. at the Celiac Center. (Thank you so much for the recommendation!)

Also, after a severe migraine put me in the hospital last month (never had a headache anywhere near that severe), a CT scan revealed that I have some hardened calcium deposits in my brain. Nothing to worry about, the docs told me, but...yup...I went straight to Google and found some links between calcification and nerve problems. So I will discuss that with my neurologist when I see him next week.

Thanks to all for your advice, recommendations and support!

Here's to less pain and better health for all of us in 2013!

Best,
APJH

Hi mrsD. Thanks very much for your response. My doc prescribed Lidoderm patches and I tried them for 1 week. I was extremely disappointed that they did not work for the pain or burning at all. Also, they kept bunching up and would NOT stay in place. Extremely frustrating all around.

That said, I have about 45 of the 60 patches left, if anyone wants to try them! :)

Because BioFreeze is pricy, I'm trying to get my hands on a sample to try before I buy some. My acupuncturist may be able to get me a sample.

Thanks again for your reply and here's to less pain in 2013!

Best,
APJH

Amen! Less pain and more strength for each of us!