The past week I've been in a ton of pain on the bottom of my feet. Last night I finally put lidocane cream on them. It's not always easy to stick my feet up for a while so I can put something on them. I realized that while my skin was numb, the nerves were not numb in the slightest. I had squishy feet that still hurt.

I've read quite a few of you used lidocane patches, so I'm not going to ask for them now. I've tried capcasin, and doesn't seem to help anything either. I don't feel it until the next day, and then when I do I just feel burning in the areas my skin isn't so thick (because I can't do a pedicure).

What other creams or the such should I try next for the bottom of my feet? It's where the CRPS is the worst.

Hi Chaos. My pm dr prescribed voltaren gel for my wrist pain. I don't know if it helps with feet and it isn't sold over the counter either, so you may want to ask your dr what he thinks. It helps me on those really bad pain days especially during the cold winters. I hope it may help you too. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I would suggest either the voltaren gel that Renee suggested or ask your dr for a compounded pain cream. There are many different mixtures your dr could prescribe for you.

One does not get much relief when putting lidocaine cream or patches on the bottoms of the feet. The skin is very thick there.

It is best to apply it to the instep, which then numbs the nerves that go to the rest of the foot.

Don't discard this treatment without experimenting with placement.
I only use the Lidoderm patches on the instep (top of foot), when I need them.

So apply your cream to the instep and do that for 3 days in a row. Sometimes lidocaine takes a while to get going. It will block the sodium channels carrying the impulses of the nerves better that way.

Thanks Mrs D. I'll do the instep for 3 days.

Doc did suggest that we might need to do some compounds. What is a good combo?

Do the lidocaine first. It is the most useful of most the ingredients in the mixtures.

They also put Diclofenac or ketorlac in them (an NSAID), clonidine, a tricyclic like amitriptyline,
gabapentin, ketamine, sometimes magnesium, one of the --caine numbing agents. There are many mixtures and doctors usually have their own.

If you think an NSAID would be useful, Salonpas patches are OTC and very inexpensive to try (original formula). Diclofenac sometimes leads to liver damage over time.

The compound I have is: Diclofenac, Gabapentin, Baclofen, Cyclobenzaprine and Tetracaine.

I hope the lidocaine on the instep (that mrsD suggested) helps you!

Have you tried any compounded creams that include Ketamine? You might want to give that a try. It does work for PN. I know what you have is worse, but I get some very good results for the symptoms. ginnie

No, I haven't tried anything with Ketamine. I have seen it mentioned quite a few times and was going to ask my doc about it.

Do ask your doctor about Ketamine. The script I have has 5 different meds. in it including Ketamine. It really does take the edge off. Let me know how it does for you. All of the folks that have CRPS or RSD will sure want to know too. Take care....ginnie