Hi Mama, Deja, and Foley thank you for the welcomes.

Also Foley welcome! I'll have to look into that cream, I know gaba didn't work when I took it orally. But perhaps if I just like soak in it? Lol.

Hi Lessa,

Some of us use topical magnesium and/or topical medications.

Magnesium -
Many of us use Morton's Epsom Lotion. (Magnesium Sulfate)
Some use magnesium chloride. I have used both and am having the best luck right now with topical pure magnesium chloride, made by Life-Flo.

Life-Flo Pure Magnesium chloride: http://www.life-flo.com/magnesium/magnesium-oil.html

Life-Flo makes other magnesium chloride products as well: http://www.life-flo.com/magnesium.html

While these links show the products, the best prices can be found via an online search from various distributors.


I love the topical pure magnesium chloride. I get so much relief from pain, from spasms with this. I can sleep through the night, most nights, since adding this in to my daily regimen. I use it on my lower legs and feet 2-3 times a day. I do the longest foot massage with this in the evening.



As for topical medications:

Lidocaine - Avail by prescription at higher dose. Available OTC at 4% and marketed by Aspercreme brand. (Other brands are available, yet I have found them to be extremely expensive, while not superior to the Aspercreme brand of lidocaine. There is no Aspercreme in this, by the way.)

Compounding pharmacists can mix topicals according to a prescription.
This often includes drugs like: gabapentin, clonidine, ketamine, flexeril,
carisoprodol (Soma), DMSO, ketoprofen, bupivacaine (Marcaine), lidocaine, etc. I know I am forgetting some.

Here's a thread touching upon topical meds.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread227525.html

I hope this helps. Please do ask any questions.

My best to you and to your wife.

DejaVu

Hi Dejavu, do the topical a aggregate your pain at all with the application? I tried a capsaicin sp? cream once and it was terrible. I'd like to try these though if they help

Hi Megs,

I get significant relief using magnesium chloride, massaging it into my legs/feet. I believe my current relief is from continuing to use this. Over time, this has helped a great deal. I am very sensitive to meds and often cannot stick with meds. I am now taking additional meds, yet I feel the use of magnesium has been extremely helpful. It is the only way I have been able to get any sleep, via relief of pain and spasms.

The pure magnesium chloride "oil" will sting open cuts/wounds/lesions.
The magnesium sulfate lotion (Epsom) did not sting open skin, in my experience.
I do not know if the other magnesium chloride products (lotions, etc., as shown in the Life-Flo link, will sting open skin or not). I may try the chloride lotion soon.

I have had relief with other topicals in the past, including ketoprofen, bupivacaine. I have not tried ketamine. I have also had some negative reactions to some topicals, yet these reactions, for me, were systemic.

Some of our friends here us topicals I have not yet tried or cannot tolerate.

I do not have good luck with capsaicin. It seems to aggravate matters for me. I had tried capsaicin alone and then by first applying lidocaine and then capsaicin. Yet, still, even 2 weeks later, no significant relief. I am a bit suspicious of capsaicin use in these types of conditions, based upon my own experience. Some people find it helpful with peripheral neuropathies. I have tried it, many times, and it seems to aggravate my condition more than helping.

Please be aware: If a med or substance bothers you, as in an allergy or significant side-effects, when taken orally -- it is very likely to give you the same reaction when used topically.

A literature search will basically show there is no proven efficacy for topicals when used with CRPS . I think the studies have not yet been done. I also feel the responses may be individualized. Some people can use topicals I cannot tolerate, for example. It's truly a matter of simply trying options and finding what works best for each of us.

I hope this helps.


DejaVu