[fionab]

Well, I finally got the compounded pain cream and was excited about using it and getting away from the Flector patches, that need about 100 foot of medical tape to hold them in place. So, I eagerly had my husband apply the cream into my upper shoulders and let me tell you, I am one hurting puppy! My shoulders did NOT like being rubbed at all, and the instructions say that the cream has to be rubbed in for 1 - 2 minutes. I had to tell him to stop rubbing after about 20 seconds, I just couldn't take the pain. So I've spent the last 3 days in a lot of pain and have gone back to the Flector patches.

I contacted the pharmacy and they said, sorry, that's the way it needs to be applied. Ten more days until I see the 2nd pain mgmt. dr. and hopefully he'll have some answers. Please pray for me...haven't hurt like this in a long time. Had to go to my hair dresser to get my hair washed because I just can't do anything with my shoulders/upper arms hurting like this.

[Mark56]

I knew there was a reason I was to come back here before logging off for the night- you needed prayer, that was it. We who are your pray-ers on here are at the job. It is hard, so hard for you the sensitivity of your situation does not allow the application of the cream even gently rubbed on. My prescribed cream is provided to help if I am suffering nerve pain my stim won't handle, maybe overdoing it or something. Lately, I have been glad to have it, for when my right arm was acting up [it has had three surgeries to redo the nerve situation along the way] I have no stim to help the arm. The lumbar stim applies to my waist and below.......

So I rub the cream on my arm, and it does help. Even if you can tolerate bare touch gentle rubbing, it would disperse the cream where you need it. I imagine that is asking a lot, but you do not need Swedish massage, or any massage, just gently touch to the skin to get in on/in, your body will to the rest. If your nerve receptors at the skin level are hyposensitized I can imagine you are way over the top anyway, though.

Praying all will be well with you and that you have blessings and grace to make it until that next appointment,
Mark56 [gentle z]

[CoralToe]

So sorry to hear you are hurting because of this. All I can really say is try as Mark suggested and rub it in lightly. I have hyper-sensitive skin on the top of my foot (where my nerve damage is) and after about a week of using the cream the sensitivity was much less - ie the cream was doing its job. Try as hard as you can to give it a week, and maybe, just maybe it will help you as it helped me. Hang in there!

[Saffy]

Why not apply thickly and cover with tape so it is absorbed into the skin that way. I so feel for you. Sending you my love and thoughts.

[yellow]

So sorry to hear it hurt so badly. Heather brings up a good point, though. A lot of doctors push desensitization- I know mine did with physical therapy. My PT started out rubbing my knees and that first time it was extremely painful. She had me then do it to myself every day and while my knees are still hypersensitive and there is still pain from touch, the desensitization has helped and the pain is actually less. So while as hard as it is to go through the extreme pain at first, maybe in the end it will actually be a positive and you'll come to a point where you're less sensitive. It's probably not what you want to hear and it takes courage, but if you're willing to try it, it might end up helping you as well, and then you'll still be able to use the cream.

[fionab]

Thanks to all. I didn't even think that this was a process, using this cream. I assumed that rubbing it in would just help...period. Didn't consider that I may be hypersensitive. The pharmacist was pretty serious when she said it had to be rubbed in for 1 - 2 mins. and I told her I just can't handle that.

I had thought about applying it to something like tape and just laying it over the area, but the area is such a large area I wouldn't know where the best place would be to apply it and I'd probably use up most of the cream they sent me after four or five times.

Unfortunately it has set me back, pain wise, and I'd like to wait until this calms down before I try doing it a different way. I've had to go to the hairdresser about 6 times since this whole thing got worse after the botox shots, so that's why I was so excited about the pain cream. This whole thing... it's getting OLD!! Lord, give me patience...and I want it right now!!

I go see my reg. PCP so maybe he can give me a Kenalog shot or something so I can get a break from this pain cycle, and then I can rethink this whole thing.

Again, thanks everyone. It's so great to know that I can always come here and get good advice and encouragement

[ginnie]

I sure will pray for you today too. I wish the application of the cream was not so painful. I am sorry you have this serious condition. You will be in my thoughts. ginnie

[Saffy]

In my thoughts too .. one feels so hlepless at times like this, but I do believe the power of good vibes. xx

[CoralToe]

Another thing that may be worth trying....My Dr also gave me lidoderm patches to use on bad days - this is basically a topical anesthetic that kind of numbs the pain. Maybe it would be possible to apply on of these a couple hours before the cream - to make your skin not so sensitive to the process of rubbing in the cream for 1-2 minutes? Hopefully you can find some way to make this work.

-Heather

[Rrae]

Fiona, I'm sorry to be getting in on this so late
My heart sank when I saw this....the botox was a bust, and I was sure hoping this would get you some much needed relief. Hopefully like the others are saying, it won't seem quite so sensitive in a few days. Like you said, let it settle down first. I hope your Dr will have some input on this.

I was thinking, maybe some folks at the RSD forum would have some pointers to share. The thought never even entered my mind that skin would be too sensitive to welcome the cream. Wouldn't hurt to post a question over there also, maybe?
I'm so very sorry about this.

I'm praying for you my friend

Rae