Anybody using Lidocaine patches?

[Woody]

These patches were made for shingles pain, my pain management doc turned me on to them for S1 related foot pain & calf cramping. I've been using them for minor to severe muscle cramps, they helped me! When my scar-tissue bothers me in the L5-S1 I put half a patch on, numbs it right out. Your Doc will have to write a script for them, they cost $120. a box of 30, my co-payment was 10 bucks.
Just wanted to pass this on, I've been a spinie for 10 years now an been visiting BT1 since 1997, great info that doc's don't want you to know...

Does anybody know what there made from-he-hee? Ric

[Muddin' Mama]

All I know is that they're colder than hell when applied, so warming them up somewhere (like sitting on the unopened package for 5 minutes), works really well.

I was prescribed the Lidoderm patches originally for the bone harvesting site, but have used them for my continued low back pain under many circumstances with some relief. There's a ton of them per box & I got 4 boxes, so the supply is almost endless. :D

[lookingup58]

Hi Woody
I use these patches for my Meralgia Paresthetica in my upper leg area. It was first given to my by a Neurologist (sp?) several yrs ago. It gave me a lot of relief from the pain, burning, cramping muscles and most of all the sensitivity to touch that I have with MP. I cannot stand the rubing of clothing or bedsheets against my left thigh and above the knee. The patch helps so much.

We were also sent a message by a person stating you can become immune to them and they suggested moving the patch around to different areas to avoid this happening. They also included a picture showing where they placed the patch for MP it was over the location of the nerve.

I also know of another person who used the patch on their back at night time to cope with the pain level of their spine. You are suppose to wear them for no longer than 12 hrs. a day.

I cut mine in 2 pieces and place them at different locations.

They are expensive it you do not have prescription coverage.

Lookingup58!!!

[buriedinbooks]

Hi Woody.

I've been using the Lidoderm patches for several years as needed. My rheumatologist suggested them to me.

Can use up to three at night. I cut each one in half and use them on the top of my feet, knees, cervical spine area and shoulders.

Only complaint... sometimes lose their ability to adhere to my skin so I use some surgical tape.

Have a low/no pain day! Carly

PS For new users...cutting these will make your scissors sticky (need to be cleaned after each cutting)...so a separate pair of scissors just for the patches works well.

[Woody]

Glad to hear some respone about the patches, I was taking narcotic's for work related pain but working in a paint dept got me so buzzed-up my PM gave me these. I used them for 2 years steady at work to get my retirement in, now I cut back on them. Had a flare up in the groin lately and started using them again, hurts more to take them off in that area doe-ha! I was told there made from the coca plant, cocaine, they take the coca out to make the patch. That's just what I was told, maybe a Doc would know more, but if you go for a drug test u better tell them your using them. Best

[mrsD]

Lidoderms for a while now. We had a big thread on Chronic Pain at OBT
about them. Also at MP forum.

They are a water based adhesive..very different from some other patches.

So people often have trouble with them sticking. If you clean the area
first with alcohol and dry it thoroughly, that may help. Also on very curvey areas of the body,
you can cut them into strips and stick them down (sort of like an accordian), and use tape on them. If you perspire alot where they need to go, that is
a problem.

Placement is important too. At least for my MP placement higher up where the
nerve exits the abdomen, that worked best.

For spinal issues, the area where that nerve root exits the spine is often the
best place. I have also used them behind my knee for knee pain. (on the back of my thigh just before the knee bend).

[Tbackpain1]

I use them as well. As MrsD stated, they work best for spinal stuff if they're placed over where the exiting spinal nerve root is. I also use up to 3 at a time, cut in half and placed pretty much running parallel to my spine, though sometimes I also use them for intercostal nerve pain.

They're a handy tool to have around at times, because the spasms I have often don't respond, even to escalating doses of pain meds and antispasmodics.

Theresa

[Kathi49]

Hi All,

I used them off and on for about 4 years but then one day they made me real sick. I don't know why as I had cut them up so it wasn't like there was a huge patch on me. Or, it could have just been that I was on other meds at the time and maybe had a reaction. In any case, they do work well!

[ellitoid]

I just started with these patches and i have a mixed feelings on whether they work or not. I do not like sleeping with them when you move around in your sleep the loose their stick and get all twisted up.

suring the day they are ok they do releive some of the burning pain in my lower back but for some reason they do not work as well up in the cevical spine area.

any helpfull suggestions??

thanks, glad to find this i miss the old braintalk.

sharon

[longdogs4ever]

Are the lidoderm patches narcotic? If they are I dont think I can ask for them. My doc will not prescribe narcs, and I have no idea why.

[Tbackpain1]

No, they are not narcotic (controlled substance), and there is no risk of addiction/dependence. They are Lidocaine (sorta like Novicaine) in a patch format, in a gel suspension which is absorbed through the skin over a 12 hr period. There are narcotic patches, but those contain Fentanyl, which is a wholly different drug class completely.

Hope this helps some.

Theresa

[maw1953]

I have been using the patches for about a year now. I am scheduled for a 2 level lumbar fusion on Nov 1st. I am only using 1 patch per night on my lower back. Being on time released morphine I am not sure if they are helping me or not. I have noticed lately that my skin is burning in the morning when I take the patch off. I leave it on for about 10-11 hours.