View Full Version : Lidoderm patch for neuropathic pain
I have tried everything for neuropathic pain these last 14 years of sci, High doses of elavil, neurontin and lyrica, nothing even takes the edge off.
I researched Lidoderm, but medicare would not pay for this expensive lidocaine topical patch. 30 patches is anywhere from 90-180$.!!
Now I have the chance to try it
my father has medical problems and was prescribed this patch. He has agreed to let me try one or 2. Be DAMNED FERERAL LAW LOL.
If this patch works to any degree I will post Monday July 17 th.
And then find a way to pay for it. Money is meaningless if it works.
Hope it works for you - the patches do nothing for me.
firesmurf
07-17-2006, 07:23 AM
znop,I really hope these work for you.they seem to be one of those things that either work for you or don't there really isn't a whole lot of 'in between"?i do have some luck on my central with these patches espescially when I need to go outside and even the slight breeze blowing over the affected areas will just send the pain over the top.keeping the area covered with a lido patch really helps that alot,much better than just wearing a shirt that covers the area.plus this actually allows me to wear a T shirt once in a while on those really hot sucky days.
i have found also (just recently) that these also help with my kidney "expansion' pain?both my kidneys are now approx 19 CMs caused by the polycystic disease I have.they have expanded so much now that they are actually in the abdominal and thorasic area.my left kidney is now actually running from the amdoninal area,kinda sideways thru the hip/rib area and stop right behind my L lung.this shifting has caused me to have some really bizarre aching and burning/stinging in real strange places.when this dlarea up,i just place a patch ver the area for a few hours and while its there,it really does appear to help kinda tone it down to a more tolerable level.
these are also just handy to have around the house for various little injuries that i have from time to time or my son when he had a bad fall and develioped a huge lump along with alot of pain on the front of his tib/fib area.he has had to have lido many many times in the past while going thru liver failure and transplant so I knew it was safe for him to actually try them.
there are other types of pain i have from time to time that I will try the lido and my TENS unit on before resorting to my precious two per day allowed oxy IRs.sometimes they work sometimes they don't.but at least I gave it a shot.
the fact that you have the opportunity to try these without having to actually buy them(it sounds like you do not have ins?i know my pharm,the original price if i did not have ins would be right around 400.00)so I can understand how much this free trial would mean.I just really cannot get over the flippin price of these things tho,geez.sometimes certain docs offices wll have some samples lying around as well.it never hurts to ask ya know?but depending on exactly where and what your pain consists of,this really could help alot.or it may do nothing for you at all,but either way,at least you don't have to pay a freakin fortune just to find out like most people have had to.
i wish you lots of luck,well I suppose by now you have already found out?hope it went well for ya.it never hurts to have a many "back up plans" as possible in your little chest of pain "tools".please let us know how things went.marcia
The patch unfortunately did nothing to help with the neuropathic pain in my feet. Im applied them directly to the side of my left foot and my heel. These are my most troublesome spots. It was worth I try as It did not cost me anything. My father says it has not done much for his shingles which I guess is what the lidodem patch is mostly prescribed for.
As we know some meds work for some and nothing for others. Thanks for the replies.
John
LBUSH49
07-17-2006, 04:55 PM
I'm on the patch ,but luckily workerscomp is paying 60 patches cost $376.00 , If i had to pay out of my own pocket I wouldn't , my opinion is they aren't worth the money , I use them only on rainy days or when my pain is really bad , it takes some of the edge away but not that much ,I would much rather use my spinal stimulator , and when I had my Bladder bypass (ILEAL CONDUIT) done they spent 3 1/2 hours removing scar tissue from the 7 back operations that really helped relieve the back pain ,the pain area I was having was around the Kidney area and that's where I were them , good luck but there not worth the money LBUSH
LBUSH49
07-25-2006, 09:27 PM
I stopped wearing the patch for 4 days and woke up all 4 days with a sharp pain in my Kidney area on my right side then I started wearing the patch again and had no pain , so for me I would have to say they are helping me , but instead of wearing one on each side like I was before I've switched to just on my right side
In the wind
07-25-2006, 10:19 PM
They didn't work for me either...
Broknwing
07-25-2006, 10:23 PM
Larry-
Glad that the patch is working for you....I tend to forget that I've got them and that they work...Also glad that you've got W/C that's paying the outrageous price for them....YEAH!!! Hope your other probs start working themselves out soon....
David Berg
07-25-2006, 10:33 PM
One thing to keep in mind is that, because of the injuries that lead everyone here, a lot of folks here are dealing with pain that has both neuropathic and nociceptive components. Each type of pain requires a different approach. Not to mention that people used to dealing with "quirky" neuro pain can have other things come up from injuries or illness that can cause other sensations and you have to be careful have to not overlook a new problem that needs attention, such as a bum gall bladder or something.
Just thought I'd toss in that reminder.
Broknwing
07-25-2006, 10:36 PM
David-
What is nociceptive? Thx...
zillazangel
08-04-2006, 10:27 PM
David-
What is nociceptive? Thx...
http://www.helpforpain.com/arch2000dec.htm
Check out this link.
David Berg
08-04-2006, 10:38 PM
http://www.helpforpain.com/arch2000dec.htm
Check out this link.
Thanks for catching that for me zillazangel, I missed that question. Short answer is that it's "normal" pain, or "other than neuropathic".
LBUSH49
08-09-2006, 01:13 PM
In the last 2 1/2 weeks my back started to bother me right at the Kidney area , my Urologist sent me for a Cat Scan to check for Kidney stone it came back normal , we hust moved about 2 1/2 weeks ago I lifted something and it was heavier than I thought my wife said I shouldn't be lifting that and then the pain started , even the Lidoderm patches didn't do a thing I'm on Oxycontin 20 MG 3x's and percocet 2 every 4 hours and yet I am still in pain , I can't even stand straight up , I knoe I have bulging Discs at L2-L3 my Urologist thinks I did something to my back , I'm waiting to hear from the DR . at the pain clinic , I've already had 7 back operations , but as for those patches they aren't doing a thing , am I glad workers comp paid for them and not me as the price is so high ; LBUSH