Lidocaine/Amtryptaline? Pain Cream

[medic1]

Lately my legs have been extremely painful. It almost feels like my legs are having an anxiety attack; not sure if that makes sense to anyone or not, I just dont even know how to explain how they feel. It is mainly in my calves, but sometimes my hips and low back, and somtimes I wish I could cut myself in half to get rid of everything below my injury. My doctor gave me this cream. It has Lidocaine and Amtryptaline, not sure if I am spelling that right. It seems to work for a bit, but I am applying it 2-4 times a day and it is really expensive. I do get reimbursed from my ins., but have to come up with the money initially. I cant even get it filled at any pharmacy near by, there is only two places and the are both over 2 hours away. Has something to do with it being a compound.

Anyway, I am going nuts, and dont know what else to try. I take Ultram 100mg XL but it doesnt seem to last for very long either. Does any one have suggestions? My doc said no to neurotin cause he doesnt want it to make me any more fatigued than I already am. I tried Lyrica but it messed with my bowel program. Is anyone else getting this kind of feeling of pain? and what do you do for it?

[cheesecake]

Ask about Lidoderm patches and oral amitriptiline(sp). I use the patch at the top of the nerve pain and it helps. 10-12 hrs on 12-14 off. Wear it to ofter and you become desentised to it.

I have a pain management program that was worked out carefully and systematically over 10-12 months. Three years later it is still works. I use gandlian nerve blocks, oral pain meds, PRN meds and the patches. I still get breakthrough neuropathic pain but it is managable. Staying busy helps a lot as well.

Good luck.

[medic1]

I have the lido patches, I usually use them for back and hips but I think the effectiveness is decreased by my extra baggage. As far as the oral ami.. i am not sure if my doc will prescribe it or not. He thinks my ultram is too much and that at this point, over 4 years since accident, I should not be experienceing this pain, or that I should be able to live with it by now. I dont know if anyone else has these ups and downs with their pain management. He makes it sound as if I am the only one who ever has problems with pain from SCI. I am never one to try a pill if something else will work.

The leg thing is fairly new. It has just started in the last 9 months or so. I had it onece in a while but not as intense as it get or as frequent as it gets now. I am thinking partly due to the fact I am using my chair much less and walking more. I am trying to lose weight because I know much of my hip and back pain has to do with weight gain since my accident but it is hard to do anything that doesnt cause pain. I would like to go through a pain management program, but I think my closest one is over 4 hours from here. I think I am going to try and put on the cream tonight and after about a half hour or so put a patch on to see if it will last through the night. I am also going to wear my night splints to try and keep the patches in place. What a mood setter......

[firesmurf]

Just an FYI here but seriously.any doc that actually thinks,despite having SCI,that after four years you "shouldn't be experiencing pain",or even better,you should be USED TO IT?? wow.i seriously would try and get into that PM program,honestly,this guy obviously does not truley understand SCI or nerve pain or how to really treat it.i am almost exactly four years out from my initial damage to my cord and have had tons of INCREASES in my pain over that time and brand new pain do deal with too.i started out,i mean i woke up recovery with central pain,just thought it was all a part of my post op pain,til it didn;t go away.since that time many many new and exciting things have been churning away inside my body including RSD in my knee that popped in about two months post op from my SNS damage.my c spine is also deteriorating.

there are just soo many huge changes that have taken place inside of my body since the day this all started.an SCI,espescially an incomplete,just is never static,it is always in constant flux,at least with mine.things keep changing on me and rearranging and morphing into other things.you really DO need the expertise of a good PM doc to really try the best ways to really manage your pain.despite the fact that it is a long drive,i really would seriously think about trying it,or even possibly see if there is anything closer to you.most PMs,you don't actually have to be seen every single month.at this point,unless i am starting a new med or having a procedure,i only have to actually see my PM every two to three months.my Rxs are mailed to my pharm so i don;t even have to send my hubby to pick them up every 28 days.i just think you really do need someone who understands what the body does after SCI.it just dosen't sound like this current doc is up to speed based on the statements you mentioned.you DO deserve better.

have you ever tried the TENS unit for this stuff you are dealing with?this is the only thing that has helped with my RSD flares in my knee.i too use the lido and it helps tons with certain ares.helps alot with the central flares.if you feel the amy is not actually doing a whole lot,try using just lido ointment,it would be probably much cheaper for you and see how just that works?i also use prudoxin cream and that works pretty well for the central too.I do wish you luck in finding the things that will work for you.but i really would seriously consider changing your pain management to someone who truley understands just how screwed up SCI can be as far as pain.marcia