I'm interested in trying one of these to relieve pain. I have read empirical studies that indicate it can relieve pain for a long time. Where do I apply it? On my face where the shooting/throbbing pain is, or at the base of my skull where the root of the nerve is? How often can I apply either one of these? And for how many days in a row?
Thanks
After hearing KcDancerKc talk about the Lidocaine for pain relief I decided to ask my Neuro about it the other day. He wouldn't give it too me. Don't know what that's about really. I read in a discussion the other day that someone else had a similar experience. When I'd first floated the idea by my GP she flat out "poo pooed" the idea. Again, not sure why.
I started capsaicin cream today with my neuro's blessings. The empirical studies, which are few and small sample sizes, indicate about a 50/50 chance it will work. I am functioning under the excess of substance p in the trigemenial nerve, and the cream will deplete the substance p and perhaps reduce the misfiring of nerves. Seems not all TN suffers have compressed nerves, so maybe...
Catwoman i wrote you a note.
I found lidocaine patches lasted 12 hrs
Cream would have to be put on several times per day …FYI
some get help with capsasin…which seems weird, because its like a hot pepper substance!
: )
My Neuro actually had the same reaction when I mentioned lidocaine mixed cream the first time…I ended up asking my pharmacist one time and she said they carried one called “Emla” that I could purchase over the counter.
( I’m in Canada)
So I did, I only use the cream, not the patches ( as I’m allergic to many things like that) it has been a God send this cream. In long pain crisis it offers relief and takes my pain from10/10 to 2-3/10. It’s expensive but well worth it.
Jamie,
I've doing doing a major amount of research since getting my diagnosis. I recommend doing research on google scholar as it contains peer-reviewed empirical studies. Often I will access my college website to find published research. I'm not sure why wiki says, but I only use wiki for a general definitions.
I was not tested for substance p, nor do I know if there is a test. My decision to try capsacian cream was based on my own research. My understanding of substance p is that is this; substance p is a stress related hormone that is stored in the trigeminal nerve. If too much is accumulated in the nerve, than the nerve can start firing. Capsacian cream works to deplete the amount of substance p that is stored in the nerve (that I believe is scientifically proven). My theory is this, I have been under enormous stress plus I already suffer from anxiety disorder and depression before TN. Since there may be more than one cause of TN, and, some studies and personal accounts indicate that capsacian cream (and lidocaine patches) help with pain, I figure what the heck, I've got nothing to lose but the cost of the cream. I only know of two, maybe three, empirically studies on capsacian cream and neuralgia (again, try google scholar) and it seemed to help at least 50% of the studied population. Some people experienced total relief, some partial relief, some no relief, and nsome dropped out because the cream can burn at first. Some individuals had relief for extended periods, I believe one study said 100 days (?). Part of the detective work is trying to figure out was is causing the pain. Without actually surgery, I don't think we can know for sure about a compressed nerve, the commonly accepted culprit. Looking at my case and my symptoms, I figure substance p may be my problem.
I've only been using it for 3 days, and most all of what I read says it will take at least 3 applications a day for about two weeks to see results. Do I think it's working? Maybe. I'm not on medication yet as I am still unsure what meds are best for me and my neuro doesn't seem to want go more deeply into my condition. I am going to look for a new neuro Monday. I don't know if this helps.
Here are some links to abstracts, skipping to the end should tell you the results of the study
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1539818
http://heelspurs.com/capsaicin.html
http://t.turner-white.com/pdf/hp_jan03_pain.pdf (scroll to alternate therapies).
http://www.scopemed.org/?jft=86&ft=86-1354872592
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-0348-0828-6_4
I can't find all the articles, there was another study with 20 participants.
Shirley
Jamie said:
I just did a Wikipedia reading of Substance P. How did they find out you lack it on the TN nerve? Was there a certain test done, blood work? I've never heard of this and no Neurologist has mentioned it to me, much less tested me for it. Thanks in advance for explaining it to me!
Skytapestry said:I started capsaicin cream today with my neuro's blessings. The empirical studies, which are few and small sample sizes, indicate about a 50/50 chance it will work. I am functioning under the excess of substance p in the trigemenial nerve, and the cream will deplete the substance p and perhaps reduce the misfiring of nerves. Seems not all TN suffers have compressed nerves, so maybe...
Mimi,
Glad it's working for you!!!
I've been using Zostrix (I'm in the US). I've hear of Emla, but haven't researched it much. I focused on capsacian cream as that is what's available over the counter here. I don't know about Emla, but capsacian cream can take a few weeks to work. I put it on 3 times a day and I'm on day three. I'm not sure mine would work for a "flare up" as it says you may not get relief for a two weeks.
From what I can gather, substance p has been known for a long time to be associated with pain messages to the brain. I recently read it may be stored in the trigeminal nerve. I just hope it works.
Hope you're having a good, painfree day.
Shirley
Mimi said:
My Neuro actually had the same reaction when I mentioned lidocaine mixed cream the first time...I ended up asking my pharmacist one time and she said they carried one called "Emla" that I could purchase over the counter.
( I'm in Canada)
So I did, I only use the cream, not the patches ( as I'm allergic to many things like that) it has been a God send this cream. In long pain crisis it offers relief and takes my pain from10/10 to 2-3/10. It's expensive but well worth it.