Hi. Yesterday, I swore there was a Topical Meds Group, but today I can't find it in the Groups tab. So my question to all who know is - how long can I expect to wear this lidocaine patch on my face before expecting some/any relief? I don't mind looking like a total goon if it actually works. Also, does it work only when it's on, or might there still be some absorbed med relief when I take it off? I'll report back if the pain throughout my cheek settles down at all.
Best to all -
Faye
Hi Faye! I usually get relief pretty quickly with the patch. My doctor told me not to wear the patch more that 12 hours. So I usually keep it on for close to the 12 hours in fear the pain may return, unless I am going somewhere, so I don't know about it working after you take it off. The lidocaine patches have really helped me alot. Was this the first time you tried the patch. If so, if it didn't work, don't give up on it. Give it another try. For me, sometimes it depended on where the pain was, type of pain and how severe it was. Hope this helps and I hope you feel better soon!
Don't wear it for more than 12 hours - and cut them up into customized pieces and will last forever
Only works mostly while its on
Saved my life! I was able to lower meds
i asked my neurologist for the patches and they said they dont do that ,,, actually, it was the staff that told me this ... i am getting warning signs of the attacks coming back (i assume) ... this is what i was feeling before the zingers were more frequent, longer lasting before i had the GK ... *shrugs*
Well, I've tried twice today with no good result. I can't get the patches to stay on the curves of my face, especially near my lip. They'd slowly peel off and I'd keep pressing them back on. I guess I could try some surgical tape but on top of this, I've just had my hands full today. I didn't notice any relief. I will try again, maybe tomorrow. Seeing my neuro and hoping for some other options. Rebecca, do you think your TN is returning post GK? Gah! My doc wants me to look into that.
There is also a clear cream of lidocaine rx -
Rebecca - call your regular doctor and try to get them -- I would not keep a neurologist if they refused to give me something for comfort !!!!!!!!!
Zapgirl, the pain was worse after the GK ... on this site i learned about taking combinations of medicine ... when i did that, with in a week, the pain was manageable ... ... the BIG QUESTION is, was it the GK working or the combo of the meds ... i was told it would take awhile for the GK to work ... the pain was so intense, i couldnt wait ... i started the combination ...
KC Dancer, the beginning of this month, i started to feel twinges of the pain coming back ... so, i called my neuro and the person who answered the phone told me they dont do the patches, not the neurologist ... i see my PCP next month, so, i will ask him for the cream ... is there a certain strenght i should ask for ? ... maybe i should try to increase the strenght of the muscle relaxer, baclofen ... i think it is only 10 mg ... i take it three times a day ... i take gabapentin, 600 mg, two tablets, four times a day, so i am maxed out on that
Any doctor that knows about your TN should be able to call it into pharmacy - you do NOT have to wait to be seen. The cream goes on clear - I used that while out and about - but it isn't as strong as the patches
- I don't think there are different strenthgs -- The patch was used at night, at home, on weekends - so having both was best for me --
if you increase baclofen - make sure ok with dr. or pharmacist : )
KC (is it ok to call you that?), thanks for the info about the cream. I was wondering how I was going to be out in the world with these funny white patches stuck to, and hanging off my face. My daughter was quite amused, though.
My neuro is quite pessimistic about them. She says that the pain comes from the nerve root and that medicating the areas where the pain manifests is useless. But clearly, I am hearing from you and others that this is false. It's so hard to connect all this information from medical professionals and from the people in the trenches. I think I need to work harder to get her to be open, OR to find a new doc who is open so that I can form my own opinions. Because I'm open to trying anything that helps manage my zombie meds and keep me out of surgery.
--faye
Yes you can call me KC - I got lidocaine tips either here or in the book Striking Back - do you have that???
I also had some weirdo nerve pain in my leg - I put a patch on and BAM - pain subsided till patch came off : )
I decided for me that MVD was my only way out of my personal hell. so far so good. But I keep those patches jussssst in case!
Today, I got both the Lidocane Mouthwash which I've been daubing on my pain areas with a qtip AND the patches. Nothing at all from the patches and about 4 min of comfort from the liquid. The jolts have subsided and I am having the stinging hornets in my mouth. Started moving down to my lower jab tonight. I am about beside myself. I'm so dizzy and nauseous taking Tegretol and Tramadol.....