Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Any Experiance With Lidocane Patches

Hi All,

The last time I saw my Immunologist we had pretty much decided to stay with my current pain med situation although I am still prettu much in pain.

I have decided not to increase my meds because I am already on so much.

He did however mention lidocane patches which I have heard some of you use here. I would be interested to know about them. I know I would put them on the source of the pain but how is it different than fentanyl patches?

Thanks,

Lisa

Hi Lisa,
How are you doing? Wanda

Lisa;

I don't blame you for not wanting to up your meds . . . it's scary thinking about all the stuff we put in our bodies. I know I personally do so much "self-medicating" with OTCs or increasing my dosages on an as-needed basis . . . I concern myself sometimes . . .

As for the Lidoderm patches, I'ce tried them, and I found them to be totally useless. And very expensive ($8 each after insurance). The pain doc gave them to me when he saw me wearing the Salonpas patches (OTC arthritis patches les than $0.10 each) on my hands and feet . . . the Salonpas patches work WAY WAY better for me than the lidoderm. The Lidoderm basically numbed my skin really, really well. If my pain was in my skin . . . (I gave them to a coworker who had Shingles - she was very grateful). Basically, they didn't do crap for me. I adore the Salonpas patches, however. But I'm still on the quest for A Kick-As Topical that will REALLLLLLLLY help my hands and feet (hands mostly).

good luck,
-Bridge

yeah I've had these..They gave me hives. I'm so sensitive.
They did help, but don't reduce inflamation, just numb it, as far as I know.

Hi Lisa, I am beginning to get back into the world. Floyd and I both use the Lidocaine patches and they help in somne places and some they don't. They do wonders for Floyd's neck and don't touch the pain of his knee. They help my thumb a lot and my elbow. The compounded cream that the dr. gave me a script for helps more than anything. It has 4 things in it.

The patch just numbs it right where you put it. You can use 3 at a time for 12 hours and then 12 hours off. We usually save them for sleeping. Ours are not very expensive with our insurance. You might check on yours.

They are certainly worth a try I think.

Have missed talking to you. Will try to catch up now.

Love you all.
Joyce

Hi Lisa,
I use them now under the Lidoderm generic brand. It doesn't provide much pain relief for AS, and it doesn't work as a anti-inflammatory, but it's working for me a tiny little bit. Technically Lidoderm* is a local anesthetic to relieve Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN), also referred to as post-shingles pain. http://www.lidoderm.com/ . In my opinion, it seems to work better against muscles spasms and nerve pains, rather than provide me much of any relief for painful joints from AS.

They are pretty expensive, so you might want to ask your doctor for a sample patch so you can test it out.

I hope this helps,
take care,
James.

Thanks Bridge,

That is what I was wondering was if it would even be worth it....

Sounds like something else I would just spend my money on and still have no relief.

Thanks for the heads up,

Lisa

Hi Wanda,

It is so good to hear from you, I miss talking to you.

Things have been better, I have alot going on right now I will have to send you a pm when I can.

How are things with you and your family good I hope.

Take Care,

Lisa

Lotus,

Thanks for the input, that is what I was afraid of that they probly wouldnt help me but I wanted to ask.

Thanks,

Lisa

Yes I have so missed our chatting, have been trying to leave you alone so that you didnt have the pressure of trying to answer me when you didnt feel well.

Tell me more about the compound....and could I do the patches PLUS the fentanyl patches at the same time or would it have to be one or the other?

If they arent too expensive with our insurance I could just try a round and see what happens.

So much has been going on we need to catch up. Tiff and Jack came to see us this weekend, they had a wedding to attend but we got to spend the day with them which is always exciting. I need to start a thing like photoshop or image shack so you can see our going ons...lol

Let me know how you are when you feel like it.

Love you, tell Floyd we said Hi,

Lisa