Lidocaine Patches update

[misty14]

Hello everyone, Just thought i'd update you about getting Lidocaine Patches as yesterday i asked my Pain Consultant about them.

She said They can still be prescribed to us as long as we have nerve pain. GP's were prescribing them for any pain and they're expensive and not effective which is why the CCG's have clamped down on them.

I'm very relieved i can still have them as they do work. Hope thats helpful for you all too and your gp's will agree to you having them. ?. Ive got to ask mine next week. 🤞. Xx

[rosewine]

Yes, I had my yearly call from my doctors pharmacist and he confirmed that I could still receive the Lidocaine patches for nerve pain which was caused by a bout of shingles. The Pain Clinic also confirmed they were happy for me to continue. I do know patients who have had theirs stopped who were being treated for Fibromyalgia.

[misty14 in reply to rosewine]

I'm glad rosewine, you can still get them after having shingles. I hope the awful nerve pain settles soon as its horrible. Xx

[rosewine in reply to misty14]

Unfortunately, I have had this post hepatic neuralgia for a good many years. It does differ from day to day and is especially bad when I am suffering from any other form of virus or am especially fatigued. The lidocaine patches take that top edge off it for me especially the burning symptom. X

[misty14 in reply to rosewine]

I am so sorry your post shingles pain is so relentless rosewine. That must be hard. Thank goodness the patches do help. Ive got nerve damage in my right leg , aftereffects of an operation. The patches help a lot with the pain and tingling. Mine is long term too. It so changes our lives doesnt it?.

Hopefully on monday my gp will be happy to prescribe them. 🤞

Hope you have a lovely Easter. Xx

[rosewine in reply to misty14]

Fingers crossed for you, Yes it is definitely a game changer.x

[misty14 in reply to rosewine]

Hi rosewineJust thought i'd tell you that ive spoken to my gp and told him what my Pain Consultant said about the Lidocaine patches. He's got another patient he said like me and also said they're getting conflicting advice re prescribing them. He's going to talk to the Chief Prescriber and maybe my pain consultant to sort it out. He asked if he could use me as a Test Case and i said yes.

In the meantime he's prescribed more tubes of cream as they're tiny. Hopefully by next month he'll have an answer. What a palaver!.

I hope your pain isnt too much this week rosewine and you have a lovely Easter. Xx💕🌷🌻💕

[rosewine in reply to misty14]

Fingers crossed they sort it out for you. Yes there seems to be conflicting advice as some gp's are interpreting the guidelines on e way and others the opposite. I swear alot of the advice from NICE is a cost cutting exercise as they seem to be targeting the more expensive treatments. Please let me know what happens. You have a good Easter as well.x

[misty14 in reply to rosewine]

Your spot on rosewine about cost as my gp admitted it yesterday and they are expensive!!. A lot of gp's have been inappropiately prescribing them causing the drugs bill to skyrocket!!. It does need sorting out though because as always its the few ,like me , who suffer when they are something that does work!!. The CCG have said they don't work to justify them not prescribing them. If i end up speaking at one of their meetings i will because i feel so cross about it all!. Sorry for long reply, its helped me get it off my chest!. 🙂Thank you for your lovely mesdage rosewine. I will certainly let you know the outcome, it will be awhile!!. I do hope you have a happy easter. Xx🐣🤞🐣🤞🍫

[misty14 in reply to rosewine]

Hi rosewine, hope you've not been in too much pain and have enjoyed the last couple of bank holidays. At last i've got an update re the lidocaine patches , i can have them prescribed . I spoke to my gp yesteeday and he said as long as he has a written request from my Pain Consultant for them, he can prescribe them for me. I'll be talking to her soon so thats not a problem. Such a relief i can still have them as they do help!!. One less stress isnt it?.

Best wishes, Xx🤞

[rosewine in reply to misty14]

That's really wonderful news. Please let me know how you get on with them.I had my first sessions of 6 Hydrotherapy yesterday the first time I've been in deep water in 7 years. To be quite honest I would have happily floated there as the water was so warm but the physio had other ideas, lol. He certainly put me through my paces and I was absolutely shattered by the time I had finished. Good my husband took me as parking was terrible and I wouldn't have had the energy to drive. It also made me so hungry that I had to have tea and toast when I got back at 11am I haven't had an appetite like that in months.

He said I woukd really ache for a couple of days not too bad so far. Got talking to a lady who started last week and she said the aches and burning didn't start until the third day afterwards and she was literally bedridden that day but I am travelling optimistically.

Look forward to hearing from you. X

[misty14 in reply to rosewine]

Hello rosewine, wow!. That is amazing today to have been in a pool first time for 7 years!. We're all d8fferent luckily so you may not be like that other lady and react. I'll keep my 🤞that it helps you. Do you have another session next week or fortnightly?. I've used the lidocaine patches for years now so at least i know how to use them and they work. I'm using the lidocaine cream on a foot neuroma and its helping while i wait for an op.

I hope you have a good night's sleep tonight after today's exertions and good luck for your next session.🤞 Keep being positive, its the only way to keep going . Xx

[rosewine in reply to misty14]

The hydrotherapy sessions are weekly and I have 5 more to come. Fingers crossed they help. Next week I'm having the hydrotherapy session in the morning at one hospital and then the acupuncture sessions at the other hospital on the afternoon. Didn't want to cancel either of them as have waited 20 months for some help, not that the acupuncture seems to be helping unfortunately but do have another 2 sessions to go of that.x

[misty14 in reply to rosewine]

I'll keep my 🤞rosewine for the acupuncture to help as well as the hydro!. I have found it worked for me so no reason why it doesnt for you. I hope the two hospitals aren't far apart as that will be a big day for you. Totally understand you going ahead with both because 20 months is so long to have waited. I'm finally being seen after what will be a 16 month wait for upper gastro surgeon next month. Its really hard isnt it having such need. All the very best with it all. Xx

[rosewine in reply to misty14]

Good luck with the surgery hope it goes well. X

[Joe_D in reply to rosewine]

Rosewine, you mentioned accupuncture for pain but it seems it's not working well for you. May I ask, does it have any benefit at all for you, even slightly? At this point I would take almost any relief from pain.

[rosewine in reply to Joe_D]

I had NHS acupuncture about 7 years back and unfortunately it didn't work then.t seems it might be the same this time. From a conversation I had with the nurse they are only given one weeks training in Acupuncture. It was part of a "package" from The Pain Clinic with Mindfulness, Acupuncture and I have just started Hydrotherapy. I have actually had some positives from just one Hydrotherapy session but unfortunately we are only allowed 6.I have paid privately using my PIP money for Acupuncture and it has helped me especially with giving me more energy and some relief from muscle pain. The private acupuncturist is also versed in Chinese medicine and treats the whole person rather than the patch where the pain is. He had more knowledge about fibromyalgia than any NHS person I have met and when these appts have finished I have decided to pay for a monthly session with him.x

[misty14 in reply to rosewine]

Thank you so much rosewine for your good wishes. I'm really pleased that the hydrotherspy and acupuncture are helping you. Fibromyalgia is such a difficult condition to live with so any relief you get is well worth building on privately with PIP money. Thats exactly what we're awarded it for. I'll let you know how my appt goes and then i can see how you've been getting on. Take Care. Xx

[Joe_D]

Misty, what kinds of pain do they work on? Thanks.

[misty14 in reply to Joe_D]

Hi joe d, nerve pain they work best for. Gp's should only prescribe them for that as they're expensive!. Hope that helps.

[Joe_D in reply to misty14]

misty14 I am still trying to get these prescribed but not sure if they will work for my specific pain area. Trying to stay hopeful but some days the pain just kin of grinds me down, which I'm sure you probably understand!

[Hidden]

Instead of Lidocaine, have you tried a topical NSAID pain reliever? A foot doctor prescribed Diclofenac sodium 1% gel for my neuropathy. In the US, there is an OTC med called Voltaren Arthritis Pain, now available as an OTC

[misty14 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your helpful suggestion of an NSAID wegeners for my nerve pain. I've got ibuprofen gel for my foot neuroma and having to be careful due to digestive problems how much i use it. Thats why the lidocaine patches are such a good alternative and they work better for my leg nerve pain that i've also got. Its xtra tough when you have multiple problems but i do appreciate your helpful suggestion. Hope you can have a Happy Easter despite your pain. X

[Joe_D]

Misty how are you feeling today?

[Konagirl60]

I’m late in reading this.

I have painful neuropathy and I just wanted to mention that drinking chamomile, lemon balm, or valerian tea will help calm the Nervous System.

It’s best to avoid caffeine, liquor and fuzzy drinks like colas or sodas. Bubbly drinks agitate the bladder. Liquor is toxic to nerves.

Best wishes to anyone with nerve pain.

[misty14 in reply to Konagirl60]

Thank you konagirl for sharing these great tips. I'm sorry you have painful neuropathy too. I don't drink those nono's but i do drink camomile tea so i'm pleased it can calm the nervous system. No wonder it helps with sleep at night!.

I hope you keep as pain free as you can. Xx