Lidoderm Patch

Hi All.

I'm usually at the anxiety forum but just found this chronic pain forum.  I suffer with excruciatingly painful lesions on the bottom of both feet and have had surgery for removal a few months back and they recurred (they are not plantar warts or anything viral, nor are they corns or calluses).  I am scheduled for another surgery for excision next week.  But, in the meantime, my doctor has given me Lioderm patch for use on these lesions to hopefully alleviate some of the pain so I can at least walk.  Has anyone had any experience with this patch and, if so, how long did it take to start working?  I put the patch on 1/2 hour ago and I thought it would be immediate relief but, as of yet, nothing but the excruciating pain.

Maybe you could try something else if Lidoderm doesn't work for you.

I use Voltaren gel now. In the past, I've gone to compounding pharmacies (usually the small "mom & pop" shops, or university hospitals w/ public pharmacies in them) and they have mixed up some different gels, creams & lotions for me with ketamine in them. Some of them had additional ingredients like gabapentin & clonidine (I think that was it), but the key ingredient was the ketamine. Maybe you can ask you doc about other topical solutions if the lidocaine isn't cutting it. I don't think any of them really help with the really deep pain, but they have helped me quite a bit with the surface pain (like when I can't stand my sweater rubbing up against me or other people touching me) and have helped some with the muscle and nerve pain, but they are not long acting -- they generally help for maybe 30-60 minutes after application. Then I have to wait another 4-6 hours before I can put some more on. My doc just told me it was okay to shorten the time between applications, so maybe that could be an option for you -- putting a new patch on more frequently -- I don't know, you'd just have to ask.

PALady's right about you should give it a shot for a little longer. Give it at least a couple of weeks to see if it helps at all. It's unlikely it will replace your oral meds, but it should give you some extra relief or no point in going through all the hassle.

Hope something works out for you one way or another.

feel better,
frances

I think everyone tollerates pain relievers very differently so me telling you that i used them and they dont help doesnt mean they wont help you! I have had patients use them and seen them get relief from them back when i was working but everyone is different so try them give it some time and if it dont work then ask to try something else! I hope you get better soon!