botox and lidocaine patches

[Guest guest]

Hi Cam - I suggest you talk w/your doctor about these botox shots and

lidocaine patches. I actually meant to send that e-mail privately to Diane, but

obviously I goofed! It won't be the first or last time! Not a big deal though

-

The lidocaine patches have been great - They are not messy or painful or

smelly like some of the OTC patches. I can live w/o Oxycontin, but I can't do

w/o my patches! They are only to be worn 12 consecutive hours - sometimes I

reverse when I wear them if I know I'm going to be going to a party, for

example. On our vacation this summer we took a 2000 mile road trip and I think

the

patches made it possible. Those and the foam pillow. I don't travel in a car

without the foam pillow.

I decided to try the botox shots because I have a " band " of pain across my

back where the major pain seems to reside. Nothing was working for me. I had

read about botox shots being used for muscle problems and brought it up as an

alternative to cortisone shots. The pain management doctor agreed. The shots

" freeze " the bigger muscles and this helps considerably. It doesn't take care

of all of the pain, but for me it is worth it. My insurance plan covers the

shots. They are very expensive without insurance - around $600 I think

someone on this board indicated. I You can read more information about botox

at

believe it or not:

_www.botox.com_ (http://www.botox.com)

Personally, I'm satisfied with the results I've had with both the patches

and botox, but I have to give the usual caveat about talking with your doctor

and making an informed decision after getting as much information as you can

after looking at the pros and cons of all your alternatives. The good news is

that there are more alternatives coming along for pain management. Just

today in the latest Time magazine I was reading about the latest developments.

One of them is an epidural injection that delivers 48 hours of time release

morphine! I had an epidural for my second C-section. I'm trying to imagine

having epidurals every 2 days. The second is a credit card-size patient

controlled

pump. No needle/no tubes. That sounds like a move in the right direction!

Hope this helps...peace & hugs Jennie

[Guest guest]

Jennie, (or anyone who knows!)

In Jennies response earlier to Dianne there was mention of these two

post-revision methods of pain control.

What can you tell me about these two pain control methods and where

is the deep muscle pain you are addressing with them?..

I am looking to use non-narcotic methods to keep this pain in check

while awaiting surgery....the worst of which is, well,a pain in my

butt! Should I try to get my doct to let me try these? Thanks for

any info. Cam

[Guest guest]

Jennie,

Thanks for the info...I will ask at my appt next week and see if I

can try the patchs...sounds like they fall in the " might help, can't

hurt category " ! When you say twleve hours...how much " off " time do

you need between?

How often do you have to do repeat on the botox? Cam

[Guest guest]

Good Morning! 12 hours in between on the patches and 3 months between botx

injections. Thanks for changing the subject line - I forgot to do that last

night! Hope today is a painfree or less pain day for everyone...Jennie