Guest guest Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 - I had quite a few lidocaine infusion treatments, so many in fact that I've lost count. However, the clinic that I go to has a different approach to them. I wasn't hopsitalized so they were not continuous.......instead they would do one treatment three and then two times a week. Basically, each treatment lasted one hour, to an hour and a half.....at 75cc's of lidocaine. While the IV was going, I would be hooked up to a heart monitor and blood pressure machine and the nurses would watch me for symptoms. If I experienced any, they'd shut the IV off for 5-10min until the symptoms went away and then re-start the IV. Occassionally, it would make my tongue numb. More often there was a point where they'd have to shut it off for a while, because it would cause dizziness. I too was told that it should reduce my blood pressure, but instead found that it increased both my heart rate and blood pressue....sometimes so much that they'd have to stop the IV for that as well. As to the helpfulness of them, I have CRPS type II in my right knee/leg, and CRPS type I in my left leg, back and arms.....the lidocaine never phased the pain in my right leg; it would slightly lower the discomfort in my other leg and arms for a short period (maybe 6hrs) but it worked wonderfully on my back, lowering my pain level to 1-2 there until the next treatment, or for about a week whichever came first. Hope that they will be able to find something for your husband that will be beneficial to him. Tricianancylhm2001 wrote: Hello everyone: My husband has diabetic neuropathy and RSD for 3 1/2 years. He has been treated with the antiseizure medication carbatrol for most of that time. It was recommended he try lidocaine intravenous treatment. I will try to explain what that is to those who do not know. He was hospitalized for a week with an intravenous in his arm while lidocaine (an anesthetic) was given to him through the iv. They started at 20 cc per hour & was only able to increase to 35cc per hour by the last day. (Although they hoped to reach 50cc/hr.) He was experiencing too many side effects to make an increase in the dosage. His tongue and chin went numb. He was nauseated & lightheaded. Lack of appetite, constipation and fidgety legs. His blood pressure increased as well as the heart rate. I believe it had an opposite affect on him from what was suppose to happen. He was in the telemetry unit & was monitored the whole time with a heart monitor & nurses checking his blood pressure every few hours. We understood the lidocaine could affect his heart & possible a drop in his blood pressure but that did not happen. My husband was told the lidocaine was not working & because of all the side effects they would not increase the dosage & stopped it. We were disappointed it did not help the pain go away. There are not many other options. I was wondering if anyone else out there has had lidocaine iv experiences? Any side effects during treatment and how did it or did not help you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 , I was supposed to have this done back in 2002....but found out that I was pregnant instead and never got it done. A Friend of mine had it done not too long ago though......she's in this group also, but doesn't read the emails too often, so I forwarded the email to her, and hopefully she'll answer it for you. She had this done to her Lower body, and when she went in, she was unable to walk very far, using a Scooter most of the time and Crutches. When she left the hospital, all she had to use was a cane. No scooter, no crutches, nothing! She was finally able to drive for the first time in 4 years.....and she is able to go back to work part time for the first time in 5-6 years. I think that it dropped her pain levels down for 3-4 months really good so that she didn't really need any medications for her lower body.......just only for her upper body and face. She did say that some of her pain is coming back to her lower body......but I'm thinking that the Intravenous is supposed to be done like every 6 months. Tonia -------Original Message------- He was hospitalized for a week with an intravenous in his arm while lidocaine (an anesthetic) was given to him through the iv. They started at 20 cc per hour & was only able to increase to 35cc per hour by the last day. (Although they hoped to reach 50cc/hr.) He was experiencing too many side effects to make an increase in the dosage. His tongue and chin went numb. He was nauseated & lightheaded. Lack of appetite, constipation and fidgety legs. His blood pressure increased as well as the heart rate. I believe it had an opposite affect on him from what was suppose to happen. He was in the telemetry unit & was monitored the whole time with a heart monitor & nurses checking his blood pressure every few hours. We understood the lidocaine could affect his heart & possible a drop in his blood pressure but that did not happen. My husband was told the lidocaine was not working & because of all the side effects they would not increase the dosage & stopped it. We were disappointed it did not help the pain go away. There are not many other options. I was wondering if anyone else out there has had lidocaine iv experiences? Any side effects during treatment and how did it or did not help you? ____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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