Excruciating Lymphedema Pain and Cannot Get Meds

surf, oh please don't resort to street drugs. That's a slippery street to go down. I know some that never did recover going down that route. But I totally get your frustration and feeling. Can you try gabapentin made into a cream or lidocaine with ketoprofen (sp?) made into cream. These are strong drugs that my mom got for her shingles nerve pain in the face.its good because it doesn’t cross your brain up like edible drugs. A pain specialist will order these up probably not a MD as you need to seen regularly. Oh dear please let us know what happens.

I'm in a pain study now starting Monday and we are doing virtual reality for a half hour a day. Ive been practicing before I start. So far it really makes me forget my nerve pain in my sciatic nerve. You might want to rent a virtual reality game and see if it gives you relief until you can find a solution.

Your regular doc might look at you funny if he doesn't know about compounding your drugs. That is putting it into a cream. It's very popular in Europe. My relative had soft tissue damage in forearm and they made a cream with the same kind of drugs you take orally for that particular injury. Then they had him wrap it in Saran Wrap to keep it from rubbing off and to increase heat. It worked for him. Not sure about the heat part as I'm not a pharmacist and this might not be appropriate for all drugs. Oh I wish VarociousReader would see this post. I am sure it is her that is a pharmacist that helps us here. She's clever with her drug interactions. Don't take a risk mixing drugs!

There really is not much practise with virtual reality. You just got to learn how to use it and then do it. It's easy and I'm not a gamer, never held a joystick before.

The study guys came and set up the equipment and said I could try it out before my study starts on Monday. The study is:I will be doing it for 30 min a day, six days a week for four weeks and filling out a pain score log daily. They will call me once a week and question me. Anyone could do this on their own to see if it works for them. So far it's a major distraction from pain as it is soooooo engaging. It will be interesting to see how the study turns out. A few from this forum from my area have already done it and like the results. Oh bonus I get 400 dollars for doing it.

Axillary Node Nerve Pane

I was diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma in 2013, I had a complete axillary node dissection in Dec of 2012. My pain, it's nerve pain and can come and go for the rest of your life, started right after the drain tube was removed. I was prescribed Gabapentin ( ☢🧠🤯) and for whatever reason I quit taking it. Once my pain started it never went away, my surgeon said some never get it and some never lose it, why can't I be this lucky with the lottery! I've also lived with terrible pain in my back from injuries, my last MRI showed that I no longer had any disk left at L-10 & L-11 causing breath taking nerve pain around my ribcage/back to front.

FINALLY; Back on Gabapentin (for sure) it's the only thing so far that helps with the pain. I agree you should see another doctor but honestly, my experience, if they aren't a Surgical Oncologist they probably won't be much help. Also, you can take all the pain pills you want, OTC, narcotic, you name it, if it's not for nerve pain it won't help. NOW GABAPENTIN has one Awful possible side effect, lymphedema! In your arms and especially your legs. Swelling like you've never seen, no nerve pain, but plenty of pain from swelling. Now, not to be discouraged, Some people get past that with TUMERIC. It is a vitamin that you can buy at any pharmacy. That's my next move. I spoke with a girl who is taking 1800mg of Gaba a day, I take 600mg prn, she said Turmeric has taken away the swelling completely and she has Zero Nerve Pain! Sorry for being so long winded but if someone tells me about something I want to know as much as possible.

Lymphedema is no fun, especially when it affects your every day life, I hope you find a doc who will be able to help you. Keep doing the exercises for sure, Again your pain may leave and not return, if so run with it! If it does you will definitely need help managing it, no matter what stage it's in!!

See if your obviously crazy medical team can prescribe... lidocaine ointment, you rub it all over the surfaces of where the pain is flaring up, and it dulls the nerves of the pain and it makes a big difference. The other thing I use for flare ups is my pump. I never let it get out of hand but understand what pain you're talking about.... I had every node removed in my left arm. If you don't have a pump you can get one for free. I did. It works amazing. Helped me through some painful evenings. The organization Is called “Connie Cares". The ointment you can put in hard to reach places and it really helped me with Flare ups. Also walking seemed to help. It allows the gravity to help the flow of the fluid find another clan to join. I wish you luck! ~M~