Burning Hand Pain

@atchastain I have Small Fiber Polyneuropathy with burning pain throughout my body. My shoulder down to my hand is presently burning from overuse (too much Connect involvement and typing 😉). I take hydrocodone and even being on that, I experience burning. My go to is medical marijuana for dulling burn and ache. Is it legal in your state?

Hi @atchastain my wife has had severe burning feet for several years from chemo. She is dead set against drugs for herself. So she suffers but does not get side effects from drugs obviously. I have been an avid follower of most of what people have said on the Connect neuropathy discussions for about 6 month. I will just tell you my impressions of what I recall. A number of people take Lyrica and love it, the ones who didn't stopped it of course. Jim @jimhd , a gentleman who has very severe neuropathy gets pretty much no relief from anything except morphine, which he takes every day I think. Another person, @lorirenee1 relies on both cannabis as well as kratom, a product which can be bought online in the U.S. and is made from a plant which grows in S.E. Asia. There are also a few people, more than a few actually, who have had nerve stimulators hooked up inside of them, either to the spine, feet/ankles or dorsal root ganglion, a nerve bundle which goes to the spine (I think). Some have had pretty good success with them. There is a discussion on Connect about them. There are quite a few creative ways people have found to deal with their pain. I would say hunt around this forum and utilize the search box near the top of the page. Read and also interact with others and ask questions. Best of luck, Hank

@atchastain The only thing I have found to relieve the burning of Neuropathy is an Amazon product called "Wisemen Healing Balm." It is pure Frankincense and Myrr, and does cool down the burning. Lori Renee

@atchastain This is much worse that what I have been through. I had a back fusion surgery from T10 to my pelvis. Now healing, but slow. I'm not familiar with what you have, but it must be really bad pain. No we do not have marijuana in our state, but I'm not in too much pain now. I am so sorry that you have that pain it must be all full.

@lilypaws Thank you for your kind words and compassion. That sounds like quite a surgery you had. I wish you healthy healing during your recovery and a pain free outcome.

Thanks! Do you have a brand name you have received help from their product? Warm regards, Sunny

Ooops, my bad, somehow overlooked you gave the brand name here. I KNOW it's the Gabapentin! I hate what this drug does to my brain!!! Warmest regards, Sunny

Good evening @atchastain, welcome to our neuropathy group. Is the meeting to assess your medications with a neurologist? What treatments other than these medications have you tried? I have not been diagnosed with anything similar and on top of that, I just don't know what burning means. How would you describe it? Is it tingling sensations that are so intense that you feel pain all over your hands? If you hold the fingers in your hand tightly, does the "burning" go away? Does heat or cold make a difference?

You may want to make a list for the doctor of your symptoms and what you are doing to relieve them at this point. It would be helpful for your discussion to be able to take a written document with you that includes your symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, medications, and side effects if any. If you have a portal available at your clinic or hospital, you can just upload your information onto your record before your appointment.

One of the things I have noticed over the years is that even with medical cannabis our body becomes a bit too comfortable with a dosage and we have to assess and make choices all over again either to add more at each dose or more doses in a day or a new medication. Don't forget to take time in letting go of or reducing something like Gabapentin. I think you are already pretty maxed out with Gabapentin. 3600 mg is the highest dosage possible. I take 900 mg every night reduced from 1200 so that I could replace it with a dropper of medical cannabis.

Are you sleeping well? I guess I would question why you are taking so much gabapentin as well as one of the strongest pain opioid medication in a patch.... Buprenorphine. Do you put the patch over your hands? On top of the topical compound?

Well....that is certainly a lot of questions. However, on Connect we like to be thorough so we don't miss a significant issue. Without being pushy.....would you please let us know the outcome of your meeting with your clinician. I am putting you on my follow up list. Best wishes for a successful appointment.

Be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris

@artscaping Chris, I agree with you about marijuana. Linda, my wife, usually tries to limit herself to using it twice per week. She knows from experience that if she uses it too often it will reduce it' effectiveness. Lately her pain has just been so bad and relentless she has used it several times within a week. The other day she said she had smoked two different times (medical MJ is illegal in Tennessee) in one evening after having already used it two or three times very recently. She said it did nothing and looked quite disconsolate. I feel so badly and so helpless when she has bouts lie this. Anyway, just wanted to tell you that I agree with overuse of MJ which seems to be true with many other things as well. Best, Hank

@jesfactsmon, oh dear....you indicate that your wife is smoking marijuana. And you live in the wrong state. Do you have a vacation planned in Colorado? Florida probably isn’t a good place with the outbreak. If you can find a source, you can try tinctures......hold the dropper dosage under your tongue for a minute so that the liquid can be absorbed through the membrane under your tongue and doesn’t process through your digestive system. I can’t imagine smoking flower.

I started with a vape but stopped when I could feel the discomfort in my throat. I also use a 1:3 CBD/THC topical for ouchy tingly hands that is extremely helpful and unusual.because of the ratio relationship. CBD needs a bit of THC to activate it. Took me a while to even try it. Now it is always with me and extremely soothing. You can read about Releaf Balm on the Papa and Barkley site.

I change the ratio of the tincture throughout the day. When I get up in the am......it is a 1:1 CBD/THC to get me going. Afternoon is a 1:30 CBD/THC with less in the dropper. Finally bedtime is my calming 2:1 CBD/ THC and the topical. You will notice the 1:30 ratio....that is a really elevated dosage for the tough part of the day. I started with 1/4 of a dropper for 4 hrs of peace. Then increased the dosage not the frequency.

Hope this is informative. I have been using medical cannabis for 5 years. You may want to do your homework for this one so you are ready for access. Also watch the industry developments and hope for more $$$$ for research. Just amazing. All of my clinicians are in the know and very supportive.

My best back at you.......and a big wish for a pain free day for your wife.
Chris