1. < Neuropathy

Topical creams and lotions for Small Fiber Neuropathy

Posted by jeffrapp @jeffrapp, Oct 11, 2019

This topic has been addressed in other posts. However, it is somewhat scatter shot, so I thought it would be appropriate to address it as a separate subject.
I have idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. I have tried numerous creams and other preparations. Sometimes I think they are working a little, sometimes not at all.
As examples, I have used lidocaine 5%, various cannabinoids (as balms, creams and soaks), cantherides (that hurt!) and various combinations of compounded creams containing lidocaine, ketamine, phenytoin, ketoralac and others (all of which are very expensive and not covered by MediCare).
One of my "theories" is that they are not penetrating enough, so I tried a few of them with DMSO cream, which is a solvent and supposedly penetrates the skin. Still no real success.
I'd be interested to hear from others about their experiences with topicals, and particularly any suggestions or tricks that makes them work better.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

ch47 | @ch47 | Jul 29, 2023
In reply to @emo "Thanks! Wishing you luck with your follow-up and hope you’re able to find some answers and..." + (show)
@emo

Thanks! Wishing you luck with your follow-up and hope you’re able to find some answers and guidance. At the very least, for the bursitis pain, if it doesn’t calm down with anti-inflammatories, hopefully PT would help with that. I had/have this too, and it thankfully improved with PT, but wow bursitis pain can really burn.

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Good evening…
I know we are all different, but from your bursitis diagnosis until healing/feeling ok, how long did it take? I have had this pain for years, and was just diagnosed about a month ago, with help from my pelvic pt. Noting the medical name for each area that hurt to take to a doctor to ask what kind of doctor I should see to treat. Can’t believe no one was able to catch this before…

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ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jul 30, 2023
In reply to @emo "Thanks! Wishing you luck with your follow-up and hope you’re able to find some answers and..." + (show)
@emo

Thanks! Wishing you luck with your follow-up and hope you’re able to find some answers and guidance. At the very least, for the bursitis pain, if it doesn’t calm down with anti-inflammatories, hopefully PT would help with that. I had/have this too, and it thankfully improved with PT, but wow bursitis pain can really burn.

Jump to this post

@emo, @ch47, @ch47 and all...I have a small suggestion to add to your great conversation here about various pain issues from bones, bursitis, muscles and tendons, soft tissue issues, fibromyalgia, stress and tension, Sarcoidosis pain, and whatever. I use the creams as discussed. But, one of the most helpful in whole-body pain and discomfort for me is an hour 2X weekly in the therapy pool at my local PT rehab facility. It's a 95-degree water pool with a trained aquatic physical therapist overseeing and assisting as needed.

I love this time of pure joy, peace, quiet, relaxation, and freedom from my body's discomfort.
The minute my foot steps on the first step into the pool, I have a lovely reaction of joy...my body begins the process of letting go, the muscles begin to relax, and the pain lessens almost immediately. I use some of the time moving and walking, at times I do steps and march in place holding on to the sides. Most recently, since I've been far less active in my life, I use the time for relaxation inside and out, in my body and my head.

I go to the deeper end, dangling holding onto a bar so my feet drop straight down, usually with 4-pound ankle weights. I do this for as long as is comfortable. It seems to pull down my legs, straighten my body and spine, giving my spine relief. I have multiple herniated discs and vertebrae issues, so this is very helpful. I was 5' 11" as a young woman. I developed severe osteoporosis at age 35, had a broken vertebrae and other issues, and am currently measuring 5'6" in height. I stand fairly straight for a 76-year-old woman, with no hump or much curve to reduce height. Obviously, this had created pain and discomfort for years, my poor body is finding new places for organs to land I presume which may create some issues as well. It's a lousy issue affecting my entire body, but the pool helps tremendously.

It's a referral from your PCP or whomever, but it's well worth the effort if you have the pool available. Water therapy of all kinds is a great help to most of us in my opinion.

I hope this helps you in this search for relief. Blessings. Elizabeth

REPLY
1 reply
emo | @emo | Jul 30, 2023
In reply to @ess77 "@emo, @ch47, @ch47 and all...I have a small suggestion to add to your great conversation here..." + (show)
@ess77

@emo, @ch47, @ch47 and all...I have a small suggestion to add to your great conversation here about various pain issues from bones, bursitis, muscles and tendons, soft tissue issues, fibromyalgia, stress and tension, Sarcoidosis pain, and whatever. I use the creams as discussed. But, one of the most helpful in whole-body pain and discomfort for me is an hour 2X weekly in the therapy pool at my local PT rehab facility. It's a 95-degree water pool with a trained aquatic physical therapist overseeing and assisting as needed.

I love this time of pure joy, peace, quiet, relaxation, and freedom from my body's discomfort.
The minute my foot steps on the first step into the pool, I have a lovely reaction of joy...my body begins the process of letting go, the muscles begin to relax, and the pain lessens almost immediately. I use some of the time moving and walking, at times I do steps and march in place holding on to the sides. Most recently, since I've been far less active in my life, I use the time for relaxation inside and out, in my body and my head.

I go to the deeper end, dangling holding onto a bar so my feet drop straight down, usually with 4-pound ankle weights. I do this for as long as is comfortable. It seems to pull down my legs, straighten my body and spine, giving my spine relief. I have multiple herniated discs and vertebrae issues, so this is very helpful. I was 5' 11" as a young woman. I developed severe osteoporosis at age 35, had a broken vertebrae and other issues, and am currently measuring 5'6" in height. I stand fairly straight for a 76-year-old woman, with no hump or much curve to reduce height. Obviously, this had created pain and discomfort for years, my poor body is finding new places for organs to land I presume which may create some issues as well. It's a lousy issue affecting my entire body, but the pool helps tremendously.

It's a referral from your PCP or whomever, but it's well worth the effort if you have the pool available. Water therapy of all kinds is a great help to most of us in my opinion.

I hope this helps you in this search for relief. Blessings. Elizabeth

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing. That does sound wonderful. I’ll have to see if there’s a public pool like that available near me; I’ve only been in one that was limited to patients. And unfortunately, I have POTS, which makes the hot temperature difficult for my body to manage.

POTS causes impaired blood flow to the upper body and brain, which results in dizziness. Heat opens up the blood vessels, which makes it more difficult to pump blood against gravity. The buoyancy of the water helps while I’m in it but I can’t stay long because of the fatigue it causes and often get flare-ups when I get out of the water as my body struggles to adjust the blood flow.

However, I can see how this could help others. Thanks again!

REPLY
skeleton | @skeleton | Jul 30, 2023
In reply to @emo "My Neurology NP prescribed a topical cream made up of gabapentin and amitriptyline for small fiber..." + (show)
@emo

My Neurology NP prescribed a topical cream made up of gabapentin and amitriptyline for small fiber neuropathy. Does anyone have experience with a topical with either of these ingredients? She typically prescribes it with lidocaine, but I chose not to have it included because I don’t like the feeling of numbness and lidocaine doesn’t work well for me due to an underlying condition.

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Best thing I have ever used is Life-Flo magnesium thick lotion. It was recommended by a wonderful person on this website. I order it from Amazon. It only takes a very small amount and you rub it in good. I even put it on the bottom of my feet. Only pain reliever that lets me sleep. Good luck.💙🤗

REPLY
2 replies
emo | @emo | Jul 30, 2023
In reply to @skeleton "Best thing I have ever used is Life-Flo magnesium thick lotion. It was recommended by a..." + (show)
@skeleton

Best thing I have ever used is Life-Flo magnesium thick lotion. It was recommended by a wonderful person on this website. I order it from Amazon. It only takes a very small amount and you rub it in good. I even put it on the bottom of my feet. Only pain reliever that lets me sleep. Good luck.💙🤗

Jump to this post

Thanks for sharing! And this helps with neuropathy? I never thought of magnesium cream for neuropathy, only for cramping and restless leg syndrome.

REPLY
2 replies
ch47 | @ch47 | Jul 30, 2023

Wow! Will order some today!
Thank you…never know what you will find here…

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skeleton | @skeleton | Jul 30, 2023
In reply to @emo "Thanks for sharing! And this helps with neuropathy? I never thought of magnesium cream for neuropathy,..." + (show)
@emo

Thanks for sharing! And this helps with neuropathy? I never thought of magnesium cream for neuropathy, only for cramping and restless leg syndrome.

Jump to this post

It helps me instantly. I have had 3 broken femurs, a shattered wrist, 2 broken ankles and 2 broken shoulder bones. I have had two neurosurgeons confirm my neuropathy. It drives me nuts, but this Life-Flo is the best stuff on the planet for my pain.

REPLY
ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jul 31, 2023
In reply to @emo "Thanks for sharing! And this helps with neuropathy? I never thought of magnesium cream for neuropathy,..." + (show)
@emo

Thanks for sharing! And this helps with neuropathy? I never thought of magnesium cream for neuropathy, only for cramping and restless leg syndrome.

Jump to this post

@emo, @skeloton, @ch47, and all... I use magnesium cream as well. I take a daily magnesium supplement as it appears magnesium is an important issue with those of us who deal with these issues...RLS, cramping and neuropathy. It does help. I love having several creams I use for these problems as they appear differently and react differently with each of us.

Hope you get relief and good sleep!
Blessings, Elizabeth

REPLY
2 replies
ch47 | @ch47 | Aug 1, 2023
In reply to @ess77 "@emo, @skeloton, @ch47, and all... I use magnesium cream as well. I take a daily magnesium..." + (show)
@ess77

@emo, @skeloton, @ch47, and all... I use magnesium cream as well. I take a daily magnesium supplement as it appears magnesium is an important issue with those of us who deal with these issues...RLS, cramping and neuropathy. It does help. I love having several creams I use for these problems as they appear differently and react differently with each of us.

Hope you get relief and good sleep!
Blessings, Elizabeth

Jump to this post

Good evening!
To all of you who have been following my little bit, as compared to so many of you that have many more issues than me-
Had my ablation this afternoon, and procedure went as I expected…nothing horrible! Couple unpleasant times but they made me aware before it happened.
Treated arthritis 6 places in lower spine.
I was anxious about procedure because only lidocaine for pain block, not anesthesia. First place I was thinking of using put you out. As doctor-communicated your feeling/reaction through entire process, not sure how it would work if you were out and they couldn’t ask how things were feeling as it went on.
Anyway, looking forward to feeling better!
Also, he felt that this would/could solve my pelvic issues…what a great thing to hear!
Will keep in touch, and thank you for all your advice and support!

❤️❤️❤️

REPLY
1 reply
ch47 | @ch47 | Aug 1, 2023
In reply to @ess77 "@emo, @skeloton, @ch47, and all... I use magnesium cream as well. I take a daily magnesium..." + (show)
@ess77

@emo, @skeloton, @ch47, and all... I use magnesium cream as well. I take a daily magnesium supplement as it appears magnesium is an important issue with those of us who deal with these issues...RLS, cramping and neuropathy. It does help. I love having several creams I use for these problems as they appear differently and react differently with each of us.

Hope you get relief and good sleep!
Blessings, Elizabeth

Jump to this post

Great thought…waiting for my cream, but how could it hurt to take the magnesium?
What dose do you take and how often per day?
Thank you!

REPLY
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