My LLMD gave me a prescription for Lodine which does seem to help a good deal with the pain, however it does nothing for the incessant tinglng and burning. Anyone out there have a suggestion for something I can take to help with those? Also, I'm a bit concerned about becoming a pain pill popper (who am I kidding, I've been doing it for years now), although right now I can't get through the day without it. Any suggestions for alternatives to prescription pain meds?
Posted by BJG (Member # 4723) on :
hey,
Wish I knew what would help us with burning.
I take elavil PM.
Other than that a warm bath.
You can go to search and check out burning pain, PN.
Good luck\\
BJG
Posted by lucy96734 (Member # 8372) on :
Burning, tingling, and numbness in my feet, hands, and ears drove me insane. I tried a number of meds before I knew I had Lyme and the Elavil/Topomax combo seemed to help the most.
These symptoms went away with treatment. We weren't sure they would because my nerve conduction studies showed nerve damage.
I am off that combo now and just on abx.
Posted by LuLuFlorida (Member # 12066) on :
What you are describing sounds liek peripheral neuropathy. Neurotin helps people quite a bit.
Lindsay
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Jennifer,
I recommend finding a good pain specialist. Most LLMDs don't have the expertise in pain treatment. A good pain specialist knows the medications and the other modalities like acupuncture, physical therapy, etc.
I've worked with phsyiatrists, which is a medical specialty that seems to be very good with pain treatment. They really include a full body approach.
I've tried many herbs and supplements for pain, and they did nothing.
If you need pain meds, don't be afraid to take them. But I think it is important to find other modalities that might reduce your need for them. Or medications that can reduce your need for opiates. I just started Zanaflex for my muscle pain, and my vicodin intake has really decreased.
Neurontin seems to be the drug I've heard mentioned most for nerve pain. Nerve pain is very difficult to treat. The medications that help other pain don't help nerve pain.
But, I believe nerve pain can actually be reduced if you start supplementing with B-12. There are options for iv, injections or sublingual.
Posted by jennyflyer (Member # 12792) on :
My mother has been on me to start taking B12 and Magnesium vitamin supplements, guess it's time to listen to her.
I've noticed other postings about muscle twitchings. Mine started last night, it was awful, kept me up most of the night. Right hand and arm. I started abx one week ago, I assume it's from that, but could it be just another new symptom?
Posted by Alias24 (Member # 9365) on :
I am pretty much free of the tingling and burning muscles. Vary rarely do I have any burning. I still have pain/aches in some muscles and around joints and I still have muscle weakness. I also have very few twitches or spasms.
I started seeing a reduction in the burning muscles and twitches after I started taking magnesium supplements 4 times a day. I had started Doxy a few months earlier but my reduction in burning muscles and twitches seems to have come when I started the magnesium.
All I can tell you is what I have experienced.
Hope this helps.
Posted by artraveler (Member # 12764) on :
For a non-pill form of treatment, I find that using a heated rice bag helps me the most. If you take a sock with no hole, or very thin spots, pour a 1-lb. bag of rice into it, tie it off. Place in micro for 1 - 1 1/2 minutes on high -- BE CAREFUL BAG WILL BE VERY HOT!!! -- The most effective place for me to place the rice bags for the pain/burning in my hands is between my shoulder blades up to the base of my neck. For feet burning/pain it will sometimes help me to put one of these bags very low on my back, just above my tail bone. Several people I know now use these and also say they work very well. As a bonus, you're very mobile -- no cords-- and it's very inexpensive.