# Ice makes your EM worse. Heat is the thing?

**URL:** <https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/ice-makes-your-em-worse-heat-is-the-thing/3767>\
**Category:** Erythromelalgia 101\
**Created:** [February 12, 2019, 12:43am UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/ice-makes-your-em-worse-heat-is-the-thing/3767 "2019-02-12T00:43:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![katapillar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47c2d/32.png) [@katapillar](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/u/katapillar)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/ice-makes-your-em-worse-heat-is-the-thing/3767/21 "2021-02-25T23:15:51Z")

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@CarterDK does mexiletine work at all if it is not primary?

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**Author:** ![CarterDK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/0ea827/32.png) [@CarterDK](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/u/CarterDK)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 1:11am UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/ice-makes-your-em-worse-heat-is-the-thing/3767/22 "2021-02-26T01:11:15Z")

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I’m not sure. Primary erythromelalgia has an established cause related to sodium channel dysfunction (mexiletine is a sodium channel blocker). What causes secondary erythromelalgia is not understood.

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**Author:** ![katapillar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47c2d/32.png) [@katapillar](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/u/katapillar)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/ice-makes-your-em-worse-heat-is-the-thing/3767/23 "2021-02-26T01:25:32Z")

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That’s what I figured. Thanks. That’s like the one gene mutation I don’t have 😂

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**Author:** ![CarterDK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/0ea827/32.png) [@CarterDK](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/u/CarterDK)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 6:29am UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/ice-makes-your-em-worse-heat-is-the-thing/3767/24 "2021-02-26T06:29:14Z")

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Might still be worth a try, if your doctor is willing. I was never directly tested for the mutation. My doctor presumed I had primary erythromelalgia and thought mexiletine gave me the best chance for improvement.

_Side note_: The disordered temperature regulation I spoke about in this thread 2 years ago has resolved. My legs now stay a consistent, normal body temperature throughout.

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