Lidocaine Infusions

General
21

Hi Laura,

It is so frustrating isn't it when you want your doctor to talk to you about getting treatments and they blow you off. I had a big talk with my Dr. yesterday about these subcutaneous lidocaine infusions. I got my big one yesterday and since it holds for 7 days they have decided to start the pump on Monday. My doctor said he has to be available for the first 3 days just in case something goes wrong. He cautioned me to stop the pump if I got a metallic taste in my mouth or if I started acting like a crazy lady. Have no idea what that means. Already feel like I am going crazy with this some days. So I guess I am a guinea pig as he said all the patients in the area on SC lidocaine are palliative patients. I am glad I have a doctor that will go the extra mile for me though. But I would love to hear from anyone that has been on continuous lidocaine. It will run for 3 weeks he said. After that I guess nothing till after I go back Feb 4th for my big infusion. While I was having my treatment the lady beside me was also getting one and she had MS. She told me she has had tremendous relief with the lidocaine. She suffers from electrical shocks down her neck and back and a lot of aching joint pain. Just thought I would mention it to you since you thought some of the pain was from MS. I am sorry you have to live with this too. One day at a time my friend. Take care of yourself.

22

Hi everyone,

I finally started my subcutaneous lidocaine. The line went in yesterday, leaked today and had to be reinserted. So far tonight it is good. A tiny bit nauseous but tolerable. My home care nurse has been here 2x yesterday and today to monitor me and so far I am good. But- this thing is a pain in the neck. The penny bag is heavy and I have pulled the tubing numerous times on cupboards and door handles' lol; it took 2 months to get this approved so really don't want to give up yet. It will run for 3 weeks then I can get my big iv infusion at the hospital then back on continous. I have been pain free since last night!! woot woot.

23

well the lidocaine had to be pulled. I became toxic after 72 hours. Back to the drawing board I guess.

24

Hi there,

I can only speak for myself but the lidocaine infusions I get help with both the pain and the redness. For 7 days I have no pain and no redness and no swelling. The pain comes back immediately after the 7 days but the redness creeps back slowly till about the 14 day mark where it is all back.

25

Affects both - in fact all aspects of EM

God bless

mads

26



elizabeth said:

Can anyone who has had lidocaine infusions clarify whether they just affect the nerve pain, or affect the flushing aspect. As my EM primarily affects my face (the oedema and discolouration is horrifically disfiguring) for me it's only really worth taking the risk if they help damp down the erythro- bit of the condition, not just certain aspects of the pain.