Lidocaine patch substitute for child's neuropathy.
September 25, 2014 5:34 PM Subscribe
Looking for a cool (as in chilly), inexpensive, gel-like patch to replace Lidocaine patches for a child with nerve pain.
Little Orsonet, who is 7, has small nerve fiber neuropathy which manifests as a burning sensation in her feet. The pain varies in intensity and is not present all the time. Her neurologist just prescribed Lidocaine patches, which we tried today and she loves them.
Yeah! However, they are $8 a patch ($240 for a month's supply of the generic) and Medicaid doesn't pay for them. She's on Medicaid because she was adopted through foster care. I have a hunch that what she likes about them is the cool gooeyness (sp?) rather than the actual lidocaine and I'd like to test that hypothesis by finding a patch that I can buy over-the-counter for, hopefully, a lot less money.
I found this on Amazon, but it's basically the same price. I've looked at pain patches, but some of them contain aspirin (a no-no) and most of them appear to lack the cooling gel goodness. Anyone have any suggestions? A worried mom appreciates any input.
If it's relevant, she takes 5 ML of Gabapentin twice a day and Tramadol as needed.
Little Orsonet, who is 7, has small nerve fiber neuropathy which manifests as a burning sensation in her feet. The pain varies in intensity and is not present all the time. Her neurologist just prescribed Lidocaine patches, which we tried today and she loves them.
Yeah! However, they are $8 a patch ($240 for a month's supply of the generic) and Medicaid doesn't pay for them. She's on Medicaid because she was adopted through foster care. I have a hunch that what she likes about them is the cool gooeyness (sp?) rather than the actual lidocaine and I'd like to test that hypothesis by finding a patch that I can buy over-the-counter for, hopefully, a lot less money.
I found this on Amazon, but it's basically the same price. I've looked at pain patches, but some of them contain aspirin (a no-no) and most of them appear to lack the cooling gel goodness. Anyone have any suggestions? A worried mom appreciates any input.
If it's relevant, she takes 5 ML of Gabapentin twice a day and Tramadol as needed.
Will she be walking on them (or at least walking on them a lot), or is it something she does with her feet up?
posted by Lyn Never at 5:56 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by Lyn Never at 5:56 PM on September 25, 2014
What about Biofreeze? Its not a patch, but I would use those exact adjectives (cool and gooey) to describe the sensation.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 5:57 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Nickel Pickle at 5:57 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: She doesn't need to be able to walk on them.
posted by orsonet at 6:00 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by orsonet at 6:00 PM on September 25, 2014
there are menthol gel patches you can buy in the drugstore, and they are indeed cool and gooey.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 6:03 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 6:03 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I immediately thought of BioFreeze too. I have chronic wrist pain and use it frequently and it sounds like what you describe.
posted by kbanas at 6:09 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by kbanas at 6:09 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
FWIW the ones you linked to are $6.99 for a four-pack, not per patch.
posted by celtalitha at 8:05 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by celtalitha at 8:05 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
The methanol gel patches that I like are Salon Pas. They are pretty cheap, and they give a cool feeling.
posted by heathrowga at 8:08 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by heathrowga at 8:08 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Kool n Soothe Migraine The shipping isn't free but you might be able to find them for a similar price locally. You get 4 sheets in a pack so they're a lot cheaper than what you're currently using
posted by missmagenta at 7:03 AM on September 26, 2014
posted by missmagenta at 7:03 AM on September 26, 2014
Regular Salonpas patches have methyl salicylate (basically aspirin). So not a good alternative.
posted by monopas at 2:52 PM on September 26, 2014
posted by monopas at 2:52 PM on September 26, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bq at 5:48 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]