Funny you should bring this subject up. My wife's (and my) PM doctor gave her a (1) "Lidoderm Patch" to test Tuesday. Lidoderm is the brand name of the the product that contains lidocaine and is used to numb the area below the patch (which is fairly large 3-4" square approximately). As of now, it is only available as a brand, but from my research yesterday, the FDA has approved a generic version that is supposed to be on the market this September. This is important since the retail price of the patch is about $10 each. Therefore, it is very expensive and your insurance company may not pay for it (as I found out searching the web, and based on my wife's Medicare Advantage type insurance requiring preapproval (we are waiting on that). The patch can be cut into smaller pieces if your pain problem is very localized, which will save some money. However, you can only use a patch on one spot for no more than 12 hours out of every 24 hours. (Pick the 12 hours when you need the pain reduction the most.)

Anyway, since we had only one patch to test, my wife cut it into smaller strips and applied two to my lower back, and one to her hand/finger which is having some nerve pain issues. Well, since I have a lot of hair on my back, my strips came off within seconds so we decided to let my wife use all the strips on her hand. (If we decide to try more, I may have to trim some of my hair so I can try it.)

She said she had a very quick improvement in her hand pain, the only thing that has worked and she takes Oxycodone for chronic back pain. However, she told me that she did not want to spend a lot of money on more patches if her insurance will not approve a 30 day supply. At that point I may have the doctor write an Rx for me and use my BCBS insurance, which I believe will pay for it, but with a very high co-pay.

Not really much help for you, but your question's timing really caught my eye. I suggest that you do some Internet searches for "Lidoderm" and you will be able to see a lot of comments about this patch. Many very positive (but they complain about the costs). Based on what I have read, I would certainly consider it if I was you if the constraints I have mentioned are not total roadblocks.

I have Medicare with United Health , but also have Medicaid, so I don't pay anything for any of my prescriptions.

I sent my Dr an email, but haven't heard back yet. I have a wedding this Saturday,and im' in so much pain, I am afraid I won't be able to stay, cause sitting for any length of time kills me! I can walk around,a nd will bring my walker with a seat, in case i'm walking and need to sit down right away, it's great for that!

Thanks for responding, and keep me posted on how they work, or if you 2 end up using them on a regular bases.

Thanks!!

Boo

I have tried Lidoderm patches for lower back pain. They did not work very well for me. I put a patch on in the morning and within a few hours the patch would come unglued and fall off. I would put tape on the patches to keep them on all day. I think they work great for muscle pain but not real back pain. They are time released, they work off the heat of your body.

Hi Boo...

I had a patient who was on the lidocaine patches. They are more a sedative, and topical. I, personally, haven't used them, but this gentleman was in horrible pain, and he felt so much better on the lidocaine patches. Please, let me know how that works for you!! Best of luck!

Here's wishing for less pain for us all!!
XOXO

Boo...

I hope you can make the wedding!!!!

Here's hoping for less pain for us all!
XOXO

I have used the Lidocaine patches for several years. They work fine for me and I have not had a problem with coming off. I have degenerative disc disease and one disc is completely gone at my L5-S1 Level. The patches help me on the days my regular pain meds aren't working so well.

Mike, do you place one whole patch directly over the L5/S1 area? I am trying to decide if it is worth me giving this a try. I have DDD from at least T7/8 all the way down. Although I have pain nearly everywhere, numbing the lumbar area seems like it may be helpful. I guess putting patches from my neck to my tailbone may be over doing it LOL.

Sptrout,
Yes I use a whole patch where the pain is. The instructions on the Lidocaine box say you can use up to three patches at once. I usually use two patches. Don't keep the patches on more than 12 hours, and make sure to follow your doctor's directions.

Thanks for your reply. I guess I will give my PM a call for a Rx. With my insurance, even 1 a day will cost $75 per month, $150 for 3 months. I hope the price falls this September when a generic version reportedly will be on the market.

Steve

I've used the Lidoderm patches for years for my severe spinal pain, my dr. compares it to a train wreck because of all the degeneration and such.
Like some of you, there are times I have to cut them into strips because of all the places I sometimes need them.

Regarding the cost, have you contacted the manufacturer to see if they have any kind of program to help with the cost? Almost all the pharma's have some sort of assistance program these days.
Perhaps that would be worth looking into.

Your pharmacist should be able to give you a toll free number to call them or try searching the web, I'd think they have a web site
as so many others do.

As far as their not sticking on, I wipe the area I want to apply it to with rubbing alcohol first, that takes off any body oil or soap residue that might still be there. I let the alcohol dry well before applying the patch and it works fine.

IF you opt to try doing that, be sure you're skin isn't sensitive to the rubbing alchohol and if you are concerned, you can wipe the area again with a clean, moist washcloth, let it dry, then apply the patch.

"Hairy" areas most likely would have to be trimmed way down or shaved prior to appyling though:(:(
I'd watch for a bit or soreness under the patch though post shaving as the new hair grows back in.

Wishing you all a low pain day...

Noodlebg,

Does your insurance cover your patches? I have medicare, and Medicaid in NY State, and all of my prescriptions after going thru both insurance coverage, are paid in full.

My Dr would not prescribe the patches for me!! I don't know why...but i'm going to find out. The Primary care Dr, said to ask my hip dr for a script , and my hip dr told me to ask my primary about a script.

So, i got bounced back and forth, and then turned down by both! Guess my next option is to contact the Spinal Dr, to see if he would prescribe it, but i haven't seen him for about 6 months now, because he usually refers me to the pain management center. So, i just may call them, and see if THEY would prescribe them for me.

Boo

Hi Boo..

I have Medicare and my secondary is via my husband's military service and my cost is $25. for a 90 day supply.

Pain management is the only one in my area that will write for any kind of narcotics. The gov. has cracked down so much on primaries and others for writing too many opiate rx's and these days, pain management dr.s are about the only hope.
Sounds like that is why your dr. won't write anything more for you.

Please be careful in asking for a specific med though. In my experience, any patient asking for a specific pain med is not looked
on favorably and most likely will not get anything.
Since you said you were referred to pain management already,
it sounds to me like that will be your best option.

Just explain to them about your pain, where it is and what is NOT working. Take whatever test results you have in with you along with a list of ALL your current meds as well.
Pain mangement specialists are very disciplined about writing for meds and your test results will be the biggest help.
As I said, don't go in asking for a specific med, state what isn't working and let the dr. review your tests.
There is a small chance, that at your first appt. you won't get an
rx, depending on what the dr. determines from your tests and previous med history.
They have to be super cautious these days thanks to the morons
that abuse pain meds:(:(
Mine will not take on any patient that doesn't have ins. even!!
They have to constantly screen every patient because of that.

It's a shame those of us that have the greatest need have to "jump
through hoops" to get help!!! :(:(

Good luck in your quest!!!

noodles.

Lidocaine is not a DEA Controlled Substance so any doctor should be able to subscribe it (I assume). Hard to tell why your doctors are passing you around unless they are just unfamiliar with the patch (which has been on the market for ~10 years).

If you read all the prescribing information from the manufacturer, they lead the reader to think that this specific patch is only for people that are recovering from shingles. However, there have been studies done that show that it is effective in relieving other nerve related pain, for example, back pain.

Prescribing it is one thing, but getting insurance to pay for it may be a bigger problem for many if looking for non-shingles relief. My wife's Medicare Advantage Medical & Drug Plan (Aetna) just told us no, period. My wife asked our PM doctor's nurse (who handles all the RXs for heavy drugs) if they could call in an RX for me (I am on standard non-Medicare insurance, BCBS) and she said OK, but not to expect a different answer. Obviously, the insurance companies are hiding from this because it is so expensive, and not specifically approved for non-shingle applications. But, apparently, everyone has different experiences when it comes to insurance companies and this specific prescription. Our luck with insurance companies is usually poor.

FYI - - Below is a link I just found that lists all the DEA Scheduled Drugs. You may want to keep this link handy - I thought that it looked interesting. Best of luck Boo on getting this drug and hopefully it will work for you!

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/orangebook/orangebook.pdf

Hi,

I got the Lidoderm Patch yesterday! I ended up finding out my severe pain was a Bladder infection. So I got a script for an antibiotic at the drs yesterday, a pain pill for the bladder pain i'm experiencing, and the Lidoderm patch for my back.

My regular primary Dr did write the script!!! With my Medicare extra help ,and Medicaid, I got 30 days for 3.78 !!!

so, I tried it, but it came unglued after about 6 hours, so I am going to have my Home Health Aide try to put it back on me today at 2pm, as I took it off at 2am. Wear them 12 hours on, 12 hours off.

Boo