Re: ??? Lidocaine Infusion \ To Do or Not To Do ???

[Guest guest]

Bruce & Whitney: In all my readings on the internet I had not come across

anything that discussed Lidocaine Patches. Thank you very much for the

enlightenment. Wow, sometimes technology simply amazes me. I do understand

that Lidocaine provides a dosage of pain relief so I can completely

understand how a patch would be very useful and effective. I suspect that it

would also not make a person sleepy. I would have to say that Whitney puts a

very 'real' issue on the table in that $250 per box is a not cheap. These

are interesting and new points....thanks again for the new information.

Gretchen: They were just a bit too eager, my instincts kicked in, and I had

to politely ask them to slow down. Picture this A few weeks ago I see,

Dr....let's call him Dr. Road Runner. He comes in, sits, asks questions,

listens, and makes sounds suggestions. Dr. Runner is younger but oh so

humble and extremely respectful. On Tuesday, Dr. Runner is accompanied by

Dr. Daffy Duck. This young man has the Elvis side burns, go-T, two gold

rings on one hand, gold pinky ring on the other, and a gold necklace. I am

NOT making this up I am not one to judge a book from its cover yet I do

expect a certain look of professionalism. Anywho's.....no hand shake, he

introduces himself, sits at the pc, informs me of my medical history, tells

me the benefit of an 'infusion' [like I knew what that was], and asks if we

can start next week. I pick my mouth up off the floor and say, " no sir....I

need to research this before I agree to any unknown procedures " . I look over

to Dr. Runner's direction and he is just a little....not sure....but a

little something?? They excuse themselves and before leaving the room I ask

for a printout or literature on this procedure. They come back in 5 minutes

and say that this is rather cutting edge so they is no UC literature

on the infusion and that there may not be much on the internet. Yet, they

are still supporting my current medication regiment along with the

infusion?? To add your thought to Bruce & Whitney's.....maybe adding a patch

will not be a totally bad idea. Or I should at least ask them about that and

why they did not bring that into the conversation. There is the reality of

cost but perhaps that to is something to research.

Ken: Over-all the clinic has been very good to me throughout the years but

this call, I agree.....seems to be sketchy and not too well thought out.

They say and the internet has confirmed that there is very little, if any,

documentation on lidocaine infusion and CMT. Could be that it is so new that

the literature simply has not hit the streets?? I did see some cardiac

warnings out there and it was for those who have had heart attacks in the

past or have heart disease on record. Is that your understanding??

Thanks all for responding, reading, and for those getting reading to respond

Rashid

On Dec 9, 2010, at 2:32 PM, Rashid wrote:

Howdy CMTA Crew.

New question for you. I recently went to a Pain Clinic here in town and to

add to a regiment of pain meds the doctor suggested a " Lidocaine Infusion "

treatment. This would involve an IV Push every 2 week, in the hospital, each

appt., would be 2hrs, and take approximately 14 weeks. The suggestion did

not come from my primary physician but a doctor in the pain clinic. This is

only the 2nd time I have seen him but he has a strong grasp of my history

[because I clearly conveyed that]. I am not sure why but he and his team

were EXTREMELY eager to sign me up?? Naturally, I hesitated because I

wanted to 1] run it past my primary physician, 2] do my own research, and 3]

check in with my fellow CMT'ers. My quick research on Lidocaine shows that

it's a simple drug that is typically used for temporary relief at dentist

appointments??? I found very little on this in the area of infusion, CMT,

and\or neuropathy pain??? All of that said.....is there anyone out there

who has practical experience or knowledge of Lidocaine and how it may relate

to us CMT'ers.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom

RbQ

" Let Not The Ego Produce Evil "

http://www.charcot-marie-tooth.org/

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[Guest guest]

Rashid,

Like I said, these guys are just too 'excited' to try lidocaine infusions on

you. Is there anywhere you can go to get a 2nd opinion? If these guys are legit

you should have no trouble finding information on them and their infusions. And

like I said I searched NIH/Pub Med - no research on CMT and lidocaine infusions

have been published. Be very careful.

As for patches, actually the ones I had were Fentanyl - it was following surgery

because it was a better drug delivery system and worked immediately. When I

healed, no need for more patches. But my Mom used them when she had cancer and

that was for a year straight after diagnosis. They were changed every 3 days,

and put in a new place on the skin, so no skin problems. My patches and Mom's

were all of $3-5.00 only per box but that may be because insurance covered them.

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Hi Rashid,

A few more thoughts on this.

I might suggest the UC Division of Pain Medicine.

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/pain/ or even the Department of Neurology in

general.

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/neurology/subspecialties/peripheral_neuropathy.html

you can contact them through the website.

I can't remember exactly where you are, but I seem to recall is in the

proximity.

And for the record, again, there are NO published materials on Lidocaine and CMT

in NIH/Pub Med.

Having said that, I might refer you to Dr. Greg at UW in Seattle, who has

done extensive research on CMT and pain

http://medical.washington.edu/bios/view.aspx?CentralId=4430

http://uwmedicine.washington.edu/Patient-Care/Our-Services/Find-a-Clinic/Pages/C\

linic.aspx?clinicId=295

Email me and I'll give you his contact info.

Gretchen