Lidocaine is a local anesthetic and will only be effective if applied to the
painful area. The patches should be applied to the area where the pain is
most prevalent. The patches can be cut with scissors it they are to large.
They should not be left on for more that 12 hours or used more than once a
day. Their effectiveness for diabetic neuropathy is questionable. Please let
us know how they work.

Sarah

Hi, John.
I'm no expert by any means which is why I would suggest contacting
either your doctor or your pharmacist or possibly googling lidocaine
patches for the RX information.  Does your pharmacy have print outs
explaining the proper use of your medication?  Were these samples?

Personally, I'd be reluctant to start using them without proper
instructions from your doctor or at least the pharmacist.

Laura

I have a supply of Lidocane patches that I use for my back.  You're
correct, they are to be applied to the effected area. Though for the
life of me, I cannot see why a doctor would give them to anyone for
the bottom of their feet..  After about 5mins of putting them on the
area is almost completely numb and a short bit around the area of
the patch as well.  Having a numb foot isn't a good idea to me! JMO.

I'd call your doctor and ask

RK

Ok. Threw caution, though some might say, "common sense," to the wind -
and decided to stick them on the "pain specific" area (does anyone
remember Dustin Hoffman walking around with fins on in "Mrs.
Robinson?).... I felt like a dog that stepped on flypaper. Maybe I
should have waited till today and called my doc, who is a cool guy with
a sense of humor and surely would have offered the classic reply to the
question, "Hey doc, where should I stick these patches?"

Anyway, as to their effectiveness on neuropathic foot pain? ..... well,
I have a few left if anybody wants em.

Ok, gotta run.... need to pop a Lyrica and spend a few minutes deciding
if I want to refill my Actos or pay my mortgage.

John

PS - All kidding aside, I didn't call the doctor because, after I
thought about it for a while, I decided that asking my doctor where to
apply a *topical* medication would invoke pictures of me on the short
bus. Besides, some things are just ridiculously obvious. Like
suppositories.... everybody knows what to do with suppositories. That's
why I buy the little ones... they're easier to swallow.

JOhn,

Me experience is to put them on the affected area. The patches are
great for relieving pain. I used them for shingles, and they were the
only thing that relieved the pain I got from that, which was every bit
as bad as the horrible neuorpathy pain i had suffered a year earlier,
and somewhat similar.

Lidocaine only relieves the pain, while not treating the cause of the
pain. Obviously reducing blood sugar to the normal range is the best
solution for diabetic neuropathy, and ALA may help as well. Those two
combined did the trick frome, eliminating at least 95% oif my
neuropathy pain...But the lidocaine patch can be a very effective way
to treat the pain in the meantime.

My biggest gripe was that the cost was not covered by my insurance at
all and at $60 per pack of 5, that was an issue. My doctor did not
think to prescirbe it, because he assumed I would be too
self-consciouss to wear it on my face, but I was so pleased when the
neuyrologist offered it up and it provided relief.

Can see where on the bottom of the feet it could get squished big
time--perhaps best when you are sitting, not walking...  For the person
who said numbenss might not be great on your feet, however, it might be
a whole lot better than stabbing, burning, electric shock type pain...

Do update us on how it works for neuropathy.  I would love to hear it
works as well for that as for shingles.

Morris