TheraCare Pain Relief Patch | 4% Lidocaine Patch | 3.9” x 5.5” | 5-Count Box

I injured my back about 5 years ago and have two bulging discs in my lower back. Back when I initially got hurt, I had got an epidural shot which cleared it p for the most part, but still have little flair ups occasionally which only last a couple of days. I have tried the numerous advertised patches and they all either don't work at all, don't stick well, or have a heavy menthol smell that enters the room five minutes before you do. These patches however are far and beyond the best I've tried. They adhere very well, move with you, do not irritate your skin, provide excellent pain relief thanks to the Lidocaine ingredients, the size offers adequate coverage, and are a good value for the money. I very highly recommend them.

The patches are 4 x 51/2 inches and 4% lidocaine. They stay on well and actually work as well if not better than W brand, in my opinion. They are less expensive too. No skin irrational either, which was a concern. I use them at night and they stay on all night. I have noticed that my knee pain is not waking me up at night as often. In combination with my medication they give that little bit extra pain relief at nightI was looking for. I would recommend.

After putting on I noticed a bit of a cooling/burning sensation, though nothing worse than the pain of the muscle itself. After using for several days the pain in my upper back/neck has gone away. Adhered quite well to my back even after sleeping. Easy to stick on and quite large, with no bad odor.

Competitive.

I usually buy HealthWise™ Maximum Strength Pain Relief 4% Lidocaine Patch, 15 Count, White. They've been "Unavailable" and Amazon states they don't know if they'll be back in stock. I have systemic pain, and several problems, including recovering from a stroke I had this past November. The pain has been a part of my life, in different parts, then overall, since 1999. My husband told me about Lidocaine patches, which I associated with tattoos because I had seen Lidocaine patches reviewed by those who had gotten tattoos, but one day I was in so much pain, especially (that day) my right side (knee, all around it, right thigh in spasms and so forth) that I decided I'd give it go because they didn't contain menthol or Icy Hot, anything like that to which I'm highly allergic. The Healthwise brand came in packets of 15 at about $1 each patch as I have PRIME, so shipping is free, and the Lidocaine didn't get rid of the spasms, but it did (at 4%) get rid of the pain for hours, although not 12 hours, more like 8, maybe an hour more, so I was a bit anxious about using another brand, how long, and how well, it would work. I thought these would be identical as the manufacturer of many "brands" are very often the same. So imagine my surprise early this morning when I opened one of these for my right thigh, and when I tried pulling it apart, the clear wrapper, at the center as I did with the Healthwise brand, it wouldn't budge. I turned on my cell phone flashlight and saw there was no marks indicating that it could be opened that way, i.e., no perferation, no arrows indicating how to do so. I read the directions that I should peel away "a corner" of the clear wrapping, and proceed from there, nothing more than that. I managed to get the one patch opened that way and applied it to my thigh, or to a "portion" of it as none of the patches are bigger than 3.93inches x 5.51inches. I played a game on my phone while the Lidocaine dried enough for me to put a pair of cut-off thermals on help keep the pad in place when I roll from one side to the other in bed. In order of my impressions/experience with this brand: 1) Instructions are sparse. 2) There is no way to open the clear wrapper in the middle as I could, and as I did, with the Healthwise brand. 3) The patch was noticeably thinner than the Healthwise brand. 4) There was very little "cooling" feeling which I associate with the gel, i.e., there was less of it, so I was concerned about whether it would adhere well enough, and also, would it have enough Lidocaine to ease the pain in my thigh. 5) I looked at it after applying it--it went on more easily than the thicker Healthwise, "but I could see a brown birthmark through the patch" as this brand is that thin. (I could not see anything under the Healthwise brand. The pain subsided. I don't think this works less well, it dries a bit faster as it is so much thinner, but those are the only two pluses. I won't buy this brand again unless I cannot find a non "Icy Hot" equivalent, because I was barely able to pull up a corner of a patch to then get the rest of the clear wrapper off without having the entire patch fold into itself as the one corner did. It is, same as the Healthwise brand, "odor-free" which was reassuring, because I knew it wouldn't contain any menthol or similar substance that irritates me badly. For those people who complain about the feel of the gel? That gel serves two important purposes: 1) It contains the adhesive that when dry will stay put if the patch isn't placed in a mobile spot like the lower back under work pants, and 2) It contains the Lidocaine needed for some pain relief., and 3) Because of the consistency of the gel and how it works to dry and adhere to skin, there will be some residue. Wash the area you plan to use a patch on, use some 90+ percent alcohol to dry it, apply the patch, keep still until it dries, carefully cover the area if needed with whatever clothing makes sense, and when it is time to remove the used up patch, remove it slowly, throw it away, then wash the area again, with gentle soap, dry with the same 90+ alcohol, pat it dry, and let it air out for a bit before applying another, if needed, same procedure. There is no way around using any brand of Lidocaine patches without dealing with the gel, making sure to handle the patches carefully so they don't fold over on themselves or stick to our fingers. Finally, they aren't meant for serious pain, but they do (for me, anyway) handle aches, soreness around my knees from bursitis and arthritis (I'm 62 and falling apart body part by body part, held together, it would seem, by Crazy Glue), so be grateful there are Lidocaine patches, especially for those of us who are allergic or overly sensitive to menthol and similar ingredients. One more caution: These patches "shift" during shipping, so "feel for them" before cutting along the perforated "outer" package. Mine came shifted UP right on the line where the scissor mark indicated I should cut open "and remove the pad," which had I simply done so, without feeling for the patch, would have resulted in one less patch to use and sticky scissors.