Question:
I’m planning a rather large tattoo for my lower back area and was wondering if anyone has used Topicain gel for pain managemnt. I about died when I got my 1st my tattoo from the pain. It’s a gel that contains 4% Lidocaine which is a topical anesthetic. It’s used alot for laser procedures such as hair removal and tattoo removal as well. It’s also used for more painfull procedures such as a lumbar puncture or skin graft harvesting. It’s availible without a prescription as well and would not cause pigment migration or anything like that. You put it on the area about 1 to to hrs before and wrap the area in saran-wrap to keep the air out. It numbs the area for upwards of 4 hours. If anyone has ever used this or anything like it, let me know what you thought of it…I know everyone says that the pain is part of the experience but I’ve gone through that before with the first one. I know I’m a big chicken!!! But if there’s something out there that will reduce the pain or just make it go away I’d take advantage of it! THANKS!!
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"Tracy" wrote … I’m planning a rather large tattoo for my lower back area and was wondering if anyone has used Topicain gel for pain managemnt. I about died when I got my 1st my tattoo from the pain. It’s a gel that
just do it girl!! everyone will know you’re the one that can take it. oohhhh you’re sooo rough.
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T well and would not cause pigment migration or anything like that. You how the hell can you be sure of that? lish "there are worse things than death 36.6% / 30 RANA 125 / 68
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m planning a rather large tattoo for my lower back area and was wondering if anyone has used Topicain gel for pain managemnt. I about died when I got my 1st my tattoo from the pain. It’s a gel that contains 4% Lidocaine which is a topical anesthetic. It’s used alot for laser procedures such as hair removal and tattoo removal as well. It’s also used for more painfull procedures such as a lumbar puncture or skin graft harvesting. It’s availible without a prescription as well and would not cause pigment migration or anything like that. You put it on the area about 1 to to hrs before and wrap the area in saran-wrap to keep the air out. It numbs the area for upwards of 4 hours. If anyone has ever used this or anything like it, let me know what you thought of it…I know everyone says that the pain is part of the experience but I’ve gone through that before with the first one. I know I’m a big chicken!!! But if there’s something out there that will reduce the pain or just make it go away I’d take advantage of it! THANKS!!
I tried something called EMLA cream and it worked to the point where the needle just had a tickling sensation. However it only lasts for about an hour or so, but that’s better then nothing. You can buy this stuff from BME off there web site.
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I’m planning a rather large tattoo for my lower back area and was wondering if anyone has used Topicain gel for pain managemnt.
Having used the similar EMLA cream for tattoos in sensitive spots, I have to say that it’s a waste of time doing this. IMHO, of course, and conditioned by the fact that EMLA anesthesia doesn’t last very long. I about died when I got my 1st tattoo from the pain.
Well, it’s certainly true that some tattoos hurt a lot — but dying? Please, dear, don’t exaggerate! OTOH, if you are all tensed up, it probably makes the tattooist’s job harder… I have found that breathing exercises a la yoga and some meditation systems seem to be helpful in handling tattoo and medical pain. What I’d like to find is a renegade dentist who’d loan out his NO equipment… — Skookums Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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I’m planning a rather large tattoo for my lower back area and was wondering if anyone has used Topicain gel for pain managemnt. I about died when I got my 1st my tattoo from the pain. It’s a gel that contains 4% Lidocaine which is a topical anesthetic. It’s used alot
I, too, as an experiment, used EMLA once, and it sucked. Occlusive dressing an hour, then the tattoo starts and it lasted for a good 15 mintues, i’d say. Just not worth it. The more tense and freaked out you are, the worse it hurts. Breathe, listen to some music you like or bring along a book (my favorite), and RELAX. Also, it helps if the needles are brand new and you’re not going to someone whose nickname is ‘the drill’…. who is your artist? Perhaps it hurt so much because they suck. TQ
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m planning a rather large tattoo for my lower back area and was wondering if anyone has used Topicain gel for pain managemnt. I about died when I got my 1st my tattoo from the pain. It’s a gel that contains 4% Lidocaine which is a topical anesthetic. It’s used alot for laser procedures such as hair removal and tattoo removal as well. It’s also used for more painfull procedures such as a lumbar puncture or skin graft harvesting. It’s availible without a prescription as well and would not cause pigment migration or anything like that. You put it on the area about 1 to to hrs before and wrap the area in saran-wrap to keep the air out. It numbs the area for upwards of 4 hours. If anyone has ever used this or anything like it, let me know what you thought of it…I know everyone says that the pain is part of the experience but I’ve gone through that before with the first one. I know I’m a big chicken!!! But if there’s something out there that will reduce the pain or just make it go away I’d take advantage of it! THANKS!!
Isn’t that the stuff that makes the skin swell (which would basically distort it for any tattooing)? I think you should just sit there and take it. The pain is part of the experience. You need to learn to deal with the pain with other methods. Besides, do you even know if the tattoo artist will tattoo you with all that crap all over his canvas? Lissette
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I’m planning a rather large tattoo for my lower back area and was wondering if anyone has used Topicain gel for pain managemnt. I about
CHRIST will you learn to edit your posts? Isn’t that the stuff that makes the skin swell (which would basically distort it for any tattooing)? I think you should just sit there and take Besides, do you even know if the tattoo artist will tattoo you with all that crap all over his canvas?
I’ve never seen any major swelling with EMLA, certainly not enough to distort anything. Part of how these various ‘caines’ work is by closing off the small blood vesseles, so you get less bleeding, very blanched skin, and not much swelling while that tattoo is happening. After, however, is a sort of YMMV thing… I truly loathed the nasty ‘frozen meat’ thudding sensation of being tattooed on ‘numbed’ flesh, and when it wore off, it seemed to have sensitized my skin more, and i was less comfortable then if i had simply not used it. Cat has tattooed people who’ve used this and similar products – if it makes them sit still, not take breaks every 4 minutes, and not pass out on the floor (go marines go!), then he’s fine with it, although having to have it on for an hour or so ahead of time isnt’ always convenient. TQ
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you’re not going to someone whose nickname is ‘the drill’….
or the "jackhammer" And she’s such a little lady too. Ray
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T Cat has tattooed people who’ve used this and similar T products – if it makes them sit still, not take breaks every T 4 minutes, and not pass out on the floor (go marines go!), …or if it allows them to sit for two hours longer than they would normally. my write-up on EMLA is archived on groups.google somewhere. the OP can go search. lish "i’ve got half a mind 36.6% / 30 RANA 125 / 68
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Isn’t that the stuff that makes the skin swell (which would basically distort it for any tattooing)? I’ve never seen any major swelling with EMLA, certainly not enough to distort anything.
<SNIP HAPPY! I have seen enough swelling with EMLA and other various cains to tell customers to come back in a couple of hours after that stuff wore off, as far as piercings go. It makes it VERY hard for me to pierce the area, and from what I’ve seen, the swelling looks almost welt like. I know quite a few tattoo artists who would turn people down that come in full of cain creams on their skin. Funny thing is that when they come back (day after, couple hours after, whatever), they usually say that it didn’t hurt them as much as they thought it would. Most people do that because they’re afraid of what it feels like, without even knowing, and IMHO, those people aren’t ready to get tattooed or pierced. Lissette
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<snip IMHO, those people aren’t ready to get tattooed or pierced. Lissette
This doesn’t really apply for tattooing, but for piercing, what about people who are simply deathly afraid of needles? I have a prescription for EMLA for when I get my blood drawn because I panic too much if I can feel the needle. I have considered using it for future piercings, though I have not decided yet. I am fully aware of the implications of piercing, and the relative pain to expect with each piercing I want to get. Since having a positive or negative piercing experience depends greatly on one’s mental state the comfort of an anaesthetic would make piercing appointments easier for myself and the piercer. Even if it didn’t really do anything (though it helps when my blood is drawn, a lot of people claim that piercings go too deep for EMLA to be effective) the expectation that it could lessen the feeling of the needle going in me could help me relax instead of panic, hyperventilate, sweat bullets, etc. Pain may be part of the experience, but that kind of terror is not. I’m not interested in a bunch of RABbits telling me what a wuss I am for being afraid of needles. Trust me, I’ve heard that all my life and whatever you have to say is nothing new. I am interested in piercers who have an opinion on Lucky Lady’s feelings versus my feelings about EMLA. Though I currently have no piercings, I have been waiting and researching for three years rather than go the "DIY impatient minor" method, and my reward is coming soon. I have zero doubts about my readiness.
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AM I’m not interested in a bunch of RABbits telling me what a wuss I am fo AM being afraid of needles. Trust me, I’ve heard that all my life and what your words hurt us. we would never be so uncaring! so heartless! so unsympathetic! AM you have to say is nothing new. I am interested in piercers who have a AM opinion on Lucky Lady’s feelings versus my feelings about EMLA. Though AM currently have no piercings, I have been waiting and researching for t i know plenty of people who can be pierced just fine but remain scared shitless about getting shots. the needles are completely different in many regards; the feeling of a shot is a much grosser type of pain than a piercing. furthermore, the end results are different: sure, you’re now immune to polio or won’t develop rabies or whatever, but the emotional end of it is "now my arm/ass/abdomen hurts". with a piercing, it’s less of a sickly stabbing feeling, for one, & secondly you get to go home with "my regarding EMLA for piercings: i’ve used it a couple of times at home to take the edge off & allow me to be more particular with placement & less concerned about how it’d feel. on mucosa tissue it worked lovely, but there was greater swelling & bleeding *after* the piercings. i didn’t notice any change between an unpierced non-EMLA state & an unpierced EMLA-ready-to-go state. i don’t recommend using EMLA with immediate post-piercing stretches; the tapers really don’t want to go through with all those constricted vessels. if you’re that concerned, pick up a tube from bmeshop & plaster it on yourself. in a half hour or whatever, wipe it off & see if you notice any unusual swelling. while you’re at it, see if you can feel a pinch; EMLA isn’t always effective. lish "whatcha thinking about?" 36.6% / 30 RANA 125 / 68
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This doesn’t really apply for tattooing, but for piercing, what about people who are simply deathly afraid of needles? I have a prescription for EMLA for when I get my blood drawn because I panic too much if I can feel the needle. I have considered using it for future piercings, though I have not decided
<snipped I too am terribly afraid of needles, which is why I still don’t have my septum pierced. I used to pass out for everything (even blood work), because I would be so freaking nervous before they stuck me, that by the time it was over, I would just pass out. I have learned to get through that by meditating. This goes back to my original statement that maybe the person isn’t ready to get the procedure if they are that afraid. They just need to learn to work through it. Lissette
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[EMLA] if you’re that concerned, pick up a tube from bmeshop & plaster it on yourself. in a half hour or whatever, wipe it off & see if you notice any unusual swelling.
Went chasing the stats – apparently about 6% of people swell with EMLA (I posted before that I’ve never seen it), so a pre-appointment trial sounds like a good plan. It’s best applied under occlusion – cling wrap and sticky tape will do at a pinch. while you’re at it, see if you can feel a pinch; EMLA isn’t always effective.
Half an hour probably won’t be enough to tell. There’s a near-linear relationship between time of application (up to two hours) and depth of anaesthesia (up to 5 mm). Lara — "Of course, had you cited _three_ hazy memories, that would have been acceptable." Lee Ayrton explains the burden of proof on AFU – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Check out the shiny new AFU FAQ at http://www.tafkac.org/ <<<
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if you’re that concerned, pick up a tube from bmeshop & plaster it
LH sounds like a good plan. It’s best applied under occlusion – cling wrap LH and sticky tape will do at a pinch. the stuff i got from bmeshop came with tegaderm, but yeah, i used saran wrap & clear tape. which is interesting, since clear tape irritates my skin. LH Half an hour probably won’t be enough to tell. There’s a near-linear LH relationship between time of application (up to two hours) and depth of LH anaesthesia (up to 5 mm). well, fifteen minutes was enough on mucosa, but an hour & a half did nothing in preparation for a cutting on the side of my calf. always read labels. lish "before i fuck your mother, 36.6% / 30 RANA 125 / 68
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I’m planning a rather large tattoo for my lower back area and was wondering if anyone has used Topicain gel for pain managemnt. I about
the one time i had an anaesthetic, it didnt stop me from getting lightheaded mid-tattoo, regardless of the fact that there was no pain.i still had to get up, splash cold water on my face, and drink a juice. then, after the crud wore off, i lymphed and scabbed and swelled something awful. it was painful and stiff and the scabs cracked and bled. i got pimples on my tattoo. i will never ever ever do it again. the pain just isnt that bad. — Ideally giving credence to her hesitant subtext since 2002!
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you’re not going to someone whose nickname is ‘the drill’…. or the "jackhammer" And she’s such a little lady too.
Man, i just don’t think i’d want to be know for that. Just doesn’t sound…good. TQ
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much as they thought it would. Most people do that because they’re afraid of what it feels like, without even knowing, and IMHO, those people aren’t ready to get tattooed or pierced.
That just seems waaaaay judgemental. You can be terrified of needles and still be ready to get a tattoo – irrational fears don’t go away just because you WANT something. And no, i wouldn’t just show up at my tattooists’ coverd in EMLA without prior discussion, but it hasn’t caused any problems for Cat, or several other people we know, so it’s not that big a deal. TQ
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i wouldn’t just show up at my tattooists’ coverd in EMLA without prior discussion, but it hasn’t caused any problems for Cat, or several other people we know, so it’s not that big a deal.
But the problem is that people do just show up in EMLA without prior discussion, and those are the people I’m referring to. I’ve seen/had groups of women come in all full of that stuff and expect the tattoo artist/me to tattoo/pierce them without prior warning, and just because they’re afraid of what it may feel like. If it’s someone, like lish, who has had work done by that one artist, and she knows that it hurts like all hell where she’s getting it done, and has to go back for more, then by all means, discuss it with the tattoo artist and go for it, but the OP never mentioned any discussion with her tattoo artist. She did say that she knew the pain, and was a "big chicken", but still. To me it still sounds like she’s more afraid of what it may feel like, then what it actually does feel like. If anyone were to talk about being a big chicken, it’s me. I’m the authority on that, especially with lower back tattoos, because that tattoo literally put me in tears, and I still sat there and took it like a trooper. Why, because it was a very meaningful, emotional tattoo, and what I needed was to cry. But that’s me. Lissette — http://www.geocities.com/flpiercer http://www.newagepiercing.com ICQ: 15543599 AIM: sacredcow7777 MSN: flpiercer
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LL what it may feel like. If it’s someone, like lish, who has had work don LL that one artist, and she knows that it hurts like all hell where she’s LL getting it done, and has to go back for more, then by all means, discuss for the record, i didn’t use EMLA because ow-ow-tattooing-hurts. i used it because i wanted to have my back finished in as few sittings as possible, as cat was some distance from me. lish "that’s the most fun i’ve had without 36.6% / 30 RANA 125 / 68
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This doesn’t really apply for tattooing, but for piercing, what about people who are simply deathly afraid of needles?
Probably just better to go ahead and pass out, after the marking is approved. LOL Lynn Missouri
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OH thanks everyone for your imput…I wasn’t going to just GO with that stuff on and not tell the artist. Actually he told me to do a trial run with the stuff and see how it works and to stop by so he could look at my skin to see if it’s going to be problem. Of course if it doesn’t work then I’ll just take the pain although I would prefer not to. This will be my 2nd tattoo and I didn’t have anything with my 1st one. However, it was on a real fleshy part of my lower leg, not the lower back. It’s an alternative that I’m looking into if it doesn’t work it doesn’t. I’ll get the tattoo regardless but if I can do it without the pain being so intense then I’m going to. Thanks again!
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Categories: Lower Back Tattoos | 
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It’s hard to find people, especially people willing to do something as daring as go on Survivor, that don’t have at least a small tattoo. 
Sara — saram AT wam.umd.edu, RANA-85 http://iam.bmezine.com/?saram [make my address kosher to reply] Go to my iam page to bid on a piece of me!