Hi I'm lotti! I have had hs since I was about 5 but only diagnosed since I was 19, i have currently got 10 swollen boils on my thighs and armpits and dozens more that aren't swollen or painful. Does anyone have any pain management tips other than hot compress? I've tried turmeric and it doesn't work for me and I'm currently awaiting surgery to remove large areas of skin, have been taking codeine and tramadol but they don't help and I'm at the end of my tether! If anyone has anything they do to either relieve pain or help them burst please please help! Thank you 
Hi lotto
God - you poor girl. How painful that must be. I've currently got 2 and that's bad enough.
Have you tried ice? Try holding some frozen peas or whatever to them - it's quite numbing.
Take care and hope you feel better soon x
I've not tried ice thank you and don't worry about me, it's painful as it is for you I'm sure but we all manage and have our own struggles just wish the nhs would hurry up with the surgery lol thank you again! X
Hi lotti,
You must be in so much pain right now, I could cry for you. I asked the dermatologist if there was any numbing topical cream that could be applied to the affected areas, she said even if there were such a product, it wouldn't be any good as the boils/abscesses are too deep. I disagree, because as we all know, it's the swelling that hurts the most. Ice does help if you can bear to touch the affected area. Failing that avoid contact with anything that can touch or rub against the boils. If the boils are not open wounds then applying talc helps. All this is stuff you more than likely already know and I'm sorry It's not much help, but at least you know you're not on your own. Good luck with the surgery, I hope it is soon.
Hello Lotto iam a 56 yr old woman an have them for most of my life for the pain i take asprin the asprin thin the blood an takes the pain away with very hot baths till they burst open good luck
Thanks guys, I baby thought of talc or aspirin thank you! Just high as a kite on tramad
Ohhh silly phone! I just take tramadol was what I was trying to say! My gp is fab and has giving me some numbing cream, it helps the smaller ones but I had one 2 weeks ago about 6 inches in diameter and it did nothing for that 
so frustrating, where's the miracle cure we all need!! X
Nightshades?