Hi NewYorkMets,

Thank you so much for your kind comments. I really enjoy welcoming newcomers and sharing what info I can. And I ALWAYS appreciate prayers and blessings. Thanks for those!

Sorry for any confusion. I have not had an LSB. I have a bad problem of scarring down everything and keloid horribly. Thank you Viking ancestry. I have had concerns about scarring near a nerve root because of my history.

That said I have had peripheral nerve blocks and found those helpful. They can calm an area of nerve inflammation which can improve symptoms. When nerves are clunked down they don't glide, then they swell, then it gets worse. Local treatment can sometimes break this cycle. For the thigh a common nerve irritation is known as Meralgia paresthetica. It causes pain and burning in the thigh. This can be treated locally if it is your problem. My Physical Medicine doctor says this is the most common area he treats. Another is the adductor canal on the inside thigh. It may be worth exploring ultrasound of this area to check for nerve swelling and trying a local block to calm things and reduce any swelling. I am by no means saying you don't have CRPS. I just think people have the best chance of beating this thing back if pain contributors have been addressed. It DOES make a big difference and I recently found in literature that pain contributors need to be addressed for folks receiving ketamine so they don't re-centralize.

From what I have read you may get relief in two stages, immediate and a few days out as the steroid kicks in. Whether it will help long term or not who knows. My peripheral blocks brought a long term reduction in my level of pain. I know it's hard not jumping ahead, always wondering how long something will last. We all do it. Try to stay in the moment. Sometimes just having a break is nice for a while.

I think you will find help with the "freezy" spray, ethyl chloride, we have used it for all my injections to address scarring. If they keep it on there a good long time it is quite effective. LSB are commonly given without sedation. Epidurals are also given without it. When I have had injections I specifically imagine a beautiful place and try to pay attention to details in the landscape. I know a woman who focuses her mind on an image of Christ reaching out to her in a field of yellow flowers, which I though was very sweet and beautiful. I have borrowed that too.

Know that no matter what you are not alone. Let us know when you do go in and we will be sending vibes for healing.