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Originally Posted by jcrewrockstar
I have heard a lot of talk about "gangleon (sp) blocks". I am, tomorrow, seeing my first RSD Specialist/Pain Specialist. And, should this be a course of treatment that he recommends, I sort of would like to know "what I am in for." After a very painful arthrogram, and NVS nerve tests, I am quite frightened of needles, and well, above all (and, aren't we all) of pain; or further pain I should say.
Can anyone offer me some feedback on the following questions:
1. How is this block preformed? Where is the injection site, or, are there multiple injection sites? Are you awake during the proceedure? If so, how painful, truly, is it. If you are asleep when it is being done, how much pain are you in when the proceedure has been completed?
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I got a lumbar block but know of where the sgb for the upper body goes. Most docs who do blocks have a outpatient surgical place where you check in for the block. They give you all the info beforehand, such as don't eat or drink anything, get there early. What they did for me was after I went back I changed into one of those very breezy gowns and they took me to my bed. Started an IV and was given versed and maybe something else. It makes ya loopy and rather sleepy. They wheeled me into the room for the block, it looks like an operating room and get you in position.
With a sgb I guess you'd lay on your back cause the block goes in by your throat. With me I had to lay on my side of course. Anyway, a good doc will use flouroscopy which is a fancy word for live xray. He/She can see precisely where the needle is going so they can be sure to put the block in the exact spot it needs to be. Oh, before they did the block the doc injected a bit of knock out juice in my iv. When I woke up I was in the recovery area waking up! As far as I know most docs put you out for it. It's something that you should ask about though if they are going to want to do blocks on you.
My back was a bit sore but not painful, not from the procedure.
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2. How much pain relief, post-proceedure does it provide (I know it probably ranges from one individual to another)? How long does this relief, if there is a good success rate of pain relief, does the relief last? How frequently do you have to go back, on average, if this is required, to get them done again?
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For me, the block did nothing but put me in even more agony, a big time flare for 2 months. I'm an oddball though as this hasn't happened to many people. It does vary, some people get a few hours, others a few days and others a week or two. IF it does help pain then the doc sees how long it lasts and for sure you'll go back for more of them to keep it going and try to break the cycle. Each doc does blocks on his own "schedule" I guess you could say. My doc wanted to do 2 a week for a month. Other docs I've heard will do blocks for you 1 every two weeks others one a week for as long as it helps the pain. It really depends.
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3. What other type of proceedures are done by an RSD specialist to provide pain relief in Stages I and Stages II.?
thanks for taking the time to read this and give any honest feedback possible based on your own experiences. you are appreciated!
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First of all you can't look at RSD in terms of stages. They've done away with that particular thing in the medical books because we all will experience symptoms from all "stages" at the same time. So, no doc can classify someone as being in a "stage'.
Besides blocks, there's PT and medications. There's nothing else really to help. Ketamine is usually done for only those people who have failed all other treatements and have no other options left at all.
Hugs,
Karen