I am going to have a spinal hardware block done next week to see if the hardware is causing me this horrible pain. I have tried just about everything else and I really do think it is the hardware that is causing me this pain. The surgeon says my spine has not fused and since the hardware is in the thoraic that I don't need the hardware anyway because the thoraic is fairly stable.


They are going to inject lidocaine into my back where the hardware is. I am going to be sent home with a pain diary. If the procedure is successful, then later I can have the hardware out. I really want to have the hardware out. REALLY. My questions for the forum are: What makes the procedure successful? If I am not in pain for a day, is that reason enough for them to take the hardware out, or does it have to be 3 to 5 days? Or can it be just one day? Isn't lidocaine good for only 2 hours?