Hi. I had my second Lumbar sympathetic block today. It worked 8 hrs.
Pain went from a 7-8 to 0-3. Of course now it is bad now that it has worn off. After the first block (worked 5 hrs), I had a numb area in my leg. It went from that to shocky on the edges of the numbness. Then it has been a tearing pain when I moved wrong (enough to take my breath away when I am not paying enough attention to be ready for it). It has been sensitive to clothing and sheets. It has also started burning and aching. The area of the ache has gone from the outer left thigh, just above the knee (about halfway to the hip) to about the hip. I wasn't sure what to think! Sometimes it was bad and others not too bad and if I sit still long enough, it will eventually calm down after the tearing pain (though not always). So...after the 2nd block today, the pain in my thigh is gone. I am not sure if it will come back. But the numbness is still there. Doesn't this mean that that pain is coming from the sympathetic nerves? Does this mean this is spread? I know I need to ask my doc..but I don't have a follow up until a week after my 3rd block. I still have not "technically" been diagnosed with CRPS...though I tend to believe that the official diagnosis is coming.
I am also looking for a new PCP since i am irritated with my current one. For months he treated me like I was whiner from the pain....take tylenol and aleve because anything else really doesn't work type. I kept telling him it didn't TOUCH the pain....still nothing. Then I finally found a podiatrist who would listen and now all this! My PCP did some bloodwork after the podiatrist talked to him. I forgot to ask what I could take to get some sleep...I caught it when I was checking out. Since he was in with another patient I didn't want to bother him and told the nurse to just let me know what he says...(we had discussed the fact that I wasn't sleeping...I forgot to ask my final question). Anyway, the next day the nurse tells me "dr. wants you to make an appointment to discuss what you can do for that."
I was SO MAD. Are you freaking kidding me?! I was in his office the DAY BEFORE...I asked while I was STILL THERE...and I was trying to be courteous by not interrupting him! Make ANOTHER appt? Pay ANOTHER 20%?! I refused....This is the kicker...plus he knows NOTHING about CRPS...not what I need right now. I am trying one a friend recommends. I told the front office to ask if he knows anything about CRPS for me.
Ok..sorry for the book. LOL. I am good at writing these lately.
Thanks for the ideas about what is going on after the block with my leg. =)