Hi Everyone,
I think most everyone knows that I had my re do last January. Three days later I had started to have a sever sensitivity to my right inner arm. The reason for my re do was because the anti scarring material (Septra Film) didn't take. I had a large amount of scar tissue and adhesions build up on my ulnar nerve causing sever compression.

From the original day of the onset of the sensitivity we had thought it was just the nerve waking up from the compression. I had seen the NP at my 2 week post op follow up and she thought that the sensativity would decrease with time. At my four week post op follow up with my Surgeon, he chose to try a medrol dose pack; if there was no relief with that then he wanted to do a Ganglion Block as he was concerned that RSD was in the works. Well, there was no relief with the medrol pack.. I had waited 8 weeks total with only minimal relief on its own. I then gave Lyrica a try for 2 more weeks but there was no relief from that only weight gain . I had been on Cymbalta prior to the surgery and still remain on it plus multiple other meds. I know more than 2 months went by from the time of onset but with my jittery nerves I just kept putting it off and trying other routs or tried to just push it under the table .

I then chose to go thru with the Stellate Ganglion Block. Today, when I had the injection it went pretty well. I have to say it was very similar to my scalene blocks. I didn't have IV sedation only a local anesthetic and was given the option of a 5 mg tab of valium which I took... I figured I could use a little relaxation . I had been given a local and then the injection. For me it wasn't difficult I had only felt pressure . During the actual injection I felt warmth in my entire right arm and I have to say the feeling was a bit strange a little numb, but the the best part is the pain had slowly gone away. I could feel my right eye start to droop and my right nose became stuffy. Once the procedure was done. I had a slight right sided headache and some mild discomfort to my right eye along with a very droopy blood shot right eye. My right hand was noticeably warmer and I had some weakness to my right arm. I still had a small amount of sensitivity to the right arm but the burning that I had in my right hand was gone.

I will be able to tell more tomorrow how much relief I am still having. But so far I am glad that I did go thru with it . Now, I will know either way and am getting a head start on my blocks if it is RSD.

I know many people have been recently concerned with the fact that they could be having RSD type symptoms with there TOS. Mine started shortly after my second surgery. It doesn't hurt to try some other routes. Just remember a block is what you ultimately need and you only have a small window of opportunity to put your RSD into remission.
Well, Off to sleep I go..

Thanks everyone for all your support and advise..
Many Hugs
Dawn