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Originally Posted by mommystime2
saw nuerologist today. because of my recent episode of wanting to die and having major symptoms of my bipolar which was controlled without meds for 16 years, the dr is taking me off gabapentin. 1.5 wks ago they had increased to 600mg 3xday, i have been in a fog,very depressed and cry all the time. anyway we are decreasing to 300 3xday for 1 week. so hopefully this is cured. dr also FINALLY getting me to pain management dr for a sympothetic nerve block. i have crps in my right arm. what is this? had any luck? also i fear the pain will get worse before i can be helped. now i have clonidine .1 mg 2xday and hydrocodone every 4 hrs but i try to only take 2 a day they are 5/500mg. any words of wisdom?
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Sorry you're going through this very hard time! I've had 3 sympathetic nerve blocks - My first gave me about 70% relief (I CRIED I was so relieved!!) but stopped working after 3 days (at which time I cried some more) My second also gave me about 70% relief, but this one lasted 9 days. My third did not go so well IMO (the procedure that is, but more on that in a minute) it gave me about 50% relief, but the day after the block my RSD started spreading up my leg pretty quickly (insert more crying here) this block wore off completely in about 3ish days.
The procedure itself wasnt so bad the first two times - of course it hurt, but my views on pain have changed so much recently that I found this pain to be pretty minor. I had some soreness in my back for a day or two afterwards, but again - not so bad. My least favorite part was being face down on a table to be perfectly honest! Now onto the third block - this block didnt go as smoothly as the others. My first two only took like 15 minutes tops, the third was over 30 minutes at least! The Dr seemed to be having a very hard time getting the proper needle placement and made many MANY adjustments! There were a couple of times that I thought I was going to be sick it was hurting/freaking me out so bad! (Please know Im not telling you this to scare you, this is just my story about my blocks!!) By the time I was on my way home I just wanted to go to sleep so bad because I was exhausted from the experience! The story kinda goes on from there to more pain afterwards than the first two, a spread (not saying it is related), and a HUGE fear of having the procedure done again! I had an appointment two days ago with a new Dr and he wants to continue trying the blocks, but he is going to use Ketamine to sedate me before hand so that I dont freak out! (and because that was the only way I would agree to having it done!)
I know that SNB's do not work for everyone, in fact my Dr did four patients the day he did my first - and I was the only one it worked for. But I do think they are worth trying! I wish you lots of luck, and I hope that you are able to find some relief.
PS - my blocks were lumbar because my rsd is in my foot/leg, yours (I assume since its in your arm) will be 'ganglion' instead. I dont know for sure, but I think having a ganglion done they are more likely to sedate you? Not really sure though! Again, good luck!