Hi I know this is a new forum, but hope others will show up soon. Thank you BMW for asking for this forum to be added

I start yet another series of nerve blocks for my bilateral ON on the 28th of this month. I HATE them, but they do bring relief.

I was wondering if anyone has had the stimulator for this? And if you have, would you mind sharing your experience? Thanks in advance, Nikki

Hi,
I haven't yet had any experience with the nerve stimulator. I have been having the nerve blocks, (left side only) and so far, they have been working well for me. I'm sure the stimulator will be my next move if/when the nerve blocks stop working. But for now, I'm getting at least 2 months or more relief from the blocks, so I can't complain!

~Jaime~

I never knew this was here. I have ON from the auto accident I was in. I was getting real bad migraine like headaches and finally I went and my doc injected some anesthetic and finally gave me a diagnosis of ON. I get them constantly from sneezing or like this morning just stretching my neck. I get a pain in my ear first and then it starts.

I used to be embarrassed to say this but it happened and I can't hide from it. I had ECTs for depression and my pdoc said it might help with the ON. But it didn't. I haven't had the nerve to get the nerve block done because I'm terrified of needles.

Jamie did the nerve blocks hurt?

Me BP,

The nerve blocks aren't pleasant and I have had several different types done; trigger points, facets and selective nerve root injections. But I will say this much...my PM uses a lot of numbing medication so it isn't horrible. I think it depends on WHO is doing it too. The first PM's I had were actually Residents so it took them a lot longer. My newer PM is fast and of course uses flouroscopy. There are times all I felt was pressure and other times; only twice that I can think of it where it was pretty uncomfortable. But the thing was, for me anyway, I was ready for SOMEBODY to just take my head off. So, when you are having that much severe pain, you just do not care if they ram ten needles in your head. It was so bad I lived for the days I could get the injections because I knew I would get relief. I have no experience with a stimulator because I really needed a fusion and eventually had that done...actually two of them. But there are times that I need injections at other levels. And, well, some people prefer the meds to needles. I prefer to have the injections and keep meds low. But everyone is different. And as my PM says, no one LIKES getting injections and he gets them himself for his own neck (he has two fusions as well). And I know he can't take pain meds since he isn't allowed to. And he has also told me that no amount of oral anti inflammatories can get that deep and to the source. I have found that to be true as well. Prednisone might help a little bit. But for the regular nerve meds, they just never did touch that ON pain.

near the very bottom of column left hand side...

http://www.aans.org/education/journa...21-6-intro.pdf
also this site which mentions neuro stimulation for O.N.

http://www.fpa-support.org/aboutfp/N...imulation.html

I didn’t realize they had any info about neuro stim for treatment of O.N.
I have neuro stimulator for my t.n. anesthesia dolorosa ... the implant is not much trouble at all. Same day surgery. it is not near or on..connected to my brain or anything like that. . . it is just under my skin. I bet if you contacted someone from the link they could help with anyone who has had stimulation for o.n.
And of course I will help if I can .
PEACE BMW

Wow.....happy to see this forum here.

I've only had a nerve block once so far......waiting to get into the pain clinic again. It definitely helped with my headche. I have no problem with lower trigger point injections, but I'll admit, the ON block smarted. Half of it was probably mental.....the thought of the needle going in right over the bones back there grosses me out.

I'll be interested to hear about anyone who has tried nerve stim for this.

hello all my name is Frank I have MS and as of late severe headaches, I go for my first never block on june 2, hope it works wonders

It hurt a little bit the first time I had it done, although I think my Neuro was really careful. But I was glad when it was over, because I hate needles! The 2nd and 3rd time I had the blocks done, it seemed to hurt more, because he palpitated the nerve too much before the needle went in! But, I'm prepared to put up with a few minutes of pain, to be rid of the nerve pain, because the blocks work well for me!

~Jaime~

Hi
Went to my Pain clinic this wk & after having had 14 nerve blocks done,
my Doc. decided i`d been on them long enough also suffered enough
having them & still suffering pain.
He has now given me "versitis patches" i belive these are very good but
i`m not sure if i should place them on my face. tried last night with 2 small strips, 1 the side of my forehead & 1 lower down side of cheek. but didn`t manage to keep them on for 12 hours, they should be 12 hrs. on & 12 hrs off. will try putting 1 on the back of my neck when i`v got used to them, 18 mths ago my Doc said No to patches as they can`t go in your hair [won`t stick] just can`t see how they`r going to work unless i have my hair cut off.
Anyone out there had these for occipital neuralgia ?
Regards SOPHIA.

Hiya, I'm pleased (if that's the right word) that I'm not the only person who has been diagnosed with ON following a car accident.

I'm booked in for nerve root block injections on Monday next week. It's being done under a general anaesthetic, so at least I won't feel anything at the time. I'm really hoping that it'll get rid of my headaches and migraines.

Does anyone know how long these injections are likely to last? I'm being sent for physiotherapy 2 days after the injections and then once a week after that. I think the specialist is hoping that the injections followed by the physiotherapy will fix the problem full time...............but maybe that's just me being optimistic!!!