Hi all,
Well, I haven't been around much lately, for various reasons.
Right now, my O.N. is flaring again, and I'm just waiting (3 week wait to see my neurologist!) to get another nerve block.
A few weeks ago, I woke up with pain shooting down my left arm. It seems I have a trapped nerve in my left arm. Went to my Dr. and he gave me these strong steroid anti-inflammatory meds, it relieved the nerve pain a bit, but made me so sick and gave me headaches...just what I didn't need! After I finished the week's course of meds, the headaches continued...looked like the O.N. was flaring again. I asked my Dr. if the steroid meds may have interfered with the steroid in the nerve block...he just laughed and said he didn't think so. Well, I know it was a strange question, but I thought it might be possible! lol
I'm still waiting to have a CT Scan of my cervical spine to see what's going on, but have had to wait 3 weeks for the scan!
Meanwhile...after some meds, massage and acupuncture, the nerve pain in my left arm is easing slowly...it's mainly just numb now!
Looks like my body is falling apart a bit more! lol
~Jaime~

Well, I'm glad you're back, but sorry that you're suffering. My ON is flaring big time. Its been about a month since the last block and I've got a little less than 2 weeks before I have the RFA done to the cervical vertebra and a repeat ON block cause everytime he goes through the muscle, the ON flares off the charts. I'm amazed that it can get worse than it is, but it does. My MRI and myelogram showed a bulging disc at C5&6. I also have a shoulder issue and I'm not clear on whats aggravating the occipital nerve, as the main muscles that run from the shoulder to the head stay in a state of spasm and inflamed.

I do hope they give you some answers and that your arm pain eases up. Hopefully, you won't have to wait long to get the results of your CT scan.

Hang in there, ellena

Well, I had my CT Scan on Tuesday, and got the results today. I have 3 bulging discs, and osteo-arthritis at every level! It's not too bad yet, no ruptured discs, thankfully!
At least it explains the neck pain...
Just waiting now to have my ON nerve block, less than 2 weeks to go...

I'm so sorry that you also have bulging discs and osteoarthritis. Pain accompanies bulging discs and you should get a copy of the report and the scan for your pain doctor to look at. There are things he can do for you to ease the pain.

Take care, ellena

Jaime,
Are you having a facet type block or a standard nerve block with needles in back of neck? I am curious as I am trying to figure out how many people with ON are getting multiple nerve blocks or multiple facet injections and which are more sucessfuland for how long as I am new to this debilitation. Thanks for any input

Hi,
I haven't had the multiple facet injections, I've only had the standard nerve block, into the back of the head, so far. My next one is in 2 days time...can't wait! lol

WoW! THREE weeks?!? That's a long time to wait! I talked to my pain specialist about eing in pain when the freezing wore off and she told me to call any time I was in pain and tell the recptionist to just fit me in no matter what. She was as good as her word and I was able to do that more than once. She also gave me hydromorphone to take in between times if I needed it. It's helping to take the edge off. I see her weekly for freezing.

TOmorrow I am having a rhyzotomy and maybe that will help some. Have you had that at all? I am not looking forward to it (it's gonna hurt!) but maybe it will help.

I do hope you can get in sooner. Maybe ask about the cancellation list?
Sending sympathy!

I've had both, facet injections and direct blocks, and now the direct occipital block is a necessity when I get the facet blocks. The repeated steroid injections have helped to calm the ON down, but it's returning and they can only do three with steroids, so the last one will get done when the doctor does the rhizotomy. He is hoping that it will free up the muscles which are aggravating the occipital nerve as both the greater and lesser occipital nerves pass through the muscles of the neck and the vertebra. And if it doesn't, he's willing to burn the occipital nerve, but I haven't made my mind up about that one yet.

Hope the nerve block went well for you Jaime.

Thinking of you.

Had my nerve block yesterday. It was nice not to feel any head pain for a few hours, but after he pressed on my neck in different places and my shoulders, and did these tests on my left arm, to test sensitivity and if I have any weakness in the arm and not just the nerve pain...it has mostly come good, thankfully. Today it all aches! lol
I've had 5 blocks now, and I've been lucky that they haven't cost me anything, but from now on I have to pay...I'm just glad I don't need them so often! lol

~Jaime~