Lumbar Block... Im afraid
 

Ok so I followed up with my Pain mgmt doctor today. My MRI for my back is Normal. (thank god) He said that the reason my back is hurting has to be the way I am walking. So I scheduled a Lumbar Block for next Thursday. Pleaseeeee help me through this. Im scared. Any advise will be greatly appreciated!

XOXOXOXOX

Also, I am trying to schedule a fundraiser with the restaurant/bar around my house. I am waiting to hear back from the owner to move forward. I will keep everyone in Tabs with this :)

Hey there Breaker! Glad your MRI is normal!! I have had quite a few blocks and injections in that area. Of course, needles don't feel good going in, so I am not going to lie and say you won't feel it. The thing that helped me is to concentrate on my breathing...seriously, it helped. It is hard to relax in that situation, but when you concentrate on your breathing it actually helps you to relax some. If you can do that then you will not be as tense during the procedure, less tense helps the needle go in easier :)

I hope the block works for you!! Keep us posted.
Nanc
:hug:

Hi Breaker
 

I do understand about being nervous for the block. Sometimes you are allowed some IV sedation. I would ask for it before your date of proceedure. Most doctors are willing to help as much as possible. Also ask for plenty of local anesthetic. I have done some proceedures too that scared me, and I asked for more before it even started. I tend to be anxious regarding most needles. Even blood draws. I am a chicken at heart. It will be OK. Just talk to your doctor and ask for reassurances. They see alot of nervous folks. I wish you all the best. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. ginnie

On raising money
 

It may be good to check with your local ordinaces in your city hall. You may be able to put a donation jar out to multipal locations in your community. Most communities open their hearts to those who need alot of medical intervention. It might be worth your time to try this. My community had an auction to help me with my first spinal fusion. I didn't have insurance. ginnie

Dont be afraid. Just be sure this is what you want. Your back is serious busness. There are a lot of treatments out there. As the old saying goes if it's not broke then do not try to fix it. Have you had the nerve blocks they inject in your neck. I was pain free for a few years with those. Now I am in the late stages

Hi Breaker
 

Sometimes your gait, or the way you walk can be corrected. There are all kinds of good orthopedic doctors, and podiatrists, who specialize with that. Maybe inprovement with your walking, would correct your back pain, and then you won't have to endure the Blocks in your back. It would be worth your effort to see if you can find a correction. I wish you all the best. ginnie

Have you had a thorough evaluation by an advanced PT person or team, or even an expert chiropractor? Perhaps an Osteopathic MD?

If it is the way you are walking some sort of phys therapy, adjustments or body work might be able to fix it more long term than a shot or injection.

Everything will be okay
 

I know you're scared...I was too! The truth is, it's not as bad as you're imagining. Just concentrate on breathing...it truly helps! And definately tell them before your procedure date that you would like sedation...that helps a lot too!:grouphug:

Hi Breaker
 

Good morning Beaker. Having that block is scarry, but not so bad. I think in the long run a good orthopedic specialist may help you more than the injection. If the back isn't the problem, but my walking is, I would be more inclined to check on my walking. I do have trouble with walking too, and I currently see an orthopedic doctor, working on helping my gait. This has helped my back, more than any injection, or other therapy. Just a thought. ginnie

Hey guys,

Sorry its been a few days since I answered. I work with an orthopedic surgeon. He tells me that my back is hurting me because of the way I am walking and so does the Pain mgmt doctor. The Pain mgmt doctor really feels that this injection will help a lot. I am working with PT and I have been having better days.

I am still scared about the injection but it really is the first treatment I am trying (besides PT) My right foot has been turned to the right. I had that problem last year before I had my surgery last Jan. I guess my back just hurts more since I am walking from regular pain plus RSD pain. BLEH ! :)

I slept wonderfully through all of my blocks, woke with pain at surgical site only if I touched it/moved on it, and that pinch was gone within a day. Blocks were wonderful for me: truly a tremendous help and I don't think you have anything to worry about.

I know it's a scary time and you don't know what to expect, and the description of blocks sounds truly weird and disconcerting, but they have done wonders for many who have RSD and other nerve conditions. They are not a cure, but they can be a great treatment as part of your pain management program.

Lay back and think of warm limbs.

Did my lumbar block
 

Ok I did my Lumbar Block today. Wasn't bad... so its like 6 hours later. I still feel RSD in my foot. I am ok though... my back hurts of course. LOL. I think I got some relief tho. I guess I will see how I am tomorrow :)

good news breaker
 

Glad you did the block. Hope you get wonderful results. Use a cool pack for injection site. I hope you also get a good nights sleep. Usually after I have a proceedure, I can finally relax and sleep better. You were brave. ginnie

Thanks Ginnie... How long before you saw like full results. I am still feeling a little RSD.

On my block
 

[I had cervial blocks. I tried twice, and for me it didn't work. Then I had Katemine infusions, and that did work, for about 3 weeks for each one. I got results the same day of the fusion.
In my case it isn't RSD. I have NP, which is not as severe as RSD. I hope to heck I don't develpe that malady. Sorry you have to go through that. I had to go through a second spinal fusion to get acceptable long lasting results. I am 22 months post op. Use that cool pack and take tylenol, that should help. If the block works you should feel better pretty soon. let me know how you do. None of these things are easy to go through. ginnie

I have Stage III Adhesive Arachnoiditis. It is irreparable and no cure. It is horrible painful and deep pain is not all you feel, the is a lot of neurological burning from the buttocks to the feet, including the tailbone. I will tell you more, just be careful.

A Lumbar block is the same as a Nerve Block and are usually done in sets of three's. They do help, but just be careful and check the Anesthesiologist who is going to do. Mine the first two went fine, the third one, he punctured a nerve and now the whole swide of my right thigh has paresis in it. You have the right to check them out. If you get a good doctor, you will be okay.

Stevie

Post lumbar block
 

Ok so its been a few days... I know I felt better but Im starting to get some of the burning pain again. Its not Severe as I normally get it, but I feel like its simmered down to maybe a pain level of a 5. Im not really sure. Is this Normal? Should I call the Dr tmw or should I wait till when I see him next week? im kinda upset :(

I would probably wait until you see him next week. I would suggest writing down how long you had relief and update daily on whether the pain is returning, how much, etc. It is normal for the pain to return with the blocks and it's actually very encouraging that you got several days of relief from your first block. Many people only get a couple hours of relief. I know it sucks to have the pain coming back but it sounds like you responded well to the block and if you do a series of them you will hopefully have longer results each time.

Hi Breaker
 

I agree with cathra wait until next week, and write down everything that is happening, good and bad both. when the burning returned etc. Gosh I am hoping this series of injections work for you. ginnie

Thanks guys, thats encouragine :) I go back to therapy tmw so we see how that pans out. But I am def walking better :)

Omg bad night
 

OmG! Im having the worse night of rsd pain ever. I went to pt and told her i had rsd. I took a 15 min drive later and i havent been the same. Im very discourage with this block now. I had to take a pain pill and it hasnt helped at all. :( going to be a long night

arachnoititis
 

I too have severe arachnoititis, I have extensive scarring from L5 to the tip of my coccyx. A friend of mine did some exhaustive research for me and found an experimental treatment using Pentoxifylline and vitamin E. I have been using it for about six months and have noticed a significant decrease in pain when sitting and increased endurance. Please check out this article from the British Journal, well apparently I can't post links because I don't have enough posts . Google this, Resolution of symptomatic epidural fibrosis following treatment with combined pentoxifylline–tocopherol
C Georges, MD1, J-L Lefaix, PhD2 and S Delanian, MD, PhD3 The title of the study, and the doctors doing the research. The drugs are inexpensive and have mild side effects. I really hope you can try this and get the same kind of results I have. There are many other articles, just do a little googling and you should find enough studies to convince your doctor to give it a try. Good Luck to you. John Allen

Oh breaker
 

You have to go get more help. Don't get another block if this triggered the RSD. No, get to a pain specialist that deals with RSD. I have heard of this happening before. If an injection makes it worse, never do it again. I am so sorry this happened to you. Please go in to you PCP, get a referral right away to someone who can take the edge of this. A full flair up needs more than just a patch job. Breaker, I so hoped that this worked for you. I feel your pain and sorrow over this. I am in your corner, and I wish there was something I could do or say to help out this problem Get help, don't wait for others to act. You have to be strong right now, and be your own best advocate. Even call the hospital for referals if you have to. There are patient advocacy people in mose clinics and hosptials. I will be here for you. ginnie:hug:

Hi Breaker! Did the PT make you feel worse or are you worse from the block? I was reading your posts that you got a few days of relief from the block, which is great for the first one. When I had relief from lumbar blocks, they only lasted a few hours. My dr gave me a form to chart the pain everyday until my follow-up with him, it was very beneficial to him.

I couldn't tolerate PT at all, it made my pain so much worse...I couldn't even handle the desensitization, heat, ice, tens unit, none of it!

If you are worse now than before you got the block, then you need to call your dr.

I hope you get some relief soon.
Nanc
:hug:

I had some flare up before I went to PT. It wasnt so bad. I think I made it worse by driving later on that night. Sucked so much that I took the nucyenta. Right now I have some RSD but its not as bad as it was yesterday or even before the shot.

I know, Im a little lost cause I do have some good moments. But I get it when I lay down or sit mostly.

When I went to my friends house after I drove I noticed when I was standing I had it all the way up the leg, usually when I move around or stand the Rsd goes away.

I have the Dr appointment Monday.

This is just so confusing all this

I didn't notice how old the post was for lumbar block. I'm afraid....I have had to date 9 total starting with my lower back 2 blocks for my right foot and 2 blocks in my mid back then 2 blocks in the back of my neck and 2 in my front under my collar bone for the pain in my right ARM. They aren't bad they will put u to sleep and for me they helped oh a total of maybe 3 days at the most. The last one Monday a week ago for some reason upset and caused my foot to swell which hasn't gone down yet and my entire ARM has had no relief whatsoever. I made an appt to go see my pain specialist and he has decided to change me from 3600 mg of gabapentin per day to trying lyrica. This is what I'm scared about.