Well, I did it.. I had my Stellate Ganglion Block today..
 

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 :thud:. 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 :icon_eek: I just kept putting it off and trying other routs or tried to just push it under the table :Deliberate: .

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 :o . I had been given a local and then the injection. For me it wasn't difficult I had only felt pressure :Crowded: . 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 :rolleyes: . 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.. :Zzzz:

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

ALl my fingers and toes are crossed that you find what you need...I really hope it is not RSD...but if it is, I hope it gets controlled quickly for you.

Many soft hugs,

Johanna


:hug: :hug: :hug:

Well, It was really nice while it lasted :rolleyes: . The sensativity returned full swing around the 20 hour mark after the block and the burning in the hand and portion of my arm around 23 hours. Oh, I enjoyed the toasty warm hand.. How I miss that now..:icon_cry:

It was such a relief for those few hours... Now, I'll have to see what the Dr has to say. The sensativity never went away completley but it's intensity decreased alot and the sandpaper burning sensations that I had did go away for almost 24 hours. Plus, the cool hand was warm for quite some time.

I must say it was quite a downer when the symptoms started to return :Noooo:

Many Hugs
:hug: Dawn

Oh drats!:(

When do you see dr now about this?

Dawn
 

So sorry to hear this! I was hoping for the best for you--you've gone through so much and have tried to do all the right things.

I know so little about this....I know that often people need a series of blocks, and that one is not sufficient. But I'm unclear about the significance of the fact that this initial block worked for only a short period of time. Is that what was expected? And is there is any possibility that this response means that you might not have RSD, and that perhaps your nerves are just healing from your extensive surgery? I'm sure Roz and Hope and others can provide more info.

Here are two links I found, just in case you haven't seen them:

http://groups.msn.com/TheRSDNook/sgb.msnw

http://groups.msn.com/TheRSDNook/rsdtreatments.msnw

Hugs,
Stardust

Hi Stardust,
 

Beth wrote me in the "Today I" thread and this is quoted from her post regarding the Stellate Ganglion Block ...

(This should be a series of 3, spaced a few days to a week apart, but different Drs do it differently. Try to get them no further than a week apart if possible. The anesthesia provides roughly 4-6 hours of relief - anything OVER that amount of time, say you go 24 hours without the burning pain, is both confirmation of RSD/CRPS AND a successful block, i.e., it worked for you. Hopefully, each block will give you longer-lasting relief).
There is a limited window of time to get the blocks in order for a remission to take place, or failing that, to have the best results.

So, it looks as though I will be heading for more of the Stellate Ganglion blocks... Go Figure...:Sigh: My Luck...:( But I am determined to catch this quick and my goal is to put this into remission quickley...

Thank you so much for the links.:Thanx: I didn't have those...

Jo- I have a follow up with the Dr in a few days.. Ugh, It looks like I may have a new diagnosis. But I am still waiting for the official dx to come from the doc.

Hugs To You... :hug:
Dawn

Dawn,

Thank you so much for the insight.. it helps me because my Dr. wanted me to do the Scalene block and I am very nervous to do it . But hearing it from someone does help with my decision... great post...

Hope everyone is doin o.k.....

Dolfinz:hug:

Hi Dawn
 

I had my first scalene block 2 weeks ago and also received about a 20 hour reprieve from the pain; not complete relief, but significant. I am waiting for approval on the series from W/C. I think I will ask my attorney to call and see what the delay is on the authoriaztion.

Thanks for sharing, and for the udate!

Cala:hug:

Scalene Block is not the same as a Stellate Ganglion Block
 

Dolfinz and Caldium-
YUou may already know this but just in case.....

Scalene blocks are not the same as a Stellate Ganglion block. SG blocks are specifically for RSD.

The scalene block is used as a diagnostic tool to see if you have TOS, and also to give you an idea of whether surgery would be helpful. If getting them in a seires and quickly after diagnosis was a way of treatment/remission, many of us would be better by now....:p Having the scalene block later will not really affect your TOS all that much unless you have very severe nerve compression.

Johanna

And Dawn- I continue to send warm (pun intended!) thoughts your way.

Hope the Blocks continue to work for you.

Dawn, sorry about the block response pointing toward the CRPS dx...I hope you can get the others done quickly and get it under control! :hug:

Hi johannakat, Dawn.. Hope your feeling better..

I do have a severe compression.. subclavian and I think that why he wants me to do it.. but I see a new Dr. closer to home on Monday...Thank you for the info.. I'm still learning about it !

Hugs,
Dolfinz

Hi Dawn,
 

I just wanted to say not to give up on those blocks. Some Anesteologist do a series of sometimes up to 15 or 20. They do work, I saw a difference after 3 of them.

Also that window of time thing is wrong and I say this every time. I have seen so many people around here that have had blocks after a long length of time. I believe that when Drs. say this that they are reading the old articles on this or for some reason they don't want to do any more if a few don't work.

I know one lady and I have told this story many times that had blocks after 30 years of RSD and she called me and said she had never felt better then since she had those blocks. I belonged to a group for awhile around here and I saw a lot of miracles with blocks. I also had a hair dresser that would make sure when I came in there she had an RSD patient in there at the same time. I met several through her and heard their stories. I talk to people a lot around here, even in grocery stores and when we compare notes on Fibro or RSD we learn from each other. I also had a hair dresser that did have RSD and she was working. I have a friend that is a nurse in the OR and she has RSD in her foot which we laughed about because she had TOS surgery and didn't get it there but ended up with it in her foot. When she sees it coming out she goes in for a block to calm it down. Which the last time she had to do that was about 3 years ago and she works 8 to 10 hours everyday.

I think you have to keep the attitude that you can get better with RSD even though I know it's hard. If it weren't for my PCP I would have gave up years ago but he kept me grounded and kept me from being put under the ground actually.

I hope things do start getting better for you and again don't give up on the blocks.

Ada

Thanks Johannakat!
 

Duoh!! :icon_redface: Thanks for catching that! I meant stellate ganglion block. I guess reading Dolfinz post caused that to come to my head. Oh well, at least you caught it!!

And... I am still waiting on W.C. :Sigh:


Cala

Oh bugger, sorry caladium. needing a SG block is a big bummer. I wish it was a scalene block you were needing instead.

Johanna

Oh, Cala
I am so sorry to hear that you have to go thru with those Stellate ganglion blocks too... I hope the approvals come thru quickly for your blocks so you can get this under way ASAP...
Many Hugs and Best of Luck...
:hug: Dawn

Thanks Dawn, that's really nice of you ! Hopefuly it won't be much longer before I get the word.

I hope yours go well for you and resolve the RSD!

Take Care, :hug:

Cala