Stellate Ganglion Blocks
 

Has anyone had a series of STELLATE GANGLION BLOCKS?
After 8 years of harassing the lovely ins company 3 of 6 consecutive have been approved. 1st one done last week and my neck feels like it now needs Botox, lidocaine and steroids. Serious headache from the stiffness. It did help with the upper RSD for a few days. Now Im a tad skiddish to continue. Next is Tuesday and Im rethinking but feel I need to go thru the process

Lumbar blocks need to be done as the RSD has graduated to my left leg, foot and now right leg and foot which I am having a difficult time walking and standing

Hi Cyndy! I was diagnosed with RSD 22 years ago and went through a series of SGB then and they helped me greatly...actually put me in remission for many years. In 2009 I hurt my hand in 2009 and the RSD started spreading like wildfire. I tried the blocks again, but didn't have much luck this time around. I believe they didn't help because it was too late...took too long for a correct diagnosis.

Good luck!
Nanc

That is the only procedure that has helped me. I have had 15+ over the last 5 years. The drugs are almost worthless but for me, the SGB's saved the day!

I'd like to hear a little more about these, since I've never heard of them. Are they for a particular affected area, or can it be for any affected area?

I'll google it, too, but it's always good to hear from people with experience with them.

So happy to hear they have helped you so much! I had such a great result from them the first go around that I was pretty adament about having them the second time around. While I was waiting for insurance approval for the SCS's, I had the dr do another series of SGB's and lumbar blocks...I wanted to exhaust everything before the surgery.

Here is a good explanation:

"A stellate ganglion block is an injection of local anesthetic in the sympathetic nerve tissue of the neck. These nerves are a part of the sympathetic nervous system. The nerves are located on either side of the voice box, in the neck."

Most drs these days use fluoroscopy (x-ray guidance) and some use mild sedation. Back in 1991, they didn't use either one of those. When I had them, they were for RSD in my upper body. The first go around was in 1991 when I only had it in my face. The second time around was in 2010 for my hands and arms...in addition to my face.

Sgb
 

I have had block done for over 25 plus years it help to keep the RSD at a level that i can deal with the pain still need medication i get 3 done on each side of my neck one day on the left then the next day on the right for 6 days striaght i only get numing medication only now other drugs 9-12 months i have to go back an start over.

I had my first SGB on Wednesday, 15 May. My CRPS is in my right arm and the injection was in the right side of my neck. Mine was administered under ultrasound and x-ray guidance with only a local anesthetic.

It was referred to as 'an injection' - singular - but it actually involved re-positioning the needle and injected anesthetic multiple times. I found it to be a bit much to go through without light sedation.

Unfortunately, I did not find the SGB to be at all helpful. In fact, I had a nasty flare up on the Saturday following the block, though I'm not sure if there was a connection.

It seems like the block does work for some people. I hope it works for you. :)

WOW! ur insurance company is generous. Dr J ordered 6, they only approved 3 and I have bilateral TOS with the RSD. The surgery center had one approval and the doc's office had another. Ins co screwed up therefore Im screwed...not getting the 2nd or 3rd blocks as requested. They approved 3 as in 3 units. bilateral would be 2 units. INSANE

CANNOT believe you had it done without general. B R A V E! :hug:

youtube SGB
 

2nd round
 

SGB went better this week than last. Boy did it help with the burning hands. Now I will have to battle the ins co for the lumbar SGB as the feet and legs are fire on wheels to the bone. I cannot walk, stand let alone any form of exercise, keep bathing in ice.

Thx everyone for chiming in here. Your awesome!

Agree...drugs are almost worthless considering the side effects. Need breakthrough pain meds and calming the spasms for the TOS though. The RSD has taken over as the TOS is manageable with blocks and chemo denerviation (botox, steroids, lidocaine) including not using my hands/arms. HA

gentle stretches - the floor doing Edgelow, Feldenkrais, MELT, etc
PT
Chinese medicine
massage
acupressure
acupuncture
ice
water therapy

Hi Cyndy! Glad the SGB helped you, hopefully it won't be a huge battle with the insurance company for the lumbar block! I just wanted to say, please be careful with the ice on your RSD affected areas. It is well known that it is one of the worst things you can do to RSD as it can cause spread. It has caused major problems for me too!

Nanc
:hug:

Hi Cyn,
Today I go for Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) number 8 over about a 3 month time span. My CRPS is in left hand/wrist only. The results vary each time I guess for a lot of reasons. The best results were from #2 and 3. It improved the swelling and the shiny appearance. I go immediately for phys. therapy and that has gradually improved my range of motion. The pain relief is not as dramatic.
The side effects have varied as well. One time I had neck bruising, several times I have difficulity swallowing for a few hrs. and 3 times a hoarse voice for a few hrs. Thankfully never got the droopy eye/face.
PLEASE AVOID ICE ON CRPS!
Wishing you the best and hope you get some relief.:hug:

Thank you for the explanation, Nanc!

Olecyn - my sister has Lyme, and she swears by Feldenkrais - I think I might give it a go sometime. But I join in with the others with the warnings about ice - you might want to reconsider. Of course, everyone is different, but the ice may be making things worse. Maybe try without it for a bit?

Az-Di - good luck on your SGB - I hope and pray that this one is one of the good ones! BTW, we're quite close - we're about a mile away from the Peoria border. We'll have to share doctor info sometime if you'd like to. Are you enjoying the last of the decent weather before the 100 degree + months start? Don't you just love when it goes over 110? :eek:

Sgb
 

It helped for a few days with the arms and hands, the throbbing was gone, they weren't cherry red and swollen. Nothing for the legs and feet though. Ins only approved 2; grrr....So, now I get to fight for lumbar blocks. I need a professional athlete ice bath installed

For those who happen to have TOS with their CRPS the MEDICAL TEXT BOOK is out and available through Amazon, YAHOO!

http://tossociety.org/blog/