Yo Nanc! You da woman!! (Lumbar Plexus Block yesterday)
 

Lumbar Plexus Block at L2 both sides w/ steroids guided by x-ray.

Okay, did my first block yesterday and thought of you Nanc ALL day long and how you do/did these with NO sedation... omg. You Rule! and anyone else who does the same.

I am defiantly not a pro yet and will be a bit sore in my lower back for a bit too I think. I was such a cry baby. :Sob: Much to do about nothing really. I think just worry of the unknown and letdown of it all when it was over. Did I mention Flo is coming to visit? ..ugh! I figure this would be a good time test a block though. :rolleyes: One more hormone and my life will be complete. My husband thinks so too I'm sure. So they're telling me how the block may mess with my cycle and make me agitated, and the steroids may make me grumpy and I am like; I just need one more thing messing with my mood and my poor husband. I would like to remain married ya know..lol. all in jest, we're fine, but seriously... quit testing us already!! :p

The Good news, YES I AM FEELING BETTER ALREADY, YAY! :D

My right forearm is much better, praise God. This area was really getting BAD. I could barely lift a coffee cup. My upper back which has been riddled with CRPS for months now and would literally take my breath away is SO much better too. This area was thought by others to be from my large breasts, but I knew better, although I knew it was possible, but I also KNOW what CRPS pain feels like and they don't. Yes, like instantly... GONE! Amazing! The liquid fire in my ankle/heel... gone. Oh and my foot has not been cold. This is HUGE! wow! My legs seemed some better. My hips still aggravated. My legs tonight hurting a bit now, but were not earlier. I know I may need more, but will enjoy any reprieve given.

BUT my lower back is definitely not happy. It's real sore and acting like a spasm might be possible. Bruised feeling. the site looks good though. It was poked, so I imagine it will be sore for a minute or two. It's time to cycle anyway, the weather is changing, again.. springtime in the Rockies, so I slapped a patch on it for the night. ahh.


BTW I failed to ask, what is it they put in the block before the steroid?? just an anesthetic? I should have ask them. :(

Really glad to hear you've got some good relief so far Vrae :)

As for the cry baby bit lol, I think we'd all freak out a bit at the first go - after all, there's a lot at stake for us...this isn't just about helping a bit, it's about taking some of that horrible pain away...maybe...just maybe... Glad its worked for you in that respect!!

Moods will stabilise again, particularly once your Aunt has gone back home lol :winky:

Well done gal.

Bram.

Yippee Yahoo!! That is awesome, I am so stinkn' happy for you that I'm actually doing a happy dance ;)

I hope the injection soreness goes away without issue.

Have a super day,
Tessa

That is very good news Vrae! It must be simply nice to feel SOME relief!

When I had blocks, the site soreness went away within a couple of days, so I hope yours does too.

Hopefully the relief will allow you to start using your body parts more normally again, which can build on itself and help even more. Be very careful not to overdo it though; sometimes that happens with the new found enthusiasm.

Good luck to you and be sure to keep us updated!

YAY VRAE!!!! So happy that you have found some relief. Having such relief from the first block is promising!! Yeah, my last pain dr didn't use any sedation (the one I saw before him did) and he did SGB's, lumbar and cervical blocks on me. Honestly I prefer no sedation because of how I would feel later in the day. The soreness of the injection site will go away, for me it was within a couple days. I will not lie, sometimes it hurt like hell and I cried at times, but I kept telling myself this was temporary, it will end soon. The psychologist I was seeing for the SCS neuropsyc evaluation taught me how to breathe during these procedures, it helped because I forget to breathe and just hold it...that doesn't work too well :eek:

My dr used numbing medication, like lidocain, before the steroids. I wish I could get some more of these blocks, but as usual for me I started having adverse reactions to the steriods :mad:

I truly am sooo happy that you have gotten some relief!! You definitely deserve a break with all that you have been through lately! Are you scheduled to have any additional blocks??

Nanc
:hug:

So very HAPPY for you Vrae!! :D Sedation or not you're still brave.
Who knows ,even with the hormones maybe Flo will be easier to tolerate
because you've got some extra pain relief.
Maybe we should start up a support group for our spouses/partners who
have to deal with us. (ha-ha) Your's sounds like a pretty good sport.
I'm interested in how long the blocks work for you.
I'm going on #22 in the neck & I'm thinking of trying to stretch them out a bit.
:hug:

Vrae - I'm ecstatic for you!! Any day with diminished pain is a gift. Enjoy!!

I've had 4 lumbar sympathetic blocks. Im not sure how different that is from what you had. I had immediate warming of my ice cold right foot and pain diminished. It came back but not as severe. For me it was worth it.

The unknown is always the hardest part with any procedure. You imagine all kinds of things. No matter how much info you obtain, until you "see for yourself" you still worry and imagine what YOUR procedure will be like. I have never had any sedation for any of my nerve blocks so I can't compare the differences. You are NOT a cry baby.

So glad you are having some good results. Hope your improvement continues and it gets even better every day.

So glad you shared your good news.

Thank God we haven’t lost our sense of humor!
 

Hey guys, So it’s been an interesting couple of days so far. I have felt many different sensations in my legs and continue to feel them. My foot is cold again... bummer. The warmth there only lasted like 24 hrs. My legs are spasming like crazy when I walk around. Why? My legs and hips are not very happy right now but it’s cycle time and I am not lying in bed crying .. yet, so we’ll see. But so far they feel funky and are starting to hurt more. :(

From the waist up where CRPS had spread is SO MUCH BETTER! :D I am very happy about that! :D Very, very happy! :D Was worth it for that alone! I hope it will last a while.

My sheet they gave me says it can take the steroids 4-5 days to take effect. I have had some swelling. I don’t typically swell, but boy, yes I could feel it and still somewhat in my legs.

My back (injection site) is WAY better but still a tad sore. Ya know, I looked a little green/yellow after all this when I got home. Like.. sickly. Kind of freaked me out a little. My color is better now. I follow up with my Doc on Monday and I guess I’ll find out more about what’s next if anything. I think now I would like to try one of these when flo is not a factor and see what that is like.

Aren’t lidocaine injections/infusions an option? Are they just too short lived? I guess that’s what they gave me first that made my foot warm, etc? I’ve never had steroids so I’m really not sure what to expect from the drug. All I am thinking is oh no, more weight gain? <sigh>

Thank you so much for all of the support! What in the world would I do without you all? :hug: I have truly appreciated every single comment! Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. Makes mine less scary! :cool:

And wow… it sounds like one could end up having MANY of these. I wonder if that would perhaps allow me to back off the gabapentin for a bit at some point. My guts would sure appreciate that. OH! And speaking of guts… good Lord, I was burping up what was like eggs… :eek: YUCK! Gross!! Is that steroids?? And all kinds of flatulence too, lovely. :o So much so that my husband and I couldn’t stop laughing! It was crazy! I shouldn’t tell on myself, but I had no idea that was coming. I told my husband, wow you’d better watch out! I’m gonna blow you outta bed tonight! Lmao.. I’m just getting more and more sexy by the minute. He quickly ran and got the gas-ex for me. Awe.. how nice ..lol We really did have a good laugh. I never pass gas in front of him and I was ripping them left and right. lol Oh, why is farting so FUNNY! Thank God we haven’t lost our sense of humor! But seriously, is that all steroid related? Yikes!

OMG Vrae, you are soooo funny! Thank you for the laugh, I really needed that tonight!!! Never understood why farting is so funny, but it is. I am not sure if the steroids cause gas or not, I guess it is possible. I don't remember, which I should because of all the steriod injections I have had. But, I am more on the gassy side anyway with all my digestive issues, etc. I know a lot of people don't do that in front of their spouse, but I would explode if I held it in...sorry TMI :rolleyes:

I am happy to hear that you are good from the waist up. And it is good that you are not crying and in bed right now (I was until I read your post). I am curious to hear what your dr tells you on Monday. I would expect that he would recommend more blocks because of the positive results from this first one.

Glad your coloring is better now too. I know that each time I had one of these procedures done, I looked pretty rough...even when there was no sedation. I think it is pretty tough to go through mentally and physically. You are brave to have done it. In addition to the various blocks I have had, I have had steroid injections in many other areas of my body. Those definitely took several days to take effect...the first few days hurt like crazy.

Glad you posted an update, I have been thinking about you and wondering how you were doing today. And yes, so glad we still have our humor :D

Take care.
Nanc
:hug:

Oh yeah, it was on last night. Social graces were out the door. I thought I would blow up. ka boom! lol Being discreet was definitely untenable.. and exploding did crossed my mind, and his too I think. sheesh. :icon_redface:

I'm so sorry that you're not doing well tonight Nanc. :hug: I don't know why we must suffer so much. :Dunno: I wish I could take it away hon. I hope somehow maybe you will be able to fall asleep and get some good rest and feel better in the morning!

Thanks Vrae, you are a sweetheart! I have had a terrible cold/sinus mess going on for more than a week, finally getting better. Today was a little rougher. The antibiotics are wreaking havoc in my digestive system, so I can relate to lack of social graces right now :eek: On top of the illness, my left leg is giving me such a fit. I can usually get myself up and deal with it, but not this past week. I have spent so much time in bed because of trouble walking. So sick of this...why do we have to suffer so much all the time? Ok, there is my pity party...I will move on now :rolleyes:

Hope you have a restful night too! :hug:

Oh dear Nanc, it just keeps getting more complicated sometimes, doesn't it....? I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time.

I had to comment, because I'm feeling the same - just beleaguered by one problem after another...

Woke this morning to complete mid-back spasms, could hardly breathe, scary stuff all round, like being put in a vice or something :( My poor husband had to cancel work. Oh the guilt. He's so good about it, but I hate that I keep disrupting his life like this! I took some paracetemol and virtually passed out for a couple of hours. It's eased a bit now, but it still tweaks alarmingly if I move slightly wrong.

Sigh. Good grief guys, what's going on hey? Time for us all to get a break for a while at least. A chance to regroup and maybe talk about doing some nice things for a change...:)

My thoughts and wishes for good things go out to everyone having a rough old time right now.

Bram.

Jeez Bram… what are we gonna do? You poor thing. I am so sorry. :hug: You’ve been on a hell of a coaster. Do you have a Lidoderm Patch (generic = lidocaine patch) that you could put on the area? If it’s a spasm do you have any sort of muscle relaxer? Um… Epson bath, heating pad, Voltaren gel? Just trying to help you think is all.

It can all get to be a bit much can’t it? Like we’re running around peeing on fires…literally. Jumping from one pain to the next, trying to make them go away. I feel like an old sick woman stuck in her bed with all of her many meds next to her, walker within reach, looking a mess of a gal who needs a bath. The funny thing is this gal isn’t that old yet, and needs to be working, contributing much more to her very busy family. However, my body is winning right now. My will is not. I was able to edit like 2 hours yesterday. That’s laughable.. two hours. That’s nothing. <sigh> I’m going to try again today. Just keep trying until the damn thing is done I guess.

Anyway, I hope you feel better quick! :hug: I’ll be thinking about you!

Wow Bram, the fun is just never ending for you isn't it? Like it's not enough to suffer all dayy, but then to be awaken by the pain/spasms. I am glad your husband was able to stay home with you. Try not to feel guilty about that, it is what our great partners are with us for! Just focus on yourself. I hope you can find some relief, especially while waiting for your MRI results.

I finally got to sleep about 4:00 am this morning, my left leg is giving me a fit again. Oh the pain...I just don't know how much more of this I can take. I need some kind of relief. Why can't there be a med I can tolerate to help me?? I got up, showered, dressed, ate some toast and now I am back in bed. Vrae - I can totally relate to that old sick woman stuck in her bed feeling...here I am, but I am only 47. Feeling so beat down right now :(

I hope all of you have a better day today and even better tomorrow.

Nanc
:hug:

Lumbar Plexus Body Map
 

Okay this is very, very cool. hover over the image w/ your mouse.

http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/lumbar-plexus

Vrae, I am so happy that helped you. I work in pain management every Thursday. Sometimes I work with my pain management doctor then go see him for my appointment later that day. He is from a town an hour away. There seems to be very few pts they don't help. Thank goodness.
Bram and Nancy hope y'all are better very soon. I am still working but my symptoms are getting worse but not bad enough for me to stay home yet. I am so thankful to still be able to work and still be able to use my hand. I have not been on here much but have not forgotten any of you. Take care Jan

Son of a @%#&!$@! I hurt! Why oh why oh why?! Is it my period? The weather? Did it just not work? Has the steroid not taken effect? WTF is going on?? Ever since I had this done and increasingly so over the last few days and OMG today I have had CRAZY muscle spasms in my legs. God they hurt!!

My injection site feels better BUT, and that’s a GREAT BIG BUT, it hurts to sit for any length of time. The lower back towards my tail bone starts to hurt/burn. That pain reminds me of post op pain. And bonus, I wake up today and head straight for the dentist. Yep, they would like to do a root canal next week.. awesome! My lower back burning so bad I could hardly sit in their chair, either in the waiting area or Tx room.

So my legs hurt like hell! I mean like holy sheep, grab the Roxi and a Zofran stat! My upper back is starting to hurt again. My arms are trying to hang in there but I can feel that it probably won’t be much longer and they will give way to where they were.

Oh! And I have this feeling in my left hand like I just slapped the hell out of something kind of burn on my palm. That’s totally new.

I’m not feeling good about this anymore. At first I thought well, it was awesome! And it was.. but things have changed!! I have had all kinds of CRAZY sensations in my legs since this was done. All I want to do now is cry or SCREAM! I am SO FRIGGIN SICK OF THIS WHOLE GODFORSAKEN THING CALLED CRPS!!!!!

Oh Vrae, that flat out sucks!! I am so sorry that you are hurting so much...ugh! To be perfectly honest with you, I never had full relief from a first block, it always took more. If there was relief from the first block, it was promising because we knew dr hit the right spot and they just might help. There always had to be more to really get longer lasting relief. Hopefully this will be the case for you and it is not causing additional issues. I sure hope things calm down for you, if they don't you may want to give your doctor a call.

Take care,
Nanc
:hug:

Oh Vrae I'm sorry this hasn't worked out for you, you deserved so much more and better than this...just hang in there, things might yet settle down and get easier. Never give up.

You gave the block a try, so at least you were fighting this thing. And plenty of folk have had success with them, so it wasn't a crazy idea ;)

Thinking of you chick, hope today is better :hug:

Bram.

So sorry Vrae..this sounds perfectly awful. I agree with Nanc, the fact that you had an initial good response does usually mean you will benefit from a second one. But, you are having symptoms 2 weeks out that I did not have. What does the Doc say? Hang in there friend! - Lottie

Hey Vrae! Did you see your doctor Monday?? How did it go?? Hope you are doing better. Been thinking about you.

Nanc
:hug:

Hi Nanc!

Thank you so much for asking! I did. He felt like I responded well and would like to do a series of them, but we both agreed that my lower back is an issue in two ways. 1. If my injection site was so aggravated from one injection then how would it tolerate once a week for six weeks or so. 2. The lower back issues are contributing to the CRPS pain / problem. Sooooo Yesterday we did a Facet Injection / Medial Branch Block. Damn I'm getting brave! .. or crazy! :eek: .. or desperate. :rolleyes:


Either way, I was so proud of myself! I was a big girl and old shed a couple of tears this time. I did cuss a couple of times though ..lol. Not like a sailor. I think they got a kick out of me in the procedure room.

Soooo we did this to see if it made my back feel better, which it did. Therefore the next thing, to do would be radiofrequency ablation. This getting my back under control, to then attack with a series of the sympathetic blocks.

As the injections from yesterday were wearing off I went into a massive flare in my upper body. Had to take the big gun pain killers and now the lovely raging massive headache.. ouch!!

So yes, I am still pushing forward. Thanks so much for asking! I hope this finds you having a decent night :hug:

I hope you feel better soon Vrae. I never had lumbar blocks, but I had eight nerveblocks when I first got rsd and had one a week for two months. They put me under for all of them. They were in my neck and I just couldn't be awake for that. It freaked me out too much. I give you alot of credit for handling all you are while being awake. You are very brave and I admire you. Mine didn't help much but I hope yours do. I'll be praying for you.

It sounds to me like your doctor is a good one, seems like he really has a good handle on what is going on with you and a good plan. You are brave and I am proud of you too!! I am also glad you went ahead with that block/injection yesterday...they really can tell the drs what is going on. Glad he is working on getting your back under control before attacking more sympathetic blocks (which I think will really help you).

I was going to get a RFA done a year or so ago and my dr decided after the first two injections (diagnostic) that he didn't want to do it. He was afraid of causing RSD in my back, so he just injected steroids. I am glad he pulled back on doing it...if he was not comfortable with it, I was not comfortable with it. I am not saying this to scare you. I did not have a back issue like you. I was having pain and pressure in my back after the SCS's were implanted. I really think it was from the battery that was close to the pain site. That pain has gotten much better since the removal of the SCS's. Now I think the pain I get in my lower back is more IC related.

I am so happy that you finally found a good dr. I know it is gonna be tough getting thru the RFA and blocks, but it looks like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully with all of this, things will FINALLY calm down a bit for you!!

I am hanging in there...that seems to always be my response these days. Having some bad flares these days along with some other issues. Will see my PCP Friday and a new pain dr (hopefully) on May 2. I am just so sick of it all!

Nanc
:hug:

Vrae and Nanc, I just wanted to say that I give you both so much credit for do your blocks while awake. You are both so brave and give me the motivation to keep going no matter how bad the pain gets. Thanks for being so strong. It gives me the strength to carry on.

Thanks Renee! I have had them both ways, sedated and not sedated. I prefer to not be sedated. Getting IV's is what I get the most nervous about. There is only part of my right arm that they can stick them and I am a hard stick! I told myself the pain and discomfort from the block is only temporary and I felt better later in the day when not sedated.

Hey Vrae,

Just thinking out loud here but, I wonder if perhaps your flare was not a flare at all.. bare with me here. After my accident I had multiple body parts injured and had to stage surgical repair based on urgency and pain. I was always in awe that as one body part got better the others, that seemed to be less painful at the time got worse. In talking to my doctors about this they all said it isn't uncommon for someone to experience that especially when bilateral body parts are affected. So, I was wondering if perhaps your upper has been in that much pain but because the back hurt also you didn't notice it as much. When the back got better wham your focus went to your upper body/arms..?? Ya know that ole saying when one knee hurts.. whack the other and you will feel better ;) Not that any of that helps while you are in misery - just thought it might help ease some worry that the blocks somehow caused a flare elsewhere.

I will email you my thoughts on RF ablation. Did you ask your doctor about MRI Neurology? I highly recommend that before even considering RF. Quickly (I'll go into more detail in my email) If the area they are considering doing RF is the original nerve(s) that generated the CRPS II then I would NOT even consider RF. If however when you had your back surgery that started the CRPS II that these weren't the same vertabra then I would ask why a foraminotomy wouldn't be a better option. At least what I have learned from my Neuros is that it is never ever good to destroy nerve fibers (chemically or surgically) even without the presence of CRPS, with CRPS this is especially true.

The injection site irritation - you can ask your doctor to do a gentle manual massage to the area or even use a lightly warmed heated towel just prior to the injection. It would be very normal for anyone (especially you given your onset) to have muscle tension and stress prior to this type of injection. When our soft tissues are in duress they will react poorly to any trauma no matter how skilled the surgeon is being. If your husband is going with you next week even his gentle touch to that area will release tension - ensure his hands are warm :) Meditate, put in your ear buds and some relaxing tunes.. take a deep breath as he places his hand near the injection site and slowly exhale all the tension.. repeat for a few minute or until you feel relaxed. Then let your doctor perform the procedure. Worth a try.. you could also use your lidoderm patch applied to that area up until they inject.

<3
Tessa

PS., you already know how brave and AWmazing I think you are but thought I would shout it out anyways :)

Folks I'm just in awe of you all
 

I've written a post on the SCS forum but I just want to let you all know you rock. You are the most amazing and incredibly inspiring bunch of people ever.:hug:

Facet Injection / Bilateral Medial Branch Block
 

Thanks Lottie!

Nanc, Thank you for all of the support Nanc! :hug: I do feel good about my doc and Lord knows that is SO important. So is the support of all of you. Equally so. You all have been through some of this and I have not. I never thought I would let anyone EVER touch that area of my body again. That speaks volumes of where I am at with all of this. I really do get it when you say you’re so sick of it all. <sigh> :( I’m so sorry hon. :hug:

Hey Renee, Yeah, I wish they could put me under. I am being forced to learn how to get my mind in a different space and hold it there. That’s the trick.. holding it there.. UGH!

Again, Nanc... I have no idea how in the world you or anyone else ever did this without some kind of sedation.. omg! BUT I agree that it would be nice to not have to get over the sedation part later that day. BUT BUT lol omg... i dunno...lol. i yi yi.

PamelaJune, I know.. right?! Thank God for all of these incredibly fabulous creatures. They are truly inspiring!

Hey Tessa... what a lifeline you have been for me!!

You have so held my hand through this!! thank you, thank you so much! Like you have nothing else going on in your world but me. And on occasion that has meant what had to seem like a drunk email from me .. “ys, I’v made it thrug today” lol (misspellings intentional) or something like that. Thank you for all the encouragement and helping me think!

I agree that I’m not sure that the procedure(s) had anything to do with the flare(s).

I look forward to your thoughts on RF. FI @ L2 L3 L4 & L5. Original surgery L5/S1. I did ask him about MRN and I asked more of a leading question and wish I had not framed it this way. I ask “what are your thoughts about MRN do you think it is necessary or overkill?” and he said, “yeah it’s kind of overkill.” Now this was a very quick convo and I want more dialog about it. He said more but we had this convo just before this last procedure and it’s not good to talk to me then because I can’t remember a thing.

Group, please remember that my CRPS leg has had issues for 10 years and mirrored to the left. That your calf is actually in two pieces. The right half of mine is completely numb and has been since surgery back in 2004. It gets confused all the time and I have crazy sensations and spasms in it. Along with my right half of ankle and foot and toes. I have a numb streak that runs down my sciatica in my thigh. I have numbness in my back and spine. The worst of my CRPS when I woke from back surgery was my right leg ankle, toes. I was paralyzed from the waist down for a week.

I talked with the PM doc about how my legs were spasming like crazy and how my legs and hips hurt for a few days (all of which id better now) and he said that we turned some nerves off (pain signals) and turned some back on. He gave me a new muscle relaxer to add to the list of meds. But I needed it and I think it’s helping.

Knowing that I responded positive to both the Facet Injection / Medial Branch Block and the Lumbar Plexus Block I’m not sure what to do next. All this messing with my nerves makes me nervous but the alternative is to have this disease consume me. I’m not sure about RF, but I have had 3 neurologist tell me that they’l be no more back surgeries for me, which is understandable .. right? CRPS would flip out for sure and with only ONE back surgery so far and look where that has landed me.

I have an appt coming up Apr 2nd w/ the neuro doc. I think it’s time we chat about the new PM doc (I like him a lot) and how I’ve done some testing, what we’ve found, and what does he think about RF and any other options before proceeding w/ sympathetic blocks.

So I’ve got to fax in my pain log for the Bilateral MBB and I guess they’ll call me to meet w/ him again, then go meet w/ the neuro doc, make a decision and execute!

Meanwhile... edit!!! it’s tough to sit in a chair.. ugh! ...ouch! My upper back is still sore. This is CRPS and just the way it is and why I have to do something. Lower back a tad sore too.

I know that you all are also fighting.. every single day we fight. We are tougher than others will ever know and sometimes tougher than even we ourselves know. It is daily, and it is in so many different ways. It’s like some other aspects of life; unless you have experienced it, you just can’t fully comprehend it.

Thank you so much for being there for me! :hug:

Vrae, you're there for the rest of us too lol, you deserve the support :)

My back feels pretty screwed these days, and once I've had my results confirmed I'd like your opinion on my situation! A gal with your experience is so valuable....like a little pot of gold :winky:

You're doing so well, Vrae. Keep at it and never let the beast grind you down too far.

And everyone else here, you too guys. You too.

Bram xx

Hey Bram, I'm so sorry about your back hon. Back pain is terrible. I have to give credit where credit is due though. I don't know if I would have done the second test had I not had the encouragement I had from Tessa (via email). She also help me to think about how my back was playing into a larger CRPS picture. How to try and get my mind in a good place before these procedures and a few other things that have been very beneficial.

That, and the doc office was moving pretty quick, so before I had a ton of time to think about it, i just did it. :rolleyes: lol

Regardless, I definitely would like to hear about what's going on with your back when you're ready to share, and hopefully offer up something useful. :hug: I'm gonna try not to let it grind me down Bram :wink: As always, thank you for being here for me! I know that you too have really had a rough few months. Okay.. I know it's longer than that... BUT it's been extra special these last few months. <sigh> :hug: Hang in there!!

I hope you feel better too Bram. I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I have bulging discs in my lower back. Happened when I was little while sledding backwards into a wooded plank. I also have scoliosis which doesn't help. I recently had an MRI on hips and back and was diagnosed with osteoarhtritis. There is not much they can do about it. I hope that your dr can help you out. Mine suggested PT. Maybe that might help you. I hope that something helps you so you feel better soon.
And Vrae, I just wanted to tell you that maybe be put under for nerveblocks isn't so great to do. I forgot how lousy I felt afterwards. I coughed and sounded like a duck when I did and couldn't swallow for about an hour after being put under. It's a reaction to the anestesia. It is normal they say, but very uncomfortable. I hope that whatever you do you feel better soon too.
Soft Hugs to Everyone Here on This Forum. With Love, Renee.

Vrae,

Sorry I'm so late posting here. I've not been keeping up very well lately.

I am so sorry you are having such a hard time with the blocks. They are not particularly fun. I had one SGB (neck) without sedation. I didn't have more because I didn't get any relief from it. It was definitely unpleasant. I just told myself that it was only temporary, it wouldn't go on forever.

You said you were going to do a series of blocks. Do you know how many that will be? I really hope that they work for you. I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Kim