Question regarding stellate ganglion nerve block
 

Good morning. Does anyone have personal experience with a stellate ganglion nerve block? Good results? Bad results?

I'm scheduled to have one tomorrow for the RSD in my right arm. I am at my wits end and need pain relief, but I'm afraid this is just going to be one more things that does not work. My pain management doc metioned in passing the minor side effects, without any great detail. When I started reading, I thought well, holy crap, perhaps he could have given me just a tad bit more info that I left with.

Hope you all have a wonderful day. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Maggie

Hi Maggie,
 

I had 3 of the SGB"S. Some say they were awake when they had them. I was put under for them. When I woke up, I had the droopy eye and sounded like Donald Duck. They did help me though.

The 3rd one I had, I had a bad reaction but I believe it was due to a panic attack I had about having it. I had trouble breathing after it but it didn't last that long.

My brother use to talk like Donald Duck and I use to try to and that made me think of him and laugh when I came out sounding like that.

I had an Anesteologist that did my blocks and I trust them more the PM Drs. but that's me. They work in the hospitals and know how to administer the meds therefore I feel they have more experience at doing the blocks.

The main thing is that it might help put your RSD into remission. I hope that's the case for you.

Ada

I've had very mixed results with mine.....I've had 5 so far and the first was ok. I had a few days of relief. My second was better and I had a whole week of relief. The third & fourth didn't help at all & then I had one yesterday and although it seems like the constant pain is not there, I am having these deep shooting pains when I try to use my bad arm.

Dreambeliever, it's funny that you had a panic attack about having it, because I was scheduled to have one 2 weeks ago & I normally pre-medicate with valium before I go & I ran out. I had assumed that they were going to give me something when I got there & they didn't. The next thing I knew, I was crying uncontrollably, right there in the office, I started spinning & I ran out of the waiting room.

All my hubby could do was reschedule another appointment.....They must have thought I was crazy. I felt so bad when I went back in yesterday.

Dreambeliever....I reread my post & thought "oh my heavens....I called her panic attack funny!!!"

It's not funny, it's just peculiar, because I have the same problem :)

Hi Tink=r=bell,
 

It is funny that we both had the panic attacks. I am allergic to valium or I probably would have been popping them. I have never ran out of a waiting room but I can't tell you how many times I wanted to. What I have found lately is that I have trouble even keeping Dr. appts. I can't make myself go.
I have one in Denver on the 9th and I am going to make myself do this. Twist my arm, I guess. LOL

Maggie, I do hope you have this block. It might just get you back to where you can work. Mine did help me a lot. I do want to say also I have had more then 3. I have had 4 before surgeries. They waited until I was asleep to do them.

Good luck,
Ada

Hi Tink-r-bell....thanks so much for your reply to my question. I had the block done yesterday, so we shall see how well it works. Right now it seems not to have worked as well as I had wished. This was my first one and when I felt a panic attack coming I was ready to call it off....but I got through it. Doc told me it will take more than one. I keep looking for that miracle cure, but so far have not found it. I've fought this so long that I've retrained myself and am becoming left handed now....I'm not holding out any false hope that the nerve blocks are going to make a big difference. I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that the pain is going to be there forever, so I've learned to compromise and do so many things differently now....my handwriting with my left hand is still now exactly wonderful, but it's legible and it'll get better.
Have a wonderful day :)
Maggie

Hi Maggie,
 

Sorry, I read that first reply to me. You had already had the block. They do like to do a series of them. Mine did help me but I went through almost 4 years of PT and also get triggerpoint injections when needed.

Don't reside yourself to thinking you will not get better. It can be done. I was so bad off that several people thought I was going to die. I actually had to sign a living will for my Dr. but with the right help, you can get better and you will.

Ny right hand and arm is the worst. I have had 5 surgeries on that side but I can use it now. My fingers still spasm up at times and the weather changing sets me off but I can use that arm and hand. It wouldn't even do for me to try to use my left hand to write. My left hand won't do anything my brain tells it to. LOL

Seems like we all deal with panic attacks don't we?

Ada

I'll definately cross my fingers (on my good hand) for ya & hope that the blocks work. This is my last shot at the block before we move on to the spinal stim. (I really am on the fence about that one :eek: )

been there done that.
 

ihave had the procedure, my md is great she puts me out and she has been using ketamine with the blocks and i've feel ok.

The first one gave me 100% relief and it just caused me to walk sideways briefly. I had to aim 40 degrees to port to get to my destination. The relief lasted only about six hours though. It felt like there was nothing whatsoever wrong.

The second one provided about 60% relief withoput side effects.

The third one gave a little relief but it paralyzed my arm and this wasn't one of the problems they had warned me about so I got pretty panicky. They had a little trouble giving me the shot and said I moved.

They're not as bad as they look or sound. You're supposed to exercise and stuff while the pain is gone.

I'm sooo sorry it's come to this!After 16 years of RSD there's NOTHING I haven't tried. If you had a block already--I hope it worked for you!This dis-ease use to be confined to my right leg. I have had more than 350 of these usless proceedures done (which includes blocks, trigger points, stimulators, sympathectomies, all kinds of drugs and last but not least a pump---went into cardiac arrest so that too was removed immediately) Got tired of all the crap and went to homeopathics in 2002. The RSD went into remission! Two months ago,However,I had surgery on rt.hand. It has now been a real pain!SMILE. It has spread to everywhere.Not healing so Ortho doc suggested going back to pain mgnt.Against my gut,had two blocks and I WILL NOT return! Eventhough it is "good" to talk to others that have been diagnosed, I hate this for all of us.B/c of this crazy stuff,it can and will allow you to see and do things "out of the box".I have many thoughts and ideas for you to try. I am not savvy when it comes to computers so I hope this gets to you. I will be thinking and sending you good energy to make it through the tough days. Pls, don't give up 'cause right now I'm in the same boat as you! Take care of you and my prayers are there! Sunny

stellate ganglion block destroyed my life
 

I had overuse syndrome from a Job injury. I had to get the stellate ganglion block to get my disability check, cause they said I was refusing treatment in 1993. I was supposed to get several of them. my first visit, there was four others in the waiting room who also got them, and we all were supposed to come back the next day, to get the second one. I was the only one to come back the next day. Immediately after the block my blood presher had drooped real low and all the nurses were scared. They new something went seriously wrong. But they sent me home anyway. I had severe chest pains and could not get out of bed when I got home. The hospital called and told me if I wasn't feeling well I should go to the emergency room. But I could not get out of bed and It was the doctors that screwed me up and I did not want to go back to them. I can't believe they they are still giving them out. I tried to sue the pharmaceutical companies for a trillion dollars to stop them from torturing people with them. It's 2009 and i STILL HAVE CHEST PAINS AND CAN DO VERY LITTLE WITHOUT HAVING TO SIT DOWN.

Hmmm... I am not sure what to say other than all of us have had a real BAD experience to even be here so no doubt it is unwelcome insult to injury to try a procedure, to decrease your pain, and it only backfires big-time.

I will say that I've had 4 stellate blocks now, one with kind of scary side-effects that ameliorated later that same day. I would definately agree that an anesthesiologist who is board certified in pain management is the way to go if you pursue the blocks. I've dealt professionally with both anesthesiologists and physiatrists when I refered for various pain managment procedures and unequivocally the anesthesiologists get better results than the physiatrists, in my opinion.

Whether the blocks are worth it or safe? Depends on your results I guess. The prior poster certainly and rightly so, would say absolutely not! For me, they dropped my pain 80-90% but I saw the train-wreck coming and cheated by starting on them at 6 weeks post-op. I am 8 1/2 months post-op and will say they seem not to last forever as my sympathetic symptoms are returning and a 5th block has been recommended. Good luck!

Do you mind sharing some of what you found that helped, in homeopathics.

I had my first block two days ago. Immediately and for many hours had no response at all - no change in how my left arm and hand felt (RSD 24 months now), no particular nerve "feelings" from the block at any time. In bed later the first night started to feel much reduced pain. It has since been wavering back and forth from slightly better to same as before.

Expect to talk to the Dr who did the block tomorrow or next day. We are scheduled to do the block again - Stellate Ganglion - next Monday, as a pre-requisite procedure about 18 hours before a surgery on the left hand. Some concern about the surgery, but PT and OT have not fully corrected it and now developing "swan neck" fingers.

My prayers to everyone.

I had nerve block done two weeks ago. Going for another one friday. it only helped the first day. it took 6 hours not 2 before i could eat, the worst of it is the lump in your neck. my neck is still sore. im going to see if there is some other relief the doctor said 9 times. i say hell no im willing to do 4 times then if no relief he must find another way.

There is no "thanks" button for me to hit for Desi's post, but I just want to concur. Not all blocks are created equal!!! Finding a doc that uses fluoroscopy during a SGB is essential. And while it is more uncomfortable during the procedure and will lengthen it, the results can also be increased if the doc asks for your feedback during the procedure to pinpoint the exact area for maximum results.

One doc treated my SGB's like injections and the other doc treated them like serious medical procedures akin to surgery. The results were much more consistent with the latter!


If done incorrectly they can cause more you more problems. Please ask questions.

The meds used also make a huge difference. Research what the options are.

Second shot scheduled
 

I had my first SGB two weeks ago and had a miraculous 4 hours burn Free! Sch my second for Aug 6 and pray pray pray, first day PT today and my shoulder is ouch along with my arm (brachial plexus tear led to my RSD). So hold on ea of us responds differently and I agree with living in the now. Gratitude for a good few hours, minutes or seconds does me wonders as a reference point when it's bad. This to shall pass.......