Sympathetic nerve blocks
 

I have a very specific ? for the cold pain from PN. Does anyone have any experience good or bad w/ sympathetic nerve blocks at the ankle or toes to treat this type of pain, not the tingling, burning or lancinating pains but the cold? This was recommended to me as a last resort, everything else either having failed or in the process of doing so.
Thanks
Alkymst

It's never been brought up in my case....
 

but IF it's anything like IVIG [really, an invasive procedure] and one involving either injecting joints or directly adjacent or into nerve fibres...I really would like to check out the overall stats for success rates..

Found this site:
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/healt...=4417&src=news
And one aspect of the procedures described is the fourth s/e under 'side effects'. I suspect that can be translated into permanent damage. If what I have is considered 'temporary' {BAH!} I sure would hate to know what permanent is?
I guess it's because I feel that as long as I can FEEL those nerves protesting, that I can HOPE that they are healing. But, I sure wish they would let up their protest once in a while, for just a little bit! - j

If you do it, I sure would want to hear all about it!

Thanks
 

Dahlek for the CC link, yes it is invasive, direct injection to the nerve to block the pain signal as I'm sure you know. Haven't found a lot published about this so I was hoping maybe someone on the forum had experience I could draw from. I'm not anxious to do this but it was suggested only if everything else failed.

Thanks again for the info

Alkymst

What's the difference between a sympthetic nerve block and a trigger point injection??

Thanks, Melody

Trigger points are muscular knots around
 

and irritated area, either muscle or nerve

http://www.fpnotebook.com/RHE34.htm

This is one insurance company's viewpoint on the subject:
http://medpolicy.bluecrossca.com/pol...njections.html

Having had 'knots' and 'trigger points' both due to muscular injuries in a past life...there is a world of difference between the total nerve involvement and those knots! With carpal it 'ends' somewhere clearly.
Knots for example can be felt when one has carpal tunnel. Whole nerve irritation is just that...goes from head to toe almost ending w/the most pain either in the head, toe, or at the spinal connectors... At least, that's my take on it. - j

A trigger point injection is a knot???

Now I'm confused. My sister-in-law goes for them every three months for her Morton's Neuroma.

The doctor is giving her knots in her trigger point injection?? Is this right??

Melody

Backwards Melody
 

Melody,
You have it backward. The doctor is giving her trigger point injections in the knot. Let's see if I can explain. I had triggerpoint injections for years for myofascial pain. The muscle or ligament goes into a tight spasm. It creates a lump or knot that is composed of all the tiny fibers in that muscle or ligament. You can actually feel this knot. Sometimes massage will work them out, sometimes not because it is spasmed so tightly. The doctor will then insert a needle directly into the center of the knot which then loosens the knot. By rubbing the knot afterward and stretching it, it will loosen up and hopefully go away. I've had triggerpoint injections into knots that were so tight, the needle made a crunching sound when it was inserted into it. The injections are given with lidocaine, or procaine and some doctors use a tiny amount of steroid also.

Hope this helps explain it better.
Billye

Okay, Billye:

got it now.

My sister-in-law has had Morton's Neuroma for years.

I am going to tell her about the cryosurgery for Morton's Neuroma. I did a thread on this.

Maybe if she sees the video on the lady with the Morton's Neuroma, she might consider this procedure. Then she won't need any more trigger point injections.

Hey, I have to try, right? I thought it would be a done deal for Alan's pain between his toes (the crysurgery I mean), but I am finding out that there is no doctor who does this in my area, that accepts Alan's insurance.

And the doctors in his plan, that I called, to see if they did cryosurgery, well most of them said "what's cryosurgery on the feet"??

Oh brother.

thanks hon.

Melody