Rsd, help, can't lay flat for blocks....
 

[I hope someone out there can help me with this one. Due to really bad low back problems, I cannot lay flat for the much needed sympathetic nerve block for my left foot.Even if I could " tough it out" for one, they say there are many more to follow.... Pleeeease, anyone ,is there any help for me? You all are so dear to each other....If you know of anything .... please write, I would so appreciate it:

I am also from michigan but thats besides the point can they give a pillow to lay on or something to help let u get at least semi comfortable to go with it cuz the procedure itself only takes a few minutes well at least for me it did. And they gave me a pillow to lay on to make me more comfortable. I dunno if that will help any but thats my only suggestion. Sry dear hope u find something that helps soon.

Poor thing. I totally understand, as I have back problems as well. I agree, ask for a pillow to put under your abdomen to support your back. I would definitely TELL them how much pain you're in, because tensing those muscles (to guard from the pain) long enough for the injection is only going to make your injection site that much more sore.....as WELL as your back. Perhaps see if you can bring a more firm pillow from home???

I wish I could suggest more, but I think they HAVE to lay you on your tummy for the injections. Do they sedate you through your IV during the injections?? If not, I would ask for it. Please keep us posted on how you're doing!!! Hope to hear from you soon!!!

I'm sorry to hear about all of your problems and hope you get some answers real soon :hug:!!

I agree with what the others have already said, ask if you could have a pillow to put under your stomach as that may help you and ease some of your pain. I'm not sure how they do blocks exactly as I was put to sleep for mine as i'm a child but have you asked about an epidural if you can stand injections being put in your back? I believe for those, you have to bend forwards so that might be easier for you as most of the time, you don't have to lay down. I'm not sure what type of back issues you suffer from so not sure if that would be beneficial but it might be helpful. Also, ask if it is possible for your doctor to sedate you - I know it sounds really scary but that might help with some of your back issues and it might actually be better for yourself as you shouldn't feel any pain during the procedure.

I hope you get some answers soon and I am thinking about you. Please keep us all updated when you can!

Why are they not knocking you out with a ton of versad, or perhaps giving you a pre-procedure epidural?? Sounds like your getting HMO-style care...

I am just curious, where do they do the actual injecting at, in your foot or your back?
Is there no other way to do it, other than having you lay flat?

Reclining chair, pillows , wedges etc??
Was it tummy or back??

Is the laying flat just to make it simpler & more comfortable for the dr, or the only way to get the inj in the right place.... ???

I am sorry to hear you can not lay flat,

and I understand what you are feeling, I have been bent over for over a year now, and can not lay flat at all, I was told it is the mussels spasms, and then weakness comes in, I have core weakness also, and my RSD is full body so I do not get the shots, it is way to painful to lay flat, and to get back up is so hard, I have had to roll off tables in the past with PT, and it takes so long to be able to get up as far as I can, it is in my lower back also, then it goes all the way up my spine, my RSD started in my C- spine, and spreed really fast
So I keep pillows all around me they seem to work for me,
But is your back pain from RSD?

I hope things work out for you

When i had my lumbar block done i told my neuro no way can i lay on my stomache with my rsd foot. He said there was no other way to do it, as you have to be completely still. I had it done they gave me something for the anxiety beforehand. you would think they would have come up with other options for people with chronic pain.

Jolene

Hi
You just talk about a sympathetic block but I assume you mean a lumbar sympatheric block and not a localised nerve block which would normally be done in the limb itself.

In the UK the usual preferred method for a lumbar sympathetic block is not lying face down. They have you lie on your side and inject to L1/L2 from the side of your trunk down and in towards your spine. This is different to the usual protocol in the US where it is more common for practitioners to have you lying face down. Normally, if you have it done on your side you can pull your legs up a little towards a foetal position for comfort and balance and they will support you with pillows. This way, there is no strain on your lower back for the procedure. I had to lie for 30 or 40 minutes for mine (no sedation etc) and it was fine.

If its not this type of block you are interested in then you might want to clarify and someone who has had a norve block will doubtless help you. Good luck.

When I was having lumbar sympathetic blocks for my left foot my PM Dr. used an x-ray machine to locate the exact spot in my spine to insert the needle. I had to lay flat on my stomach for that reason. He would give me a pillow to put under my leg/foot to help protect it.

Perhaps you could find out the protocol your doctor wants to use? I know some places they do not use the x-ray machine to determine the placement or the needle for the block.

I had many blocks over the course of a year or so and each I was given a small amount of sedative to help keep me quiet and still. The blocks stopped working for me so we switched to IV lidocaine and I have had much more success with that.

I hope you are able to find a solution and get some relief.

MsL