no relief from first stellate nerve block
 

Just left hospital and no relief at all. Have all the side effects...the flushing face, droopy eyelid, lump in throat...so think it was a good one. But wouldn't the anesthesia have given me SOME relief?

My pain started when I had surgery on both arms on December 23, 2010 and I have wounds from elbow to under armpit. Pain only occurs in about 1/3 of the wound on each arm...not the whole scar.

So, this means the pain isn't sympathetic nerve related. Is there any point in having a second one, if this one showed absolutely no relief right after the injection?

Linda

Only my first few SGB gave me relief. I had a total of 8 of them, my PM doc was really skilled. He hit the right spot but my body didn't respond, just like yours. But I was much later into RSD than you seem to be (if your diagnosis is correct), probably by a year or more.

Are you sure you have RSD? Usually its a diagnosis of last resort...when they can't find anything else wrong.

Good luck. Sandy

Hi Sandy,
No, I saw two pain doctors...and they just aren't sure it is CRPS. One wanted to try the nerve block, but since it didn't work at all (and so soon ater the initial arm surgery), maybe it isn't RSD. Don't know what else it could be...entrapped nerve? How do they diagnose that...and would that be any better news?

Linda

My husband had three blocks -- one brachial plexus and two stellate ganglions. He had good circulation for about 18 hours after each but in the car going home his pain would go sky high. His pain was at the end of one of his scars (on his palm) but would radiate up into his fingers.

After the third block he said he was done with them and refused to have any more, but he also very slowly started to get better and today is in total remission. He still feels a "pulling" sensation at the end of that scar when he stretches his fingers straight and other occasional twinges but is free of pain and symptoms and is off all meds.

His doctor could not say whether it was the blocks, the rigorous PT sessions, the meds (3600mg gabapentin which husband says did nothing), or a combination of all. Or even none of the above!

I think if my husband were reading this and responding, he would recommend trying a couple more blocks. His doctor said he knew of some patients who had a dozen before they started getting any lasting relief.